167

167 = (24*7) - 1.

I love math, so I appreciate it shown that way...except maybe some people are not as nerdy as me. 167 is the number of hours in a week, minus one. Our sermon today spoke about how you can worship God during the 167 hours of the week that you're not in worship on Sunday. Well, this blog was started based on that premise...in between Sundays...so it is fitting!

I've neglected posting much since I myself am a very busy 167-hour person! I recently began a new phase in life where I am self-employed; I am now a full-time photographer! By recently, I mean two days ago! I realize the possibility of self-employment being an even busier life, but I also know that I can set my own hours. I've complained (even on this blog) that work used to get in the way of my time with God, so now I can prove to myself that I really meant that! That is my challenge to myself. :)

Well, with the definition that I had set for this blog, I really shouldn't be blogging on Sundays. Haha. What a ridiculous notion!! Sundays are a great time to reflect! I'm going to adopt this 167 mindset; and this blog will become an "anytime" blog...err...other than Sunday morning worship. It would be a little difficult to blog during Sunday morning worship, but I think the rest of the week is more than enough time (although I have been known to tweet and/or facebook messages and revelations during the sermons.. @julizzaholub.. LOL)!

My minister (we'll call him Rick McCall--haha!) threw out some of our daily routines and challenged us to look for opportunities in which we can worship God in those routines. It seems silly sometimes, but I will tell you that worshipping God during these routines is challenging and first, but once your faith grows stronger, it is amazingly fulfilling. As Rick mentioned, it really has prepared me for an even greater worship experience on Sunday morning. Here are some things that I have done; I want to give you a glimpse of what it can be like for you! Please feel free to comment and add your own experiences and your own challenges!

In the car: I worship in the car by definitely listening to Christian music...KSBJ radio as well as other artists to be exact. Mercy Me, David Crowder Band, Tenth Avenue North, Hillsong, Aaron Shust, Brandon Heath, Britt Nicole, Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Jars of Clay, JJ Heller, Kutless, Mike's Chair, Need to Breathe, Nichole Nordeman, and Switchfoot are in my music library. If you're just starting to compile a music library that you can worship along with, this is definitely a good start! They love God through music-plain and simple. I love listening to Mike Donehey from Tenth Avenue North; he has put out some videos and reflections about his walk with God that are very encouraging. I have learned so much from these present-day psalms; they have helped me remember and love God even when I felt I didn't have the strength-when my world is shaking. In addition to worshipping through music while driving, I pray. Many times it's about the people and happenings in my life, but I have also taken it to a deeper level. I started to look inside the cars--to the strangers. I try to see traffic not as cars and machinery, but as people. I may see a young woman in the driver's seat. I try to imagine what her life is like. I pray that God watch over her in her day that day. She takes her left turn past me, and then I move on to the next one. What could that person be dealing with? What problems might they have? The prayers are just thoughts. When you are plugged into God and His work, you don't have to start with "Dear God"..for each prayer. It's continuous. Just look at their faces and think of them. Imagine their troubles, their ailments, their families, their jobs and have empathy in your heart. This too is prayer. All of your thoughts will get to God. They may never know you are praying for them, but GOD knows and it will feed your soul spiritually! By the time you get to work, your spiritual tank will be full and you can outpour into others all day long. Think of prayer not only as a place to be served, but also to serve. Two ways to pray: your prayers can go out from your spirit or the practice of prayer can replete you. When you pray for someone you don't know and don't have connection with, it is actually food for your spirit. Praying for someone you know and connect with is an outpouring...it comes from your spirit, so you're actually expelling love. If all you do is one and not the other, then you have an unequal balance. By practicing both, both types of prayers will become stronger as well as your faith! Ok, so prayer and worship while driving. How many hours are we down to? :)

At work: When I am at work, I'm am (in the best case scenario) spiritually full. Sometimes I pray in the parking lot or while nearing my job over something I know is going to happen that day--a meeting, an assignment, a task. It doesn't have to be a difficult situation...just a situation that exists! If I know it is going to be difficult, I'll definitely pray for the spirit of peace and confidence, and the right words. Mostly, I'll pray for all that I do be sealed with His name. I know a song that says "I want to sign Your name on the end of my day." So it will say, "Met with Brittney. ~God". Not saying that I AM God, just saying that since He is in me, He made an appearance. Don't get me wrong...I am in no way perfect and I wish that were my attitude all of the time, but I am just like any human. I forget. I let myself slip. As my faith has gotten stronger, it is easier to remember. You will get stronger too. When there's a negative conversation going on, ignore it or slip away. Once you're gone, pray over the situation. Pray for the people being negative. You don't have to be the positive nuisance all the time--just let it go. When people come to realize that you are who you are in Christ, it will be easier to interject positivity and have it accepted by the group. Honestly, sometimes you will find that saying nothing can be just as powerful. Work is about 40 hours per week...so we're down to...

At home: We pray at meals. We pray for each other. Rio prays for me when she sees I'm having difficulty with Lathan. We hardly ever watch anything other than movies and sports. We surround ourselves with our Lifegroup friends. Cindy and Daryl have adopted our family as their own-such a sweet blessing! We spend time with them. We were at their house last Saturday and we were sharing a story about how Rio was trying to tell her friends at school that they should love Jesus more than Justin B. Her friends did not like being told that. They told her "There's no rule! You can't tell us to love Jesus more." Rio said they were smart alec to her (We helped her with her faith journey in speaking truth to people through this opportunity. Love always!) She described her friends as "Justin B people". Then she added, "Our family's not like that. It's like we're a God-family." What a great testimony! It did my heart good to hear that! Lovely. How many hours now?

8*5 + .5*10 + 7*7 = 94
40 hours of work, plus about 30 minutes of drive time (both ways), plus 7 hours of sleep each day (who really gets 8??) equals 94.
167 - 94 = 73
Home is about 73 hours, give or take 50 or so...haha! Any way you split it, you can worship God any time of day.

As he closed, Rick mentioned instincts. The baby whale, once born, has the instinct to go up for a breath of air. He's not taught that, he just knows. Well, when you are born again, you will find that worship becomes instinct. When you get to know the Father, You can't stop yourself from worship and His spirit will reveal when you're out of line. As your faith in His reality and power strengthens, worship will become ingrained in you. When you are in love with Jesus, He is in your mind all the time. It is truly a relationship. You wake up and you think of Him, you go to bed and you think of Him. You are washing dishes and you think of Him. Much of my worship is in my ears...I listen to music every time I can. I'm listening to it right now. It helps me to maintain focus unlike anything else. I find that since I like music and since I don't have to work at listening, it just suits my life. The ballads and psalms flowing into my ears can be powerful. Sometimes I stop what I'm doing and just worship. It's a great outlet of worship for me. Sunday morning is just a part of my worship...not the other way around. Find what that can be for you!

I am not perfect. I am striving to do what I was commanded-love the Lord my God and love others. I never want this focus to change. I am in a race to know God. I am preparing my soul for splendor (I Cor 15:38-44). I am trying to explore the vastness of God, who is described as "Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." Eph 3:20. I think Paul's prayer to the Ephesians is powerful and fits perfectly here: "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Eph 4:11-13 Replete. My prayer is the same for us. I hope that you find some modern-day examples here. This is my outpouring. I would love to be filled with your suggestions as well. Please share with me. I need food. :)