“You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.” – Job 10:12
The Reverend John Stuart Holden, rector of St. Paul’s Church, Portman Square, London, was booked on the Titanic to sail from Southampton of 10 April 1912. He was to have occupied cabin D-11, one of the first class cabins. But on 9 April, Mrs. Holden became ill and Rev. Holden cancelled his trip to nurse her. He missed out on the maiden voyage of the most luxurious ocean liner that have ever been built. But four days later more than 1,500 passengers and crew died when the ship sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Reverend Holden was the only first class passenger to have cancelled his voyage.
After the ship sank in April 1912, he mounted the ticket he had purchased for the Titanic in a cardboard frame on which he wrote: “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction.”
The ticket carried the warning: “The company’s liability for baggage is strictly limited but passengers can protect themselves by insurance.”
The ticket hung in the Reverend’s study until his death and is now on display at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, in Liverpool.
The Lord watches over us and shows us all types of kindness. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for watching over you and showing you kindness.
“God knows what He is about. One of these days all the answers will come in. In the meantime, rest in confidence that He knows what He is doing with you.” – Ray Stedman
God’s Word: “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” – Psalm 103:2-4
By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2005, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN JOB pkennedy6@yahoo.com