YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF 2014! HOW'D YOU DO?

So the first full week of 2014 is over! How'd you do? Be it trying a new fitness regimen, a new diet or just doing things differently, whatever those things might be. What's most important is that you survived. You are here. You are still standing. And regardless of how much you didn't accomplish, tomorrow is a new day to try again. Did you this week or do you now even, find yourself having feelings of anxiety about all that you want to accomplish this year? I do from time to time. There are days where I just write down tasks even though there is no conceivable way that I will be able to accomplish them all in the course of one day unless I clone myself.

One of my resolutions for 2014 is to do that which I used to do consistently last year which was before my head touched the pillow at night, I would read the "word." I have become a huge fan of YouVersion which is a free bible app which I can sync across all my devices, my iPhone, my iPad, etc. You can follow plans, take notes, share scriptures and more. And I particularly love the reminder tool which even on those nites when all I wanna do is hit the hay, I get an alert to read and I always feel the better for it. For me, it's just a test of my own personal discipline but it's also part of my spiritual journey and efforts to become better versed in the word. I always admire those who can literally turn to a verse or scripture in seconds whereas I'm the one sitting there thumbing through pages until I come to the book or verse being referenced. I'm currently following the YouVersion plan, "Toward a Fearless New Year" which touches upon when insecurities creep in or when lack of focus stifles motivation, fear of the future and more. For those of us who either sometimes or all of the time battle feelings of anxiety, I'd be remiss if I didn't share these nine promises which I thought were "right on" and very relatable.

1. When I am anxious about some risky new venture or meeting, I battle unbelief with the promise: "Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).
2. When I am anxious about my ministry being useless and empty, I fight unbelief with the promise, "So shall my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not come back to me empty but accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).
3. When I am anxious about being too weak to do my work, I battle unbelief with the promise of Christ, "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9), and "As your days so shall your strength be" (Deuteronomy 33:25).
4. When I am anxious about decisions I have to make about the future, I battle unbelief with the promise, "I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
5. When I am anxious about facing opponents, I battle unbelief with the promise, "If God is for us who can be against us!" (Romans 8:31).
6. When I am anxious about being sick, I battle unbelief with the promise that "tribulation works patience, and patience approved-ness, and approved-ness hope, and hope does not make us ashamed" (Romans 5:3–5).
7. When I am anxious about getting old, I battle unbelief with the promise, "Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save" (Isaiah 46:4).
8. When I am anxious about dying, I battle unbelief with the promise that "none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself; if we live we live to the Lord and if we die we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living" (Romans 14:8–9).
9. When I am anxious that I may make shipwreck of faith and fall away from God, I battle unbelief with the promise, "He who began a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:6). "He who calls you is faithful. He will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). "He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).

When you do find yourself anxious, what are you most anxious about? And how do you relieve the anxiety? Please share. Your method(s) might help another.

Happy 2014!!

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First Thoughts: My Prayer for Boston

www.wsj.com

Most have something that they do to relieve stress or overwhelming emotion. Some hit the gym and sweat it out. Some take to canvas and paint it out. Some head to the kitchen and eat it out. Myself, I pick up a pen and grab a piece of paper and write it out. I've been keeping a diary since Elementary school so writing regularly is part of my routine. I communicate best on paper. As I was working yesterday afternoon around 3p, my Twitter feed was visible as usual. I noticed one tweet, then two tweets and then three tweets not too specific but asking questions regarding the Boston Marathon and word regarding explosions. I said out lout, "huh?" Being as though I work from home, I have the luxury of turning on the television which I did immediately. At that point, word was just coming out about what had occurred. NBC did a great job disseminating information and not validating anything that wasn't yet confirmed. The challenge being a viewer is that they could only report on what they were hearing because the full scope of what had occurred had not yet been realized. So the footage being shared be it still shots or video footage was raw, unfiltered and very graphic. They were simply sharing as it was coming in. The shot above was one shot that so captured the emotion. A fallen runner. Police with obvious expressions of terror and taking immediate action. The disarray. And smoke.

As I started to understand the magnitude and what had occurred, the tears started streaming. I mean it was just unimaginable. It felt like it was December all over again. The emotion I felt was comparable to the emotion I felt upon hearing about the New Town, CT shooting. I thought of my kids and just wanted to see them and hug them and tell them I love them. I spoke to a friend yesterday evening as he was leaving work. He is not the social media fiend that I am and he had no clue as to what had happened. I started crying as I was explaining the events to him. He was in total awe. I turned to Twitter for that sense of community and "tweeted" out my emotions. The same emotions being shared amongst alot of followers. And after finally pulling it together and after finally deciding to turn the channel and give myself a break, I saw a tweet regarding one of the victims being 8 years old. I'm a Mommy and my oldest is 8! It struck a chord and the tears started all over. Below, my first thoughts:

Erin A. Martin

15 hours ago near Washington

Man oh man. People spend their lives preparing for this annual event. For some, it's on their bucket list. A must-do. And to go and have something like this occur. And you have so many who travel far and wide and are now just wandering the streets trying to find loved ones or simply find their way. The same as w/ the injured, I can't fathom the impact on the first responders. They will NEVER be the same. This event will never be the same. Boston will never be the same. The say the injuries are comparable to what you see in a war zone. I liken this to how some become about love. They are cynics b/c they've suffered so much heartbreak. You have to give going anywhere a second thought now b/c there is no guaranteed security. People question their safety even when they seemingly shouldn't have to. Why? It's been proven over and over again when tragedies such as this occur. The only one who you can EXPECT protection from (not the police, not the army, not security personnel ...As valiant and as courageous and as diligent and resilient as they are) ...I'm saying the only one you can EXPECT protection is from MY GOD. Cover all of us ...In Jesus name ...#PrayersGoingUp #BostonMarathon

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