Moving

Quiet Time

Growing up through my rigorous private Christian school and church activities, I was surrounded by the constant question, "Did you have your quiet time today?" I remember I used to have to give my teacher a count of how many days I read scripture that week. It felt almost like homework.

Many of you may ask, What is a Quiet Time? Many of you know exactly what I am talking about. The term 'Quiet Time' is the time you are supposed to set aside each day to read your Bible and pray. Some may call it Devotional time.

My fear is that many believe that time with the Lord has to be at a scheduled time in a scheduled place and a series of things must be read, said, and prayed for it to count as quiet time or devotional time. If not careful, it could become so routine that it becomes just another agenda item in our daily schedules.

My relationship with the Lord has grown drastically over the last six months. Sadly enough but true, there are times when it does take something heartbreaking, sudden, or even tragic to cause God to get our attention of where we need to be spiritually. It did me. I am ever so thankful!

Each day is a new and fresh beginning for me and the Lord. I can't say that I set apart a specific time each day to read the Word and pray. If I told you that at 6:30 am was my time all the time, I would be crazy. Same goes for 9:00 pm. Like many of you, I live a crazy busy life where my schedule varies each day with work demands or other things. Those of you with family lives have it even worse. To try and make yourself sit down at that certain time each day is not crazy if that's what you prefer, however, I do think it is crazy when we put ourselves down for not sticking to that certain Quiet Time time.

Are you picking up what I'm putting down?

Okay...cool.

I have taken a spiritual inventory the past few weeks. I noticed that my time with the Lord differs each and every day! And, I love it! Some days are filled with singing praise and worship music on my way to work and engaging in pure worship with Him. Other days are spent in scripture-digging and meditation on those passages. Other days are filled with constant prayer -- whether confessing sin, asking the Lord for desires or needs, praying for others, and thanking Him for blessings and hurts.

And then, there are actually days when none of the above happens... and I just.... rest. I rest in knowing that I am where I want to be in my relationship with the Lord and that He knows my heart. And, that's sufficient for me those days as well.

Instead of setting aside a certain time to pray each day, I enjoy being in a constant state of communication with the Father. Some prayers are quietly whispered, some are shouted loudly in my car (many of those lately!), and some that are cried out through fresh tears on my knees.

I know He hears them all.

I wanted to leave you with some verses that have ministered to me the past few weeks. Let this post encourage you in your ultimate goal of daily abiding in the presence of the Lord Jesus.

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in prayer and thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for your, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "Praise be to God, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Sick....Sick

Lade da Lade da...still sporting the daily grind!

I came down with a horrible case of strep throat Saturday night and ran fever all through the weekend. I thankfully was able to go to the doctor today and will be out of work for a few days this week. That, topped off with having a flat tire, locking my keys in my car and climbing through the trunk in a pencil skirt, replacing my oil pan, and then losing my debit card has topped it off to be quite the week of episodes!

Because I am inside all day for the next few days, I thought another little random post would suffice.

Outside my window: Cloudy day...

The time is: 5:20 pm

Today I feel: My throat is on FIRE

I am thinking: too many thoughts...one day will be able to put it all on paper

I am going to: invest in some good quality jeans this Fall season!

I am wearing: an over-sized weight-lifting tee from an ex-boyfriend in college. They are so big and comfy. I haven't put makeup on in days.

I wish: I could muster up enough energy to get more G2 Gatorade. It is so soothing for my throat.

I am reading: Marie Claire magazine

I am working on: Last minute details for a trade show in 2 weeks

I am hoping: ....lips are sealed!

I am hearing: my BlackBerry blowing up with emails and texts. Some welcomed, some not.

Around the house: my apartment is a mess right now!

I bet you didn't know: I was knocked down by Timmy Teebow on the basketball court when I cheered in high school.

One of my favorite things to do: Spend time in the Word

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Why I love this Week

Well, I haven't done one of these since DECEMBER! Hello! I figured since my life is a roll of random bits right now, and because you told me you enjoy random posts, I think this will be the best way to do just that to keep you in the loop!

*One of my best friends, David Trump, is making his quarterly visit this weekend. We have a lot of fun things planned! David, "Dave", is a fantastic Interior Designer at Chateaux Interiors located in West Virginia. I am not a creative decorator (which is something I want to improve), so he helps me when he is in town. I need him to create a center-piece for my new dining table. Ya... I can't even put together a flower centerpiece. Wow. I can create full marketing campaigns for product launches, but can't put together a flower centerpiece. >> uncrafty girl >>

*I am not lifting weights this week, but am focusing on increasing my cardio. I am aiming for an hour a day. Totally doable.

*Wednesday night is girlfriend night. I am so excited about it!

*I am writing a commercial script this week for a very well-known college football coach. I am excited for that opportunity!

*I was also given another freelance article for the Holiday issue of Lynchburg Living magazine. I will begin writing that in August.

*I love this week because the Lord showed me a lot this past weekend. I may expound on this in a later post, but let's just say that I have decided to wake up everyday and pray that I can stay above water and focussed. I pray that Satan will not get the victory over my emotions. I pray that I will keep a positive outlook and the strength to persevere. Ultimately, I ask the Lord daily to help me to trust Him and His plans for me. I ask Him to help me be patient until He decides to offer me the next step. But until then... I will choose joy.

I took this picture Sunday after church -- I am officially a "pool hopper"! I have friends who all seem to have pools in their apartment complexes... Mine does not! The leasing office told me we would have one in the "next swimming season." Well, that's just too bad because I won't be there "next swimming season!" haha!

Just a heads up

I keep apologizing for my lack of content lately. I am in a blogging funk. I struggle on a daily basis on what to write about. I think about taking breaks, but then I miss blogging, but I feel that Ido not have enough content to keep up on a daily basis. How do you go from daily blogging about a wedding to...this? haha, yes, I just literally laughed out loud. Do I write about my single life now? Do I write about how uninterested I am with any man that has asked me to dinner? Do I blog about where my life is headed? Well, nevermind, I don't know where it is headed so I guess that's thrown out for now. Do I continue to bore you with my day-to-day details?

So here is my heads up to you.... Running in High Heels will now be filled with randoms of the randoms until otherwise. Until I know what is up, until I figure things out, until I decide to situate myself here or transition elsewhere.... I really have nothing major to blog about other than some weekend pictures or random thoughts. Excuse RIHH ahead of time. Maybe I am not the only one in a blogging funk? My twitter girls have been in funks, as well. Maybe it has to do with the uncountable hours I am spending in the sun by the pool whenever I can... and at that point, when my skin is getting bronzer and my hair blonder, the last thing on my mind is blogging. But I have worked so hard for too long at this blog for me to quit. So... I choose to keep on going. Thank you for continuing to read!

My routine is in a giant funk, too. For example, I bought a dining room table 3 weeks ago and I have yet to sit down at it and eat. I haven't cooked a meal for myself since February. I don't like cooking for one. I eat protein bars or protein shakes. Occasionally I will put a piece of chicken in the crock pot. I haven't whipped out my casserole dishes or worn my new aprons in months, and that is unlike me. I don't have the desire to cook right now. Maybe this fall....

I have been working out a lot. I consume 100 grams of protein or more a day. I drink lots of coffee. And Diet Coke. That's pretty much my diet at the moment. I have lost all the weight I want to lose so now I am lifting heavy weights to tone up. I should probably do a post on weight training soon. (Those of you doing squats with 3 lb. dumbbells are really doing yourselves an injustice.)

My friends, though still the center of my world apart from the Lord and family, are doing great. Most have boyfriends, fiances, or husbands, some are having babies, and some are thriving in their careers. I am so proud of them all.....even if it does leave me pretty lonely most nights.

Wow, this post is getting long!

Back in February, I mentioned in this post that I had the opportunity to do some freelance writing. Well, two issues have been to press and I am very pleased with the articles! I feel that I need to bring more of my cohesive and creative writing over to my blog like I used to....instead of the ....colorful... nature that it currently is taking!

I bought the book, Crazy Love. I am only on Chapter 2, but the first chapter was amazing. I look forward to digging deeper into it. The Lord is my Rock and I continue to cling to His promises. He never promised it would be easy. Just like the song, "I lift my hands when I don't know what to do." I find myself doing that on a daily basis.

And I leave you with this.... thanks for sticking in with me through 2010! Have a great week.