Running from November 2007 to June 2013, the Scheme worked in partnership with communities, schools, landowners and local organisations to conserve the landscape, wildlife and rich heritage of the area. It also encouraged residents and visitors to learn about, enjoy and celebrate this stunning part of the AONB, nestled between Rochester and Maidstone in mid Kent.

Of the valley of vision; of Judah; and especially of the City of Jerusalem, as the next verse showeth; which is called a valley, because a great part of it stood in a valley, and comparatively to those higher mountains wherewith it was encompassed; of which see Psalm 121:1 125:2 Isaiah 52:7; and the valley of vision, because of the many and clear visions or revelations of God’s mind in that place, above all other parts of the world. As the prophets are called seers, 1 Samuel 9:9, so prophecy is frequently called vision, as 1 Samuel 3:1 Isaiah 1:1 Ezekiel 7:13,26. 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.For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity By the Lord GOD of hosts In the Valley of Vision, breaking down the walls and of crying to the mountain. Elam bore the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield. It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in an array at the gate. Homes at that time commonly had flat roofs which the people used as additional living space. In the vision, the prophet sees people escaping to their rooftops because of what they saw coming. From those rooftops, they could see approaching enemies, use defensive tactics, or just hide and delay capture. The prayers in this collection highlight such doctrinal truths as the roles of the persons of the Trinity, the sovereignty of God in salvation, the importance of mortifying sin, the attributes of God, the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. It is not feeling the Spirit that proves my saved state, but the truth of what Christ did perfectly for me…It is not inner sensation that makes Christ’s death mine, for that may be delusion, being without the Word, but his death apprehended by my faith, and so testified by Word and Spirit."

To this v. 25 refers. “The nail that is now fastened in the sure place (that is, Shebna, who thinks himself immovably fixed in his office) shall be removed, and cut down, and fall.’ Another map of the Valley of Vision: this one shows important biblical points of interest. The Kidron Valley goes from Jerusalem and pours into the Dead Sea. Isaiah 22:5-7 In the Valley of Vision, you will find no deliverance. Poor Shebna, he thought his position was safe. But he was wrong. The same is true of all self-centered leaders who seek glory and lasting fame. Everyone will answer to God. He sees the small and great among men. Everyone will give an account of how he or she lived, especially those given the responsibilities of power. The burden against the Valley of Vision. What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops,

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses you broke down to fortify the wall, you also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence. One of my favorite works! Putting words to prayers I cold only dream of praying. Immensely encouraging, challenging and inspirational! He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest, you also saw the damage to the city of David, that it was great, and you gathered together the waters of the lower pool.

The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou hast wholly gone up to the house-tops? I’m sharing today from a well-loved book that has been impactful in my prayer life: The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotionsby Arthur Bennett wasn’t meant to be a how-to prayer guide, but it has been a valued resource in my prayer time with the Lord to help deepen and richen my prayer life. Either by famine or pestilence in the siege, as many died, Jeremiah 14:18; 38:2, or in their flight, as others were; both which were inglorious kinds of death.” Poole I will weep bitterly, do not labor to comfort me:I received the book “Valley of Vision” as a Christmas gift. Because it is a prayer book, I decided to use it as a beginning for my morning devotional time. I have been astounded by how reading a prayer each morning has been able to focus my mind and thoughts. I have been better receptive to scriptures and more focused in my prayers as a result. Fantastic book and I highly recommend it!