by John Carpenter | Oct 13, 2011 | Camp News, Ministry News
Please be in prayer with us for our staff members. The Lord has greatly blessed our need for staff the last several years and they are very dear to us. They volunteer their time and truly seek to serve the Lord by sharing the Gospel with the children who otherwise may not hear. They care for these campers and develop relationships with them, sometimes for several years. One such previous camper is Delano. He has been camping with us since he was six years old. He is currently in our Learning to Serve program as a 14 (soon to be 15) year old. He and his family have a great need as to where they are living and where he can go to school. This is a burden that he continually casts before the Lord, and we also ask that you be praying with him and with us about this situation. In addition, we have several of our staff members who are facing the trials and adventures of college and working their first major jobs. The Lord has sent these young people to Del-Haven for a reason and we trust that it is to minister to them and help prepare them for future ministry and Christian living.
The payoff on the bank loan for the waterlines and lake has been slow. The bank continues to work with us and allows us to pay a monthly interest and extra payments toward the principal as we are able. The current loan balance is $56,200.
by John Carpenter | Oct 13, 2011 | Devotional
“They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, ‘Come — and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant — that shall not be forgotten.’” Jer.50:5
This verse describes the attitude and motivation of the true people of God. Eventually everyone of God’s chosen — throughout all the generations of history — suddenly — are awakened by the Holy Spirit to look toward “Zion” and express with resolve what is here spoken.
The particular context that is immediately upon Israel is the prophecy of Jeremiah of their captivity in Babylon. Herein is proclaimed the gospel of God’s judgment that will most certainly come upon the Babylonians — even though God used them to take His people captive for their unfaithfulness to Him. Hence, they have been carried off a long way from Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. And, vs.33 relates the judgment of God upon His elect: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts: ‘The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together — and all that took them captives held them fast! They would not let them go.’”
God’s purpose is revealed from what is written in vs.34: “Their Redeemer is strong! The Lord of hosts is His name! He shall throughly [or, through out] plead their cause — that He may give rest to the land — and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.” And, our Lord does this very thing for His elect people of every nation, kindred, tongue and tribe — throughout every generation of the history of fallen humanity!
All the people of God without exception — by God’s grace — by God’s Spirit — say: “Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual [or, lit., eternal] covenant that shall not be forgotten.” It is because of the eternal redemption obtained for us by our Kinsman Redeemer — the eternal Lord and Savior, Himself — that we then by faith do join ourselves to Him in accordance with the mandates of the eternal covenant — that has been cut and ratified among the counsels of the almighty Triune God! “But without faith — it is impossible to please Him! For He that cometh to God must believe that He is — and, that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him!”
Therefore this covenant union — secured by Christ our Redeemer — “shall not be forgotten” — by us. This, in fact, is what we celebrate as often as we come together around the Lord’s Table! Nor will it ever be forgotten by the Lord of hosts! He might as well forget Himself — as forget His “perpetual covenant”!
So then, according to the gospel of the glory of Christ, all God’s chosen people — throughout all time — by God’s great grace — with great resolve — will come out from sin’s enslaving captivity — into eternal covenant union with Him — and unto the eternal rest that is only to be found in heavenly Zion. Praise and glory to Christ!
For Christ’s Glory Only,
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Sep 5, 2011 | Camp News, Ministry News
Please mark your calendars — for on Saturday, September 24th,we are going to meet together for our — non formal — 59th Friendship Fellowship Banquet. It will be held at Pleasant Grove Bible Church which is located at 4916 Lee’s Summit Rd. in Kansas City, MO. This year we are doing something a little different and meeting for the banquet over the noon hour. We are planning to hold it from 11:00AM to 2:00PM on that Saturday. We decided on a theme of the banquet this year to center on Remembering the Blessings. After being sustained by the Lord for 59 years –there will be plenty of God’s blessings for us to testify of and report!
Hopefully this new afternoon time frame will prove to be easier for all of you to be able to attend. We hope — according to the Lord’s will and purpose — to affect a greater turn out since there will be no night time driving to be concerned about. Please pray with us about this — and please try to attend! It will be a good time.
by John Carpenter | Sep 5, 2011 | Camp News, Ministry News
The camp season is over and the pleasant signs of fall for 2011 are approaching.
And, once again, we are rejoicing in the many blessings that the Lord our God has bestowed upon the ministry of Del-Haven. There are the many answers to prayers that testify of the Lord’s presence and power — leading and providing — our every step along the way. We give praise and thanks unto Him for it all and for you all!
Please continue to pray for the campers as they begin their school year. Many of them are entering into schools that struggle to provide a safe educational environment. We talked to several boys and girls this summer who were entering this year with a very hopeless spirit about their school situations. Please also pray specifically that we will be able to keep contact with them throughout the school year.
We would also like for you to continue to pray with us about the ongoing financial needs at Del-Haven. The overall operational costs seem to continue to rise. We praise God and continue to trust in His faithfulness. He continues to give testimony of His provision as we see that each month every bill is able to be paid.
by John Carpenter | Sep 5, 2011 | Devotional
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith — that ye being rooted and grounded in love (18) may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height — (19) and to know the love of Christ — which passeth knowledge — that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph.3:17-19
From within the divine agenda of God’s dealings with all who are His — love has a prominent part. It was God’s love that sent His only begotten Son into this fallen world to be the only sovereign Savior/Substitute for all for whom He died. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son — that whosoever believeth in Him — should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jn.3:16
It is God’s everlasting love that draws those same ones to Him — and motivates Him to savingly reveal Himself to them. “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying: ‘Yea — I have loved thee with an everlasting love!’ Therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer.31:3
Love is a grace bestowed upon us from God — that is particularly expressed towards His children. In their lives — it’s presence is a presence of God’s power. “For the love of Christ constraineth us…” It controls us so that we do not henceforth live unto ourselves — but unto Him which died for us — and rose again! 2Co.5:14-15
Love distinguishes itself in our lives in that it is active — and not just passive. “My little children — let us not love in word, neither in tongue — but in deed and in truth”
Love identifies genuine regeneration. “Beloved — let us love one another for love is of God — and everyone that loveth is born of God — and knoweth God.”
Love identifies real revelation. “In this was manifested (or, revealed) the love of God toward us — because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him.”
Love identifies an accomplished reconciliation through Christ our Substitute. “Herein is love — not that we loved God — but that He loved us — and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins!”
Love is the bonding demonstration of our union with Christ and with other Christians. “Beloved, if God so loved us — we ought also to love one another. If we love one another — God dwelleth in us — and His love is perfected in us — he that dwelleth in love — dwelleth in God — and God in him.” 1Jn.3:18; 4:7-16
One last comment — love is the statute and rule by which we children of the Light walk as we journey through the maze of madness that makes up this world.
“Be ye, therefore, followers of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us — and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.” “For ye were sometimes darkness — but now are ye light in the Lord. Walk as children of Light.” Eph.5:1-2,8
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-J. Carpenter
