Author: Kenneth

Christian Living

Ephesians 4 New International Version (NIV)

Instructions for Christian Living

¹⁷So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

²⁰That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²²You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶“In your anger do not sin”^[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

²⁹Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Devotional Reflection: Held by Grace Alone

There are moments in the Christian life when a song doesn’t just give us words to sing — it gives us a place to stand. Grace Alone is one of those songs. It reminds us that every part of our salvation, every step of our journey, every breath of hope we carry is rooted not in our strength, but in the overflowing kindness of God.

The Father loved us long before we ever looked in His direction. He saw our wandering, our weariness, our attempts to fix ourselves, and He called us home. His grace is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the lost.

The Son stepped into our world with purpose — not to improve us, but to rescue us. He bore the weight we could never carry, paid the debt we could never settle, and opened the way we could never find. His grace is not an idea; it is a cross, a sacrifice, a victory.

The Spirit awakened what was dead within us. He softened what was stubborn, illuminated what was dark, and breathed life where there was none. His grace is not a feeling; it is transformation, renewal, and power.

When we say “grace alone,” we are not making a theological slogan — we are confessing a miracle. We are acknowledging that we stand where we stand today only because God has acted in love, in mercy, and in relentless compassion.

Perhaps today you need that reminder. Perhaps you’ve been trying to earn what God has already given. Perhaps you’ve been carrying guilt that grace has already answered. Perhaps you’ve been walking in your own strength when the Spirit is ready to carry you.

Let this truth settle deeply: You are held, saved, and sustained by grace alone. Not partly grace. Not grace plus effort. Grace from the Father who calls, grace from the Son who redeems, grace from the Spirit who renews.

And because grace began your story, grace will finish it.

🙏 Prayer

Lord, Thank You for the grace that found me, the grace that saved me, and the grace that keeps shaping me. Teach me to rest in Your kindness, to trust Your work in my life, and to walk each day in the strength You provide. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — let Your grace be the song of my heart and the anchor of my hope. Amen.

Drawing near to God

James 4 V8

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

The Saviour is waiting to enter your heart,
Why don’t you let Him come in?
There’s nothing in this world to keep you apart,
What is your answer to Him?

Time after time He has waited before,
And now He is waiting again
To see if you’re willing to open the door:
O how He wants to come in.

If you’ll take one step toward the Saviour, my friend,
You’ll find His arms open wide;
Receive Him, and all of your darkness will end,
Within your heart He’ll abide.

Time after time He has waited before,
And now He is waiting again
To see if you’re willing to open the door:
O how He wants to come in.

https://kenschristiandevotions.com/?p=620

Bannockburn

http://epilepsycerebralpalsy.com/2026/08/27/bannockburn/

Serving Christ

Matthew 16: 21-28 New International Version

Jesus Predicts His Death

²¹From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

²²Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

²⁴Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵For whoever wants to save their life^[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

²⁸“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

The words and music of this song written by two former General’s of The Salvation Army mean so much to me that I find myself somehow returning to it quite a lot. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s a simple tune with such true and earnest words to it

‘Guardian of my Soul’

Guardian of My Soul is Darren Shaw’s 2012 Salvation Army band arrangement built around two songs that share the phrase “Guardian of my soul” — his own worship song I Worship You and the classic hymn O Jesus, I Have Promised (tune: Aurelia). The “story behind” it is the devotional journey Shaw wanted to express: following Christ to the cross, finding grace, and resting in His protection.

Below is a clear, structured account drawn directly from grounded sources.

⭐ Core Story Behind Guardian of My Soul

The arrangement is essentially a musical meditation on discipleship and Christ’s guidance. Darren Shaw wrote new lyrics — I Worship You — expressing:

Christ as God’s only Son who leads believers to the cross
The believer’s healing and identity found in Christ
The assurance that Christ knows our name and our destination

Shaw then wove these new words and melody together with the older hymn O Jesus, I Have Promised, whose final verse contains the line “Thou Guardian of my soul.”

This pairing creates a dialogue across generations:

The Victorian hymn expressing lifelong commitment to Christ
The modern worship song expressing personal devotion and surrender

The arrangement’s purpose is to show that the same Christ who guided past generations continues to guard and lead believers today.

🎼 How the Music Tells the Story

The Salvation Army Music Index explains how Shaw structures the piece:

It begins tranquilly, inviting reflection.
Section A introduces Shaw’s own melody I Worship You.
Section B gently expands the texture with cornets and flugel.
Section C adds urgency with semiquaver movement, symbolising the believer’s journey toward Calvary.
A key change leads into the hymn tune Aurelia, representing the older promise: “Thou Guardian of my soul.”

The final section returns to I Worship You, now enriched by the earlier hymn’s assurance — ending in a calm, prayerful statement.

✍️ The Texts Behind the Music

1. Darren Shaw’s lyrics (1995/2005)

Themes include:

Christ’s sacrifice
Healing through His wounds
Following Him to Calvary
Knowing one’s identity and destiny in Christ

2. John Ernest Bode’s hymn (1866)

The verse containing “Guardian of my soul” emphasises:

Hearing Christ’s voice
Guidance through life’s storms
Commitment to serve Him to the end

Shaw intentionally connects these two texts to show continuity of faith across time.

🎵 Why the Arrangement Resonates

Grounded sources highlight several reasons for its popularity:

Simplicity and clarity make it accessible for many bands.
Deep devotional content speaks to listeners and performers.
The International Staff Band’s performances helped establish it as a modern classic.

It is often used in thanksgiving services, reflective worship, and moments of commitment, because its narrative — Christ guiding the believer from life to Calvary and into assurance — is emotionally powerful.

James Montgomery

James Montgomery (1771–1854) wrote a huge number of hymns, many of which remain central in Methodist, Moravian, Anglican, and Salvation Army traditions. Here is a clear, structured list of his most widely‑used hymns today, drawn from authoritative hymn indexes and collections.

⭐ Most Well‑Known Hymns by James Montgomery

These are the hymns you will most often find in modern hymnals and worship settings:

Angels from the Realms of Glory
Go to Dark Gethsemane
Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
Stand Up and Bless the Lord
A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief (beloved in LDS tradition)
In the Hour of Trial
O Spirit of the Living God
Forever with the Lord
Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless

📜 Additional Hymns by Montgomery (frequently included in hymnals)

These appear across many collections and reflect his strong devotional and missionary emphasis:

According to Thy Gracious Word
All Hail to God’s Anointed
Be Known to Us in Breaking Bread
Call Jehovah Thy Salvation
Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain
Daughter of Zion, From the Dust
Friend After Friend Departs
Gethsemane Can I Forget?
God Is My Strong Salvation
Heralds of Creation, Cry
Lord, Teach Us How to Pray Aright
O Bless the Lord, My Soul
O Where Shall Rest Be Found?
People of the Living God
Searcher of Hearts, to Thee Are Known
Sing We the Song of Those Who Stand
Songs of Praise the Angels Sang
Sow in the Morn Thy Seed
Spirit, Leave Thy House of Clay
Lord, Pour Thy Spirit From on High

📚 Montgomery’s Hymns in Classical Collections

The Christian Classics Ethereal Library preserves a large set of his original hymns, including:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
In the Beginning, God Said “Be”
Praise the High, the Holy One
The God of Nature and of Grace
The Lord Is My Shepherd
The Christian Warrior
Return, My Soul, Unto Thy Rest
O God, Unseen but Not Unknown
Bright and Joyful Is the Morn
Come Ye That Fear the Lord
Lord, Thou Hast Been Thy People’s Rest
Go Where a Foot Hath Never Trod
Spring Up, O Well
Ask, and Ye Shall Receive

These collections show how prolific he was—over 350 hymn texts appear in various indexes.

🕊️ Why Montgomery’s Hymns Endure

Strong biblical imagery
Deep devotional tone
Emphasis on prayer, mission, and Christ’s passion
Clear, singable English
Use across Moravian, Methodist, Anglican, and Salvation Army traditions