I WARN YOU THIS IS AN EXTRA LONG POST BUT VERY GOOD ONE . . .

I received this e-mail yesterday from a very dear friend (with her permission) who seems to know the message I need to hear for the day without me ever telling her.

"A Boost for You"
Hi, thought you might need a boost today. Copied these for you. Be blessed and know I'm praying.
THE COURAGE TO OBEY
Joshua ultimately took on a God-sized task, the mantle of leadership with courage. Any uncertainty was replaced by boldness and resolve. He placed his faith in God, who had never let the people down. Joshua fully expected the Lord to be true to His word again and deliver them to the Promised Land.
I do not know what challenge you are facing, but I do know that God will enable you to tackle it bracely, calmly, and victoriously. Whether you are a woman in a painful marriage, a family man contemplating a return to school, or a person in the clutches of a dreaded disease, God says to you, "Be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:7)
Joshua's courage was based upon years of seeing God's faithfulness. Whether you've been a Christian for 5 minutes or 50 years, you can have the same confidence. The Bible promises that He is sufficient to meet your needs and see you safely through your journey until you reach heaven.
"You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need." Phillipians 4:19

Dr. Charles Stanley - In Touch Devotional Magazine
PERSISTENCE PAYS Luke 18: 1-8
Jesus told His disciples that htey should always pray and not give up. "Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to loose heart." Luke 18:1
Have you been praying for God's help in some area and He seemingly hasn't reponded yet? Are you just about to give up? If so, don't listen to the enemy's voice - JUST PRAY ON!
Father, I come to You again. I will not give up because I know that You hear my cries. Amen
- Open Windows

Eagles in the Storm
Did you know that an eagle know when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.
When the storms of life come upon us and all of us will experience them, we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward Jesus.
The storms doe not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them. The Bible says, "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on the wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31.

During our journey with Aiden, I prayed consistently to give me the chance to meet him and let him come home. While in the hospital I knew God would give me that chance to have my sweet little son in his home surrounded by the love and prayers of many. I admit my faith in that faltered when we were changed to "Comfort Care" and moved to a different area of NICU but God prevailed and gave me the greatest doctors and nurses that allowed for us to come home.
God gives us what we need when we really need it and we must believe in that no matter how difficult it becomes or what tragedies come.

Those who know Him are Blessed everyday! He gave me my miracle and for that I am Greatful.

So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham,

the man of faith.

Galatians 3:9