My mom's friend had a dream either right before Noah went to heaven or shortly after, but it was my mom's friend hovering over the earth. She could see these little baby footprints quickly taking long strides around the earth, stepping deeply onto each continent. I don't know all of the details because it wasn't my dream, but the message in it is beautiful and powerful. No matter how old we are, if we allow our lives to be lived fully for the purpose of Christ, we will make a deep impact.

I heard or read the other day a saying that brings a smile to my face and even though it may not sound spiritual, it helps me view God more outside of the box that we as humans try so hard to put Him in...it went like this...God takes babies and children to heaven because He doesn't want to be surrounded by a bunch of old people. Now, I know it's not scripture, but heck, God likes variety in every other area of His creation, so why not heaven? This reminds me of a story. Em and I were at the mall a few years back and were waiting in line for a snack. The man behind us was very dark skinned, perhaps from Africa or an island in the Caribbean. Em said out loud, "Mom, why does that man have such dark skin?" The man graciously looked at me, waiting for my reply, of which I was not ashamed. I said, "Em, God loves variety. He thought it would be boring if everyone looked the same and had the same color skin, so He made some people yellow, some brown, some black, some pink, some orange. He just really likes variety." The man loved the answer and Em was taught that day that God values every one of His creation.

I bring this up because I have been extremely overwhelmed lately thinking about the awesome responsibility before us to ready ourselves for the Lord's return. I was reading 1 & 2 Peter and I came across the scripture that talks about "looking forward to the day of God and speed its coming." Have you ever read it like that? Have you ever seen the responsibility part about "speed its coming?" It's in 2 Peter 3 regarding the day of the Lord. As I pray and think about all that transpires on the earth on a daily basis, I am overwhelmed. I know from our experience with Noah that there are millions of other people who live daily with worse turmoil. I sometimes let my mind go there and want to puke, quite frankly. I know that every minute around the world there are murders, rapes, kidnappings, tragedies, car bombs, accidents, new diseases, stillborns, miscarriages, starvation, etc. etc. etc. Then there are the aimless, those looking for themselves in the mirror, unable to recognize the person they have become. There are so many who are sad and lonely, depressed, living in relationships that are abusive. So many insecurities, looking for man's approval...All of this to say, I know I can't pray for it all, but I am moved to challenge all of us and everyone we know who will pray, to start praying outside of our own circles. Is there a country, a city, a people group, a family member, an enemy, single moms, whatever, for whom you could be praying? I know I can't solve all the world's problems and I know you can't either. But, if you ever feel overwhelmed about these things like I do, if we spread out the prayer responsibility, we won't be consumed with the burden. Maybe there's a missionary you've always thought about supporting? Maybe you've always thought it would be cool to "adopt" a child from overseas for whom you receive monthly updates. I'm asking the Lord to lay specific things on my heart to pray for and to listen to His voice as those things change. Anyway, just in writing this, I feel a bit of a burden lifted, but the needs are still there. I want to be used on this earth to make an eternal difference in people's lives. I'll keep you posted as the Lord leads us as to what to do as a family. (Sorry this one's so random...)