Lately, I am all about stepping outside the box of normalcy. Not that traditions aren’t important because I still have quite a few.

This week I am doing just that with this blogging thing. Stepping out of my comfort zone by sharing some radical different things that some may otherwise not experience. I want to share with you another short post but one that hopefully punches with power.

In my last post, I shared with you a new “blog friend” with Ann Voskamp. She is an amazing writer! I love her style in communicating the simple details of life and how we need to be intentional in looking for them in our lives. I have been intentional in trying to teach this aspect of Thankfulness to my girls this summer. To be thankful for the small things as well as the big ones. I hope you got that same message through Ann’s blog.

Our family has gathered together to hear the birds outside our screen porch in the mornings and we have caught glimpses of the deer in our backyard. We have hugged, giggled and painted fingernails. And most of this has been done in the last 24 hours. *smiles*

Today, I want to switch gears a little.

I had the glorious job of serving on Grand Jury for the county I live in these last 6 months. We met Wednesday.

Humbling, engaging, overwhelming, filthy, heart-wrenching, disgusting and incredibly grateful are some of the emotions that swirled around in my head as I reflected on yesterday’s events.

If you have never had the pleasure of serving…it’s hard to explain all these emotions that go through your mind…all at the same time.

We visited the county jail this month. It is part of the responsibilities that is asked of the Grand Jurors. I really didn’t want to go. But I tend to be a rule follower….so therefore, I went. *sigh*

Tonight, I spoke with my oldest child about some of the types of cases that a grand jury would hear (not giving any specifics of course!). At first, there was intrigue as she listened to my delicate descriptions. Then, the look of horror came over her face as she realized the story of one lady that was guilty because she was at the wrong place…at the wrong time…with the wrong people. Her life is over…at least for the next possible 5-10 years.

More than anything I shared with Emilie Grace that many of these people are in these positions because they don’t know our Savior. Or maybe they do… but ignore His instructions that are found in the Bible. Which gives me more reason why I need to be more diligent at sharing the gospel with those I come in contact with every day.

They aren’t going to hear “it” (meaning the gospel) sitting in a pew singing “Bless Be the Tie That Binds.” I mean…maybe…but I doubt it. Today’s culture is different. They have to be reached in different ways. This video that I want to share made me want to jump up and shout, “THANK YOU JESUS!” It is different and I LOVE THAT!

Click here to engage yourself in this declaration of the gospel. Each time I personally watch it – I hear a different message but all about the same LORD.