Hi Friends,

Can you believe it’s August? It’s funny August use to mean wrapping up swim team and a relaxing month before my little boys went back to school the Wednesday after Labor Day. August used to be a month to vacation and breathe easy. Now, August marks the end of summer. For the first time, we took our family vacation to Michigan in June. Although July was lovely, it still felt like the most fun thing was behind us. Not sure I like that schedule. My dream is to spend the whole summer in Michigan.

But today I am launching a series on writings from the Puritans. If you have not read any Puritan authors I trust you’ll be blessed to see the richness of their language and the depth of their faith. Many people have recommended The Valley of Vision to me over the years. I’m actually not even sure when I ordered it, but it has been sitting around for a good bit and then last week I had a lovely beach day with a sweet pal of mine. Our husbands have been tight buds since kindergarten and we all got married young. She mentioned how much she has been loving The Valley of Vision. I decided I’d start reading it and blogging about it.

Today I read an entry entitled The Family. Here are some excerpts:

Help me to hate and forsake every false way…O God, I cannot endure to see the destruction of my kindred. Let those that are united to me in tender ties be precious in thy sight and devoted to thy glory…Grant that the promising appearances of a tender conscience, soft heart, the alarms and delights of thy Word, be not finally blotted out, but bring forth judgment unto victory in all whom I love.

Maybe one way to counteract the praise song repetition, the uniformity of language generally, is to read these authors. Plus, the sweetness of the faith! How can you not love it?

Yes, Lord, yes. As time with family in the summer of 2024 comes to a close, may “those that are united to me in tender ties be precious in thy sight and devoted to thy glory.”

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3

A few of you may remember that sweet song our little ones sang at school in the early 2010’s. It is indeed: “For His glory. It’s for His praise.”

With Love,

Kristie