A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11 NKJV
Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. Proverbs 25:11 NLT
Lord of all creation,
Your Word, wisdom, became flesh and dwelt among us. And You named Him Jesus: Jesus, name above all names, beautiful Saviour, Glorious Lord. Emmanuel, God is with us, blessed Redeemer, Living Word. The perfect Wise Word.
The verse about golden apples and silver baskets, has stayed in my mind since I first read it. I love verses that put pictures in my mind. Lord, I wonder how many apples we will have accrued by the time we get to heaven? I wonder how many apples were rejected because we spoke before our brain and heart spoke before we let You lead. With Your love as our filter.
Our words can be so good and valuable or so silly and harmful. Gold and silver are still precious to the whole of creation today. Good, kind words are still valuable. Your Word has changed history, changed lives, changed outcomes. Help my words be good..
Not flowery words, not bare necessity words. Words that are refined by You (golden) and then presented in a way (in baskets of silver) that is beautiful, respectful to the recipient, honest and kind . . . we can’t do this alone . . . help us. And timely. Knowing when to speak and when not to.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord God,
For all our family, friends and neighbours. For their day ahead whatever they have planned.
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. Keep us faithful.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family as they seek to serve the nation.
For our government. May their words and decisions be guided by Your Spirit.
For Ukraine, we continue to ask You to change the conflict to peace. An end to it all.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. For peace and a new way forward. Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan, the Middle East, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For a way to end trouble with Israel and Gaza and containment of taking sides.
For our city, local area and those who are responsible for running it.
To be blessed with the touch of Your comfort, forgiveness and joy through the day.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 13th January 2024
Lyrics: Naida Hearn
One day when she was about 30-years-old, Naida was contemplating the names given to Jesus written on a piece of paper, as she did the washing. “While I was doing the family washing, the Lord gave me the first line of a song. I began singing, ‘Jesus, name above all names.’ I continued and sang the whole song just as you hear it today. I just opened my mouth and all of the words came out, the melody and everything. I just sang it.” “I left the washhouse and went down into the sitting room and worked the song out on music paper. I then said, ‘Lord, is that OK? Is it all right like that? Yes, it was all right. I then went back to the washing. It was just that simple. It was a straight-out lead from the Holy Spirit, absolutely. I can’t say I thought about this or I thought about that; I just started on ‘Jesus, name above all names,’ and it carried on all by itself.”
The song was soon being sung by her local congregation at New Life Church in Palmerton North and in time it became a worldwide favorite. Naida said, “The Spirit impressed on me that it was to be sung as a love song. It’s all about Him. You should sing it softly, slowly and reverently. This is what He wanted.”