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31Days to Keep a Tender Heart:October 12

 
Friday’s are my favorite day of the week and Friday nights are my favorite part of that day. The work week is behind me and the weekend is ahead of me.
I always look forward to my weekend with eager anticipation. Usually this is because I’m wiped out from the week and I can’t wait to crawl into my bed and sleep until I wake up naturally instead of to my alarm. I also like knowing that all of my time is mine and I can spend it as I please. I can sleep in, watch TV, read a book, meet a friend or play a game. I usually still choose to spend some time with God, but I tend to place more of a priority on what I want to do with my time off.
I spend my time on what I value most.
I want to love God with all my heart, my mind, my soul and my strength and I think that this includes my time. But, I don’t always want to think of my time as belonging to God.
I offer God a tithe of my time by doing the Nightwatch at the Rock River House of Prayer on Friday nights from 10:00 PM to midnight. I’m usually pretty tired by this time and my body would love to be in bed. This is also a popular time slot for getting together with friends. The fact that I could be doing something else and am not makes the time I spend at R2HOP on Friday nights a sacrifice. I want to offer a significant portion of my time to connecting with God, even on the weekends.
I think that this is essential in keeping a tender heart. I posture my heart as I spend my time. I find that my heart gets tenderer toward God as I spend more time pursuing relationship with Him. My gift of time seems so small in comparison to the way that God pours out His love in my heart, fills me up with joy and gives me rest in His perfect peace when we spend time together.
So, whatever your plans are for this weekend, I encourage you to make an offering of time to God. He will be delighted to see you and meet with you and you will probably enjoy the time too.
Have a great weekend!
Still Counting Gifts:
·         #515: The crisp morning and my breath making small clouds as I run
·         #516: Catching part of Shelley Hundley’s message streaming live from the Prayer and Prophetic conference at IHOP-KC
·         #517: Yummy lunch with a friend and sharing hearts
·         #518: The coke machine that mixes diet coke and cherry syrup at my request
·         #519: Stopping on my way to work and catching more fall colors with my camera
·         #520: How God helped me to stay present and caring with my Friday afternoon clients
·         #521: A spontaneous ice cream sundae party with our neighbor friends
·         #522: Friday nights at the house of prayer
·         #523: Being full-time (25 appointments a week) after only 9 months

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