Hi,
I am going to make this a spiritual journal for a while. I don't think anyone reads it but Kelly anyway. I want people to read it--I want a single woman blog, a decorating blog--I am looking for a partner.
The Valley of Vision A Collection of Puritan prayers and Devotions by Arthur Bennett
I have wanted a copy of this book for some time. I am really drawn toward liturgy in my spiritual walk lately. I am also thinking of buying a Book of Common Prayer. At my old church, the Valley of Vision was often used in prayers and given as parting gifts to those who moved. Since I departed out the back door and not through some celebration--I never received one.
I had my tenth anniversary from the hospital and got rewards that you could buy anything with. I got a bread box(Super Excited-I hid my kitchen clutter in it) and this book. Who says secular jobs don't give you spiritual rewards.
This is from the back cover:
"The strength of Puritan character and life lay in prayer and meditation. In this practice the spirit of prayer was regarded as of first importance and the best form of prayer, for living prayer is the characteristic of genuine spirituality. Yet prayer is also vocal and may therefore on occasions be written. Consequently in the Puritan tradition there are many written prayers and meditations which constitute an important corpus of inspiring devotional literature.
Too often ex tempore prayer lacks variety, order and definiteness. The reason for this lies partly in a neglect of due preparation. It is here that the care and scriptural thoroughness which others found necessary in their approach to God may be of help. This book had been prepared not to 'supply prayers' but to prompt and encourage the Christian as he treads the path on which others have gone before"
I know that my prayer life is lacking. I think I am not sure what to pray. I have been reading the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer--it is taking longer than I thought because I tend to read too fast. Right now he is training seminary students--and he says they don't just need theology--they need to know how to pray, how to know God. I hope by going through the Valley of Vision--I will learn by those who have gone before how to pray. I also like to sing old hymns for the same reason.
So my prayer as I embark on this journey is "Be Now My Vision Oh Lord of My Heart". Then I think if I understand God's love for me, his calling of me--I may figure out the rest of the pieces.
Grasping Grace,
Dawn
