You are Priceless … You are the Apple of God’s Eye!
Note: Each worship program will coordinate with the monthly birthstone, their meaning, and their color to help with decorating ideas. Each birth stone meaning is linked to our identity in Christ.
January Birthstone: Garnet, Color: Reddish brown, rust color. Meaning: Protection
Scripture: Psalm 17:8
Decorations & Set Up
Set up chairs in a circle with a Salvation Army Song Book on each seat. As the women arrive, invite them to join the circle. Cover the tables with red tablecloths, green napkins. Place baskets containing apples on the table as centerpieces. Use apple scented plug–ins or candles to fragrance the room.
Refreshments
Ask the women to bring dishes that incorporate apples to share at a potluck.
All About Apples
- Ahead of time, invite the women to bring copies of their favorite apple recipes and possibly provide samples.
- Have an apple pie contest.
- Ask the women to list as many varieties as possible of apples found in the US. (Check the website: https://usapple.org/apple-varieties for names and pictures of the various applies.)
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Announcements
Worship Through Song
Invite the women to share their favorite songs and why they are and then sing them. If you don’t have a pianist, read the words, or sing acapella. Ask them to share why they picked the song and what it means to them. Encourage the women to make this a time of personal worship. Allow each woman to worship how she feels led in the moment. The time you spend singing will be determined by the level of participation and your schedule.
Reflection
At the beginning of the devotional give each women an apple outline downloaded from the website: https://www.mommymadethat.com/free-printable-apple-template. Ask them to write “I am the Apple of His Eye” on their apple. They should imagine that they are standing in front of God, and He is telling them how much He loves them. Have them write on their apple the words or phrases of affirmation come to their mind. (I am a daughter of the King, I am compassionate, I am brave, I’m a good friend, I’m funny). If the women had trouble identifying affirmative phrases about themselves, invite the other women to share something positive about that woman. Instruct them to put their apple where they will see it daily as a reminder of God’s love.
During this time of reflection play the song “Reckless Love of God” sung by Cory Asbury softly in the background. It’s available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE.
God’s Love
Do you know realize just how much you are loved by God? I used to think I did, but the older I get the harder it is for me to wrap my mind around it. I sometimes think the best I can do is try to compare it to the greatest loves of my life and then realize that God’s love is so much greater. Maybe growing up your parents doted over you. Or perhaps your love story would rival the most epic of romantic movies. Or God saw fit to bless you with the most beautiful and perfect babies to ever be born. Although my sister never had children, but she is in love with and devoted to her dog. God created us with the capacity to love and be loved, but as deeply and intensely as we can love, it does not begin to compare to the love God has for us.
Psalm 17:8, (NIV) reads, “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide Me in the shadow of Your wings,” David asks God to keep him as the apple of His eye. In modern terms, when someone says we are the apple of their eye, they are identifying us as their pride and joy. In David’s time, the apple of the eye would have referred to the pupil at the center of the eye. If I can help it, I don’t let anything touch my eyes. Our eyes are vulnerable, and David is asking God to guard him from his enemies as one would protect their sight. He then asks God to hide him in the shadow of His wings. I have often heard people compare this verse to a mother hen who brings her chicks in close and protects them under her wings.
I recently came across a picture of the African Jacana that caused me to do a double take. It was of a bird that appeared to have a dozen or more legs dangling from its chest. Upon further research I found that the African Jacana is a wading bird with extra-large feet and toes that allow them to walk easily across aquatic plants on the water’s surface. It has been given the nickname Jesus Bird because it appears to walk on water. The Jacana male cares for the nest and raises their young on their own. They are very protective of their brood. Not only will he hide his young under his wings, but he will pick them up, tuck them in nice and snug, and carry them away from danger with their little legs dangling loose.
(Show a short video of a Daddy Jacana saving his chicks from a crocodile at https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/jacana-dad-chicks-rescue-crocodile.)
Jesus wants to do the same for us. When we are hurting, lonely, and afraid He wants to be the one we run to for protection. When Satan is on the attack, using others to tear us down, to doubt and steal your joy, Jesus wants to scoop you up and bring you to safety. As the apple of His eye, He doesn’t want anything close to us that can hurt us and snatch us away from His protection because of His unimagined love for us. All we have to do is love Him in return.
