You may have noticed I like the Puritan prayers. I’ve been posting them since we ‘launched’, and sincerely hope you are as moved by them as I have been since I first picked up a copy of ‘Valley of Vision’, edited by Arthur Bennet. They will be a regular feature here for your use and benefit.

However, I thought I’d share one reason I’m posting them, a personal reason not obvious at all.

In the early 1970’s, my father, a Baptist pastor-teacher, allowed his young son (moi)  to actually ‘design’ (read ‘doodle’) the cover of the church bulletin. Of course, it was beautiful. A fully hand-crafted cartoon of the Peanut characters: Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus, and that girl, I forget her name.

Little did I know that in the 80’s, 90’s and beyond, I’d be ‘chief-bulletin-maker.’ I designed bulletins for my dad beginning with press on letters, and cut outs from everything I could get my hands on, trying to make each bulletin a little better than the last one. Then came ‘the computer age’, at least for me. Early 80’s, we went digital, sort of. The invention of Pagemaker, a well-known page layout program, was revolutionary, and I rushed to get version 1. I’ve used it ever since.

In short, I produced the church bulletin for the last sermon my dad preached as a Pastor-Teacher. Needless to say, many changes occurred, both for the bulletin and myself as well. The bulletin came a long way since Snoopy, and I have certainly come a long way since those early days of the 1970’s.

The last decade of my father’s ministry, I placed ‘A Puritan’s Prayer’ on the back. It was prominent and included the same image you see on these prayers.

The first time I picked up a copy of this tremendous little book, read the first prayer, I was moved, and deeply. I love ‘Valley of Vision’ and it’s personal. It reminds me of the church bulletin I tried so hard over the years to honor my God with. It reminds me of my dad. It reminds me of all those things these godly men were consumed with. God Himself, warring against sin, the flesh, yearning for the glory promised, the comfort available from our Lord and Master, and so very much more. It has taught me to pray. No, it’s not the Scriptures, and it will never replace the eternal Word of God, but if I could have only one devotional at my disposal, I’d want this.

So the next time you see me post ‘A Puritan’s Prayer’, please know that I’m not simply posting something to be posting something. I’m posting these prayers because they mean so much to me, and it is my prayer that they will move you and encourage you as well with your walk in the Lord Jesus Christ.

God bless, and thanks for stopping by.

-JT

P.S. If you’d like to get a copy, just click here, ‘Valley of Vision’. I highly urge you to obtain a copy!