Today I welcome fellow blogger Tiffany Clark as a guest poster on Bread for the Bride. Tiffany writes with deep insight at her blogsite Messy Theology. Tiffany teaches (and is taught) Spiritual Formation in an M.A. program offered for Christian leaders throughout Africa and Asia. In her various writing projects, Tiffany prefers grappling with the Scriptures in the … Continue reading Guest Post – Scrubbing The Competition
kingdom of God
Moments Like These
You know, I wasn't planning this post. But I saw something today that literally took my breath away and squeezed some unexpected salty tears from these jaded eyes. Spontaneous tears....they're the best kind don't you think? The Rugby World Cup Final was played out between old rivals Australia and New Zealand this past weekend. Now, if like me you're not … Continue reading Moments Like These
Share this:
The Tyranny of Empty Nets
A dark mood enveloped the seasoned fisherman as he dragged his boat onto shore. Pulling an empty net up beside him he began to wash away the night’s debris. Simon could hear the Rabbi’s voice speaking softly and firmly to the crowd further up the beach. But he was tired, sore and irritated at the … Continue reading The Tyranny of Empty Nets
Share this:
From The Archives: No You Can’t, Uh Uh, No Way!
So there was Jesus making His way along the road. And there was the usual crowd, pressing, squabbling, gawking, chattering. Seems a familiar scenario - Jesus and crowds go together, right? No, not this day. This day Jesus turns, faces the crowd and presents them with something they didn’t come for. “You can’t follow Me” … Continue reading From The Archives: No You Can’t, Uh Uh, No Way!
Share this:
From The Archives: Unwashed Feet
"Come right on in” said the usher at the door You’re so welcome today, please find a seat” Failing to notice as the crowd pressed in The stranger she welcomed had unwashed feet The stranger sat down in the very front row An elder came up with a knowing smile “I’m sorry this row’s … Continue reading From The Archives: Unwashed Feet
Share this:
I’m Not Your Hero
The Sunday morning service was about to start. The child squirmed and protested on my hip as I stood at the back of the room, struggling to keep him still and quiet. The woman approaching me didn’t notice my difficulty in keeping my charge under control. Nor did she discern the tiredness behind my smile. … Continue reading I’m Not Your Hero
Share this:
The Insanity of The Kingdom
Recently a blogger friend, Becky Johnson, remarked in one of her posts “I think this is normal to a life of faith – this feeling like we …. are doing something completely insane” I think she’s on to something. You don’t need to spend a lot of time reading the gospels before you realise the … Continue reading The Insanity of The Kingdom
Share this:
On Bearing Witness, Or “Just Go With Me On This”
We watched on with a mixture of awe and wonderment as the old woman cavorted gleefully just in front of us. She was short, round, gray haired…..and today she was beautiful. The silver hair on her head and her chin testified of a long life, a life that had known hardship - perhaps more than … Continue reading On Bearing Witness, Or “Just Go With Me On This”
Share this:
From The Archives: Destination Christ
The Bride’s journey is not a journey to somewhere. It’s a journey into Someone. Her goal is communion with the Father, by means of the Spirit, through oneness with Christ the Bridegroom. Her destination is nothing less than Christ's fullness (Eph. 4:13). This is the very thing Jesus prayed for in his final hours of … Continue reading From The Archives: Destination Christ
Share this:
Awakening
Sometimes we need a reality check. Sometimes we fall for our own propaganda. Sometimes we just need to sit at the feet of Jesus long enough, still enough, to cease striving to live up to our own warped image of ourself. Sometimes, no often, we need to give ourselves permission to admit we don't have it all together and quite … Continue reading Awakening
Share this:
Royal Seal – SoS Saturday
Sharing today this post from Ben Nelson at Another Red Letter Day. May it help us remember how very much we are loved…..
Put me like a seal over your heart,
Like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
The very flame of the LORD.Song of Songs 8:6 NASB
As you may know, in the days of Solomon a seal was a mark of identification and ownership.
A seal acted as a signature for kings and nobles. They used wax seals to signify the authenticity of a document or artifact. A title-deed for example, or private communication, after it’s writing, would be rolled or folded. Then the writer melted wax and the pressed his seal into the it. If the recipient found the seal broken, he knew that the communication was no longer secure.
The king’s army was the force behind the kings seal, and it was that force that would ensure the safety of the message, and…
View original post 776 more words
Share this:
Of Wolves and Kings
The scene was somber. Weeping unashamedly each one in turn fell upon the apostle’s neck, covering his face with kisses, embracing him for what they now knew would be the last time. Each of them feared for their spiritual father's fate, but none could contend with his determination to go on. Regardless of whatever … Continue reading Of Wolves and Kings
Share this:
Unconditional Love – Or Not
Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.( Luke 8:37) “Just go Jesus, OK? We don’t want anything to do with you. Don’t even think about entering this city. We’ve seen … Continue reading Unconditional Love – Or Not
Share this:
Jesus Was Cool About Breaking The Rules
So there I was, frantically squeezing my feet into my brown school shoes, eyeing the wall clock with alarm and breathlessly leaping onto the back of the school bus as it pulled away from the bus stop. My heart was pounding as I rehearsed suitable excuses for missing roll call. My throat tightened with a … Continue reading Jesus Was Cool About Breaking The Rules
Share this:
Watch This Space
“Foolishness” mumbled the soldier Casting lots for the rabbi’s garment “An utter waste of a good man’s life” “Serves him right” spat the Pharisee Nodding to himself self righteously Stroking his beard with smug delight “It cannot be!” uttered the disciple Tears streaming from bloodshot eyes “It wasn’t meant to end this way!” … Continue reading Watch This Space
Share this:
A Tale of Two Adams
The Garden ‘Stay here and watch with Me. My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death.’ Matt. 26:38 It was not by coincidence that Jesus chose a garden as the setting for the greatest battle of His earthly life. Wasn’t it in a garden that His ancestor, First Adam, had rejected Life and condemned all … Continue reading A Tale of Two Adams
Share this:
Beholding The Glory
Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me….. Jn. 17:24 We who follow Christ have been invited to be with Him, where He is, that we may behold His glory. We are conditioned by religious … Continue reading Beholding The Glory
Share this:
From the Archives: The Gift
For the third time, the ageing Pharisee circled the strangely shaped object lying at his feet. No one could tell him who had left it unsolicited outside his door, or even when it had appeared. Wrapped in the skin of a lamb and crudely labelled with just one handwritten Hebrew word, “chen”, its appearance was … Continue reading From the Archives: The Gift
Share this:
Deep, Deep Love
Come’ You said. That was it, just: ‘Come’. So here I am, in this place of no return. Looking back I can see the boat: familiar, safe, beckoning. There are faces I know within that boat, that’s the hard thing. People I’ve called friends. But they’re in the boat, and I’m….well, I’m outside the boat … Continue reading Deep, Deep Love
Share this:
Love. Uncomplicated.
The doctor’s manner was courteous as we entered his consulting room, even if somewhat abrupt. Mr. P and I are no strangers to medical waiting rooms with their clinical atmospheres, hushed tones and oh so efficient receptionists. This day we had sat for an hour and a quarter past our appointment time, but the building … Continue reading Love. Uncomplicated.
Bread for the Bride 