Author: Jessica

Christian receives help at the Slough of Despond

A Divine Shelter

by Jessica, posted in Pilgrim's Progress

In John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian goes through trials, temptations, and triumphs on his pilgrimage in a fallen world to the Celestial City. Sin makes this world a dry and weary land.  I’m reminded through Pastor Rob McCurley’s sermon recently, that although the road to the Heavenly City is always an ascent (Psalm 24:3), the Lord Jesus Christ is a place of Shelter.  He is a large Rock that is higher than us (Psalm 61:2) in the wilderness, casting a shadow and providing coolness from the blistering heat of the sun.  He is the Shade upon which we may take refuge.  Anything else is a tree of broken branches with no leaves, leaving us exposed.  Christ is the cool, clear Water which we may drink to the satisfaction of our parched soul.  He is the Shelter from the storm of affliction and rain.

Ways in Which I Want to be Like Salt

by Jessica, posted in Christian Living

In a gathering I attended, each person was to answer this question for fun: if you were to be like one particular thing, what would that be and why?

I was unsure what to answer, and thus glad that my turn came almost toward the end.  After pondering, I finally answered that I wish to be like salt.  Salt has certain characteristic traits found in the kind of person I wish to become.  And ever since that gathering, I have been able to learn more of the other uses of salt.

salt3First, salt causes a thirst.  I’d like my conversation to cause others to thirst for God.  I wish to help others realize their need for the Living Water—Jesus Christ. Continue reading “Ways in Which I Want to be Like Salt” →

Christian at the Delectable Mountains

Out of the Tiger’s Mouth

by Jessica, posted in Book Reviews

out of the tiger's mouthI read Out of the Tiger’s Mouth, a biography of the late Reformed theologian Dr. Charles H. Chao, several years ago and came across something I wrote of it again just this week.  Being of Chinese ethnicity, I was so intrigued to learn more about his life, as he was among the first to ever translate and publish Reformed and Puritan literature into the Chinese language.  Having Chinese-speaking family members, I was very excited that such works are made accessible.

This book shares the story of Dr. Chao’s geographical journey from the East to the West, as well as his spiritual pilgrimage from his Christian conversion in China to his ordination as a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA).

Despite persecution from Chinese Communists, Dr. Chao narrowly escaped from prison and death.

Continue reading “Out of the Tiger’s Mouth” →

Evangelist points to the Wicket Gate

Letters to a Sister

by Jessica, posted in Book Reviews

letters to a sister antiquarianI love antiquarian books.  Not only do they physically last well for posterity, they also were made beautifully (e.g. with golden engraving, decoration, etc.).  Books used to be a testament of things valued.

I’m ecstatic to own an antiquarian copy of A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females: Being a Series of Letters from a Brother to a Younger Sister by Harvey Newcomb published in 1851 and in excellent condition.  One of the joys of owning an antiquarian book is the surprise of finding treasures tucked in the pages.  For instance, I’ve found an old note written in beautiful penmanship, as well as very old leaves inserted between pages.  Of course, I like to imagine they’ve actually survived from back in 1800’s! 🙂

Continue reading “Letters to a Sister” →

Christopher Love’s Last Prayer on the Scaffold

by Jessica, posted in Biographical

Christopher LoveAt two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, August 22, 1651, the great Puritan minister Christopher Love ascended the platform of the scaffold at Tower Hill, London.  He was accompanied by fellow ministers, Thomas Manton, Simeon Ashe, and Edmund Calamy.  His life was to be cut short at 33 years of age due to alleged involvement with a plan to raise money for the restoration of the monarchy, a charge Love denied.  Believing that his death would glorify God, these were among his last words: “I do more good by my death than by my life, and glorify God more in my dying upon a scaffold than if I had died of a disease upon my bed.”

Prior to his execution, Love prayed for his accusers, for the Church, for England and Scotland to be one, and for the friend who was to be executed after him.

I find that his prayer provides a powerful perspective on what truly matters:

Continue reading “Christopher Love’s Last Prayer on the Scaffold” →

Evangelist leads Christian back to the right path

On Temptation and Sin

by Jessica, posted in Christian Living

I love the Puritans, lists (of all kinds), and pithy quotations.  So it was only natural to combine these three favorite things together from my reading.

This list is a great encouragement to mortify sin daily, yet at the same time reminds me of how I’ve fallen woefully short of God’s standard in my daily battle against sin.  But thanks be to God for His mercy and Christ’s imputed righteousness, that I (who is inherently unrighteous) may approach His throne of grace by faith and be declared positionally “righteous” on the basis of Christ’s perfect merits.

Continue reading “On Temptation and Sin” →

Resolutions

by Jessica, posted in Christian Living

resolveAs the new year approaches, I’ve been hearing the phrase “New Year Resolutions” uttered in recent days.   The best list of Resolutions I’ve ever read was written almost 300 years ago by the great preacher/author/theologian Jonathan Edwards when he was around 20 years of age.  His was a list of 70 Resolutions or “purpose statements” that will have guided the rest of his life.

I like the practicality of his list and its transparency to the reality of the human nature and frailties.  It permeates every area of life–the use of time, eating and drinking, conversations, relationships with family & others, prayer, etc. (I Cor. 10:31)

Some of my favorites among his list:

Continue reading “Resolutions” →

Christopher and Mary Love

by Jessica, posted in Biographical

Throughout history, countless godly women have shone as beacons of inspiration.  One who particularly stands out in my reading—both for her Christian intelligence and piety—is Mary Love, the wife of the 17th-century Puritan preacher Christopher Love.

Christopher Love’s life ended at the age of 33 when he was executed by beheading in 1651, accused of conspiring against Oliver Cromwell, then Lord Protector of England.  At the time of his death, Mary was eight months pregnant with their fifth child—their third surviving child.

On the day of his execution, Christopher Love used the scaffold as his final pulpit, delivering his last sermon and praying for his accusers.  Among his last words were these: “There are but two steps between me and glory.  It is but lying down upon the block that I shall ascend upon a throne. … I am changing a pulpit for a scaffold and a scaffold for a throne. … I am changing a guard of soldiers for a guard of angels which will receive and carry me into Abraham’s bosom.”

In the weeks leading up to his execution, Mary’s steadfast faith in God shone through, especially in a farewell letter she wrote to her husband while he was in prison on July 14, 1651.  Reading her letter tugs at the heartstrings:

Continue reading “Christopher and Mary Love” →