22 May 2012
I had just dropped off to sleep when I felt the ship bump as if scraping the side of a tree.
I sat up straight in bed, trying to make out what had happened. It seemed completely silent for a minute or two. The engines were cut off. The corridors were quiet until one began to hear doors open and voices speaking. The first voice I heard was a woman asking the steward what had happened. He replied calmly, “Everything will be all right.”
Those were the words of Miss Helen R. Østby, survivor, recalling the night when the Titanic had struck an iceberg which would lead to the ship’s sinking and the death of 1,500+ passengers and crew.
I can only imagine what it would have been like – just over one hundred years ago – to be on the grand, arrogantly acclaimed “unsinkable” Titanic.
The anticipation leading up to her maiden voyage, the excitement of all those boarding such an extravagant vessel, the luxury and grandeur of her various decks and the first class dining hall.
With this being the 100th year anniversary of Titanic’s sinking, we have been studying her passengers, the events surrounding her maiden and fatal voyage, and those who survived. The event becomes more and more real with each new fact learned and each new story read.
I am left speechless by the heroism of the men who gave their lives so that women and children could live. Not a single act of chivalry, heroism, or sacrifice was performed by accident. With great intention the men placed the women and children on lifeboats as the Titanic took on water.
The sinking was tragic because of the many lives lost at sea. But with gratefulness we can look back and give thanks for those who were spared and lived to tell the stories of manhood, womanhood, humility, servanthood, and especially sacrifice.
“For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the Lord pleases, He does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
Who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.”
—Psalm 135:5-7
1 May 2012
Last evening’s downpour left the plants refreshed and ready for a new day. The skies were golden as the sun set, giving the face of the earth a warm glow.
“This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
—Psalm 118:24
12 April 2012
Every spring I look forward to snipping lilac bunches from our bush for an overflowing bouquet of purple lovelies. It’s amazing to see how much beauty God puts into a single lilac with its breathtaking aroma.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
—Isaiah 40:8
P.S. Six Angles is back!
29 March 2012
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
—Galatians 5:22-23
This is the first in our series of embroidery patterns based on the fruit of the Spirit.
Every month – over the next nine – we’ll be offering a free pattern based on a fruit of the Spirit! They will accompany my dear mum’s posts at Raising Homemakers.
This month’s post is on love.
Brought to you by Clementine Patterns, each embroidery is a beautiful reminder to diligently cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. (They also make for perfect mother-daughter projects!)
This month’s pattern features several graphics for Love – download the PDF pattern for free and embroider your own version of “Love”! (For personal use only. This PDF pattern is available for free download for two weeks – now through April 12th.) UPDATE: Now available here!
Make sure you don’t miss out on next month’s free embroidery pattern by subscribing here!
7 March 2012
A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of visiting friends for a time of delightful fellowship. While we were there, we met their farm’s latest additions: lambs.
The mothers ate while the babies watched us in their own cautiously inquisitive way.
I became fast friends with this wee one. He was most charming
and enjoyed a good, long rub on the noggin.
Mrs. Mendenhall petting my new friend.
Spring is here with new life – beautiful new life!
P.S. Did I mention that the owner of these darling lambs has an Etsy shop & blog? I think you will like them.
20 February 2012
…you know someone put him there.”
This is a handmade turtle. Breezy created it using reference photos of Painted turtles, foil, paper maché, gesso, and acrylic paint.
The main purpose of the turtle was to be a prop for a talk Dad gave at work, focusing on the sovereignty of God and His Providential hand. “If you see a turtle on a fencepost, you know someone put him there”, was the concluding remark as he placed the handmade turtle on a fencepost.
Now we get to have Mr. Turtle stick around longer than any of our previous wild “pet” turtles who needed to find new homes… he currently sits atop one of our bookshelves. (And, as much as I like turtles, when I forget he’s up there – or find him somewhere else – he takes me by surprise.)
12 January 2012
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.”
—Proverbs 11:25
[ Paperwhites | the gift of bulbs from a friend has grown into a sweet winter beauty ]
6 January 2012
A new year. A new slate. A fresh start.
Really?
As I pondered these things, I skimmed over my “growing journal” which contains prayers, Scripture, thoughts, questions, quotes, words on character, etc. that I had recorded over the past year.
Nearly every sentence I read surprised me. For example:
“How often do we lose heart, fear man, worry about the outcome of the current/upcoming circumstances? God is sovereign. We must not fear, but stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. He will fight for us. We need not rattle on, but instead be silent and wait on the Lord — fearing Him all the while. [Inspired by Exodus 14]”
Humorously, it seems strange that I would be surprised since I did write them all. So, what surprised me? It was the realization that a new year does not mean “a new slate.”
The calendar year has changed, but we still have a foundation to work from.
Every area where we grew, reformed, changed, learned, etc. are still there for our benefit. They don’t get thrown out and forgotten when we flip to a new page on the calendar, each lesson needing to be learned over again. But rather we are able to take higher steps from that groundwork that has been done in the past twelve-plus months.
Isn’t the Lord gracious to give us that groundwork? To learn from the past, be sanctified in the present, and reform in the future?
Let us not forget from where we came or where we’re going.
Hello, 2012! (And thank You, Lord, for foundations to work from!)
