Featured Post

Divine Providence and Sovereignty

The idea reflects the belief that God orchestrates events for our good, and what He intends for us cannot be missed or taken away.

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

These verses affirm that God’s plans are purposeful and personal—what’s meant for you will arrive in His perfect timing.

⏳ Divine Timing and Waiting

Sometimes we feel like opportunities pass us by, but Scripture encourages patience and trust.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
Isaiah 60:22 – “When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

This reminds us that delays aren’t denials—they may be divine redirections.

🛡️ God’s Protection and Guidance

The phrase also implies that if something isn’t for you, it won’t stay—because God protects you from what isn’t meant to be.

Proverbs 3:5–6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

💡 Summary

In biblical terms, “What’s for you will never go past you” is a comforting reminder that:

God’s plans are intentional and tailored to you.
You won’t miss what’s truly meant for you.
Trusting in divine timing is an act of faith.
Rejection or delay may be protection or preparation.

Featured Post

Solemn Vow

When I first heard and sang this song I fell in love with it straight away and have loved it ever since. It is a song of dedication and commitment . The words of the song tell a story. Powerful words to an equally wonderful tune.

In verse one we red of the writer’s faith, in verse two we read how the writer see’s Christ. Verse three goes on to tell us the writer has nothing but love and how they wish to have his saving power. Finally in verse four the writer speaks of the suffering cry of him who died for all mankind

My Solemn Vow – Catherine Baird

Eternal Spirit, my unchanging friend,

I come with joy for Thou art ever near;

O bless my eyes with vision, boundless, pure;

My promise hear in realms where truth is clear.

My faith in Thee I boldly own,

Since Jesus led me to Thy Throne.

Spirit of truth attend me now,

While I present my solemn vow:

All that I am I pledge to Thee,

Spirit of love abide in me.

I see Thy splendour in the Holy One,

Thy might revealed in lowliness and grace;

O may I choose a stable or a cross

If He be there to sanctify my place.

O glory of the Christly name,

Be Thou my treasure and my aim!

All I possess, apart from Thee, is naught,

Still would I offer Thee my life, my love;

So shall the desert be a harvest field,

And my whole being Thy abundance prove.

Lord, I would witness every hour

To my Redeemer’s saving power!

O may I hear, in every suff’ring cry,

The call of Him Who died for all mankind;

Help me to share the Shepherd’s lonely watch,

Or climb the steeps His lost to find.

I dedicate my love to Thee,

That love may overflow in me.

Featured Post

Thinking of Jesus

Related image

Philippians 2:5-11

5 In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

6 Christ himself was like God in everything. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit.

7 But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant.

8And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death — death on a cross.

9 So God raised him to the highest place. God made his name greater than every other name

10 so that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus — everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

11 And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and bring glory to God the Father.

The first time I sung this song I was a young teen and still ‘XX’ amount of years on the words still have that meaning and power behind them.

Featured Post

The Gift of Time

Luke 6:37-38 New International Version – UK (NIVUK)

Judging others

³⁷‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Featured Post

Wisdom bestows well-being

Proverbs 3 King James Version

3 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

²For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

³Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

⁴So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

⁵Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

⁸It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

⁹Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:

¹⁰So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

¹²For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Proverbs 3 V6 Is probably one of the most common verses quoted in the bible. I’ve lost count of the number of bibles or hymn books I have been presented with or given as a present with that verse on the inside cover.

Podcast Episode: Faith, Music And Scripture

Pip: There's something quietly remarkable about a site that holds brass bands and biblical farewell speeches in the same breath — as if the Spirit moves equally well through a trombone and a tearful dockside goodbye.

Mara: Kenneth's recent posts do exactly that — moving from the devotional music of Salvation Army composer Howard Davies to Paul's charged farewell address to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20. Let's start with the music.

Howard Davies and Salvation Army Music

Mara: Howard Davies is an internationally known Salvation Army composer whose work spans songster choirs, brass band arrangements, and devotional recordings across multiple countries and decades.

Pip: The post notes that his brass band selection "Songs of Encouragement" from 1978 incorporates melodies including "Guardian Grace," "His Eye Is on the Sparrow," and "Keep on Believing" — and is still available today through the Salvation Army Music Index.

Mara: What that longevity signals is that his music has remained genuinely useful in worship, not just historically interesting. His book Words and Music adds another layer — it documents the stories and inspiration behind the songs, making him a chronicler of Army musical heritage as much as a composer.

Pip: Devotional music with footnotes. There are worse legacies.

Compelled by the Spirit: Paul's Farewell at Miletus

Mara: Acts 20 presents one of the most personally revealing moments in Paul's ministry — a farewell speech where he accounts for his conduct, warns of what's coming, and explains why he's pressing on anyway.

Pip: The post anchors on verse 22, where Paul says directly: "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there."

Mara: That single line carries the weight of the whole passage. He knows hardship is ahead — the Spirit has told him so in every city — yet the compulsion overrides the calculation. The destination is certain; the outcome is not.

Pip: It's a remarkable posture. Not blind faith, not recklessness — he's fully informed and going anyway.

Mara: Verse 24 sharpens it further: "I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."

Pip: That's not resignation. That's a man who has genuinely reordered what counts as a loss.

Mara: The farewell itself is visceral. Paul warns the elders that savage wolves will come after he leaves, urges them to guard the flock, and reminds them he worked with his own hands rather than taking from them. When he finishes, they weep and embrace him — grieved most, the text says, that they will never see his face again.

Pip: A dockside goodbye that still lands two thousand years later.

Mara: From a brass band selection still in print after nearly fifty years to a farewell speech still read across the world — both posts are really about what it means to give your work to something larger than yourself.

Pip: Next time, we'll see what else from this corner of the internet is worth the journey.

Howard Davies – Salvation Army

Who Howard Davies Is (Salvation Army Context)

Howard Davies is an internationally‑known Salvation Army composer and songwriter, widely recognised for his contributions to Army vocal and brass music. His work spans decades and appears in songster repertoire, brass band selections, and recordings across several territories.

He is particularly associated with:

Songster music (vocal works used by Salvation Army choirs)
Devotional and encouragement‑themed songs
Brass band arrangements used in corps, divisional, and staff band settings

🎼 His Contribution to Salvation Army Music

1. Composer & Songwriter

Davies has written numerous songs that have become well‑loved in the Army world. His book Words & Music: Stories Behind the Songs highlights the background and inspiration behind many of them, including both humorous and deeply moving stories from his ministry life.

2. Brass Band Arranger

His brass band selection “Songs of Encouragement” (1978) is a well‑known devotional piece incorporating melodies such as:

Guardian Grace
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
He Is Able
Keep on Believing

This piece is still sold today through the Salvation Army Music Index.

3. International Reach

Davies’ compositions appear on recordings by:

The International Staff Songsters
Canadian Staff Band
Birmingham Citadel Band
Hendon Songster Brigade
Hamilton Temple Band

This shows his influence across the UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and the USA.

📘 Autobiographical Insight

In his autobiographical introduction to Words & Music, Davies reflects on:

His Salvation Army heritage
His musically gifted family
His lifetime of service within the movement

This makes him not just a composer, but a storyteller and chronicler of Army musical life.

🎧 Recordings & Discography

Discogs lists 22 recordings featuring his compositions or arrangements, spanning from the early 1970s onward. These include LPs by various Salvation Army bands and songster brigades.

🧭 Why He Matters

Howard Davies is significant in Salvation Army circles because:

His music is devotional, accessible, and spiritually warm.
His songs are used widely in worship, concerts, and personal devotion.
His work bridges songster, brass band, and congregational traditions.
He documents the stories behind the songs, preserving Army musical heritage.

If you want, Kenneth, I can also prepare:

a short biography suitable for your WordPress blog
a devotional reflection based on one of his songs
a list of his most influential works for corps musicians

Compelled by the Spirit

Acts 20 New International Version

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

¹³We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. ¹⁴When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. ¹⁵The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. ¹⁶Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

¹⁷From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.¹⁸When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.¹⁹I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. ²⁰You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

²²“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.²⁴However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

²⁵“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. ²⁶Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. ²⁷For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. ²⁸Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a] which he bought with his own blood.^[b] ²⁹I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. ³⁰Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. ³¹So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

³²“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. ³⁴You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. ³⁵In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. ³⁷They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. ³⁸What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Churches doors closed

Stone church with clock tower, arched windows, and path in graveyard — A charming old stone church with surrounding graveyard and greenery

Yesterday it was announced from The Salvation Army’s headquarters in London to all SA Churches in the UK that not only weekly activities should be cancelled but also usual Sunday worship for the foreseeable future to help avoiding the spread of COVID-19

I later learned that The Salvation Army wasn’t the only church to be closing their doors for this reason, The Church of England I heard on the TV news and The Church of Scotland are also cancelling services

Being a member of The Salvation Army it is unimaginable ‘The Salvation Army – closed doors’. Especially when they were on the frontline of two world wars with their soup kitchens and serving cups of Tea to the troops, which is of course where the phrase ” There’s nothing like an Army cup of Tea comes from”

Undercurrent in The Salvation Army

Salvation Army worship and community center building with people walking inside and two flags flying outside — People entering the Salvation Army worship and community center on a fall day

In The Salvation Army, “undercurrents” refer to hidden negative influences—attitudes, conversations, or behaviours—that quietly work against unity, leadership, and mission. They are not open conflict but subtle forces that erode trust and spiritual health within a corps.

🌊 What “undercurrents” mean in Salvation Army life

The term isn’t formally defined in Salvation Army doctrine, but it’s widely used in pastoral and leadership circles to describe unspoken resistance or negativity beneath the surface of corps life. These undercurrents often take the form of:

Gossip and whispering that spread discontent.
Cliques or factions that divide fellowship.
Passive resistance to officers or local leaders.
Private criticism that undermines public unity.
Unresolved hurt or bitterness that festers quietly.
Influential individuals steering others away from mission focus.

Such patterns mirror the biblical warnings against murmuring and division (Philippians 2:14; Romans 16:17). They are spiritual rather than merely social problems—signs of hearts drifting from holiness and shared purpose.

⚠️ Why undercurrents are dangerous

Undercurrents can:

Disrupt fellowship and discourage participation.
Undermine spiritual authority of officers and leaders.
Distract from mission and outreach.
Create tension sensed by newcomers, damaging witness.
Lead to division or even corps decline if left unchecked.

Leadership studies within the Army, such as Michael Hutchings’ work at Moorlands College, note that effective officership requires awareness of these hidden tensions and the courage to address them openly.

🕊️ How Salvation Army leaders address undercurrents

Typical pastoral responses include:

Bringing issues into the open through honest, prayerful conversation.
Encouraging reconciliation using Matthew 18 principles.
Promoting transparency in decision‑making and communication.
Teaching holiness and unity as core Army values.
Rebuilding trust through consistent, humble leadership.

These steps align with the Army’s doctrinal emphasis on holiness and community life found in The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine, which calls believers to purity of motive and mutual love.

✝️ A reflective takeaway for your blog post

“An undercurrent may be unseen, but its pull is felt by all. Only when truth and grace surface together can the fellowship sail steady again.”

Lord Jesus, You are the One who calms the storm and stills the hidden currents of the heart. Search us today. Where there is hurt, bring healing. Where there is bitterness, bring release. Where there is whispering, bring truth spoken in love. Where there is division, bring Your peace.

Make our corps a place where grace flows freely, where leaders are supported, where fellowship is warm, and where Your mission is unhindered.

Unite us by Your Spirit, purify our motives, and let Your love be the strongest current among us. Amen.

Committed to your Beliefs

)

2 Timothy 1

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. ⁸So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. ⁹He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹²That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

¹³What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

A Better World

Revelation 21

3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See, the tent of God is among humans! He will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won’t be death anymore. There won’t be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared.”

I came across this song by The Melbourne Veterans Band a while ago and have always thought what a great testimony. You notice in the first half of verses everything refers to our ‘Earthly World’ and the second half he refers to ‘a Better World’ where men are saved to God and eternity

Unfortunately I have been unable to get the words of the song

Loving God

Proverbs 8 New International Version

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
    I hate pride and arrogance,
    evil behaviour and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,
    and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches and honour,
    enduring wealth and prosperity.
¹⁹My fruit is better than fine gold;
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.
²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness,
    along the paths of justice,
²¹bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.

The difference between Poverty & Wealth

Proverbs 10:4 New International Version

A Proverb from Solomon

⁴Lazy hands make for poverty,
but diligent hands bring wealth.

There is a lesson to be learned from this Proverb, especially if we have a family to provide for. We must not be like the lazy person and bring home poor wages.

No! we must do the exact opposite and be that person that is willing to work hard and bring in good wages to support our family.

Here am I

Isaiah 65 New International Version – UK

Judgment and salvation

65 ‘I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
    I was found by those who did not seek me.
To a nation that did not call on my name,
    I said, “Here am I, here am I.”
²All day long I have held out my hands
    to an obstinate people,
who walk in ways not good,
    pursuing their own imaginations –
³a people who continually provoke me
    to my very face,
offering sacrifices in gardens
    and burning incense on altars of brick;
⁴who sit among the graves
    and spend their nights keeping secret vigil;
who eat the flesh of pigs,
    and whose pots hold broth of impure meat;
⁵who say, “Keep away; don’t come near me,
    for I am too sacred for you!”
Such people are smoke in my nostrils,
    a fire that keeps burning all day.

⁶‘See, it stands written before me;
    I will not keep silent but will pay back in full;
    I will pay it back into their laps –
⁷both your sins and the sins of your ancestors,’
    says the Lord.
‘Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains
    and defied me on the hills,
I will measure into their laps
    the full payment for their former deeds.’

⁸This is what the Lord says:

‘As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes
    and people say, “Don’t destroy it,
    there is still a blessing in it,”
so will I do on behalf of my servants;
    I will not destroy them all.
⁹I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
    and from Judah those who will possess my mountains;
my chosen people will inherit them,
    and there will my servants live.
¹⁰Sharon will become a pasture for flocks,
    and the Valley of Achor a resting-place for herds,
    for my people who seek me.

¹¹‘But as for you who forsake the Lord
    and forget my holy mountain,
who spread a table for Fortune
    and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,
¹²I will destine you for the sword,
    and all of you will fall in the slaughter;
for I called but you did not answer,
    I spoke but you did not listen.
You did evil in my sight
    and chose what displeases me.’

¹³Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

‘My servants will eat,
    but you will go hungry;
my servants will drink,
    but you will go thirsty;
my servants will rejoice,
    but you will be put to shame.
¹⁴My servants will sing
    out of the joy of their hearts,
but you will cry out
    from anguish of heart
    and wail in brokenness of spirit.
¹⁵You will leave your name
    for my chosen ones to use in their curses;
the Sovereign Lord will put you to death,
    but to his servants he will give another name.
¹⁶Whoever invokes a blessing in the land
    will do so by the one true God;
whoever takes an oath in the land
    will swear by the one true God.
For the past troubles will be forgotten
    and hidden from my eyes.