What happened to Barrabas

i started thinking about the Crucifixion of Jesus this Sunday.... actually i started thinking about Barabbas. According to the gospels, it was customary for the Romans to release a Jewish prisoner during the Passover festival. The Roman governor Pontius Pilate tried to use this custom as an excuse to release Jesus. But a crowd in the courtyard demanded that a prisoner named Barabbas be freed instead, and Pilate eventually gave in to the pressure. Thus Barabbas was released, and Jesus was crucified.

And I wondered... Whatever happened to Barabbas? I mean his life was spared while Jesus was scourged, tortured and hung on a cross. I wonder if Barabbas ever realized who Jesus was? I wonder if he realized what he had been spared? Shouldn't he have lead this amazing life, once he realized what had happened? Shouldn't he have had this radical change in how he lived?

In so many ways, we are like Barrabas. We've sinned or fallen short. We deserve a punishment. We earned one. We continue to earn them. We continue to go astray. But just like Barrabas, we have freedom, because Jesus took our punishment. It is finished, there will be triumph for those who live for Christ.

So why don't WE live radical lives of POWER and FREEDOM??? I'm not sure what is wrong with me, but I'm going to change it... I'm not going to live some life bogged down in other people's ideas of who and what I should be. I'm not going to worry if my fingernail polish is chipped, or I have a wire or two hanging out my van. I'm not going to spaz out over not getting all As. I'm not going to stress if my kid wants to wear a leotard and tutu to church, I'm not even going to get in a tizzy because my child has cut his hair again. I'm only going to look to one person for approval... and that's God. I know He's working lots out in me, sometimes with me kicking and screaming and running in the opposite direction, but let's face it I NEED LOTS of WORK!!! I'm a fixer-upper... lol... I heard someone say a while back that the SAME POWER that ROSE JESUS from the GRAVE lives in YOU... WoW, that is powerful stuff... So you know what, I'm gonna remember what Jesus did for me, and I'm going to claim that power, and I'm going to live a radical life and one day,I'll die a triumphant death :) Thank you Jesus!

Don't worry, God is in this...

the other morning, i heard a story about a man on his death bed dying, while his 4 young children and wife said their goodbyes. The man a christian of great faith, looked up at his wife and said, "Don't worry, God is in this." And the man telling the story who was one of the young boys, said when life dealt him troubles or struggles, he would cling to those words... God is in this.

I love it. And I don't think I need troubles or struggles to remember "God is in this." I think this is my theme right here. God is in this! I just have to remember to make room for him, to allow him to work. Mostly I have to remember to not to try to do things outside of Him, because we all know that's when things go CRaZy! I want a discerning heart, I want the gift of wisdom... and I'm praying that God reach out and meet me where I am to give me those things :) Sometimes I get so busy that I forget to draw near, but as we enter this time of Advent, I'm going to spend sometime preparing my heart for my trip to Nicaragua...

Mostly, I really want to know that no matter what it is I am doing, God is in this... That He has got it covered, that He is moving and His will is being done. That no matter what comes against me, no matter what rudeness, what hatefulness, what temptation, what evil should come up against me or my household that God, will work it out for his Glory.... (and maybe teach this dense soul a few things along the way).

Side-note: Ohhhh, I'm also praying for the perfect home with plenty of room for our family. So if you have some extra time on your hands and you are of the praying variety (my favorite kind)then I'd appreciate you tossing up a few prayers for us...

Store News :) Blessings!!!

We have lots of new stuff at the store, especially baby girl 3m and 6m (ralph lauren and then some more comfy everyday type stuff)... If you're going by the store today you may want to wear your jacket inside because it is chilly! yikes!

I also have a super cute brown/pink graco swing with mobile and an adorable rainforest cradle swing with the electrical plug in (ALWAYS a NICE FEATURE!)

We have 2 toddler beds, a white wooden one for $60 and a Blue race car little tikes bed for $60 :)

Lots of high chairs including a wooden one and the one that straps into a seat that is adjustable! Aqua bumbo seat in nice shape, and there is also a few travel systems, including an Eddie Bauer one that is complete with the baby rear view mirrors....

2 great changing tables.... one is $28; the other $60

On the big items, you can totally do layaway. Half Cash down, then the balance due in 3 weeks :)

I have tons of stuff to go through and put out, so if you are bringing things in (there is at least a 10 day turnaround right now). I've just started taking in NAMEBRAND spring/summer.... please make sure it's clean and all the snaps are done, it makes it quicker and easier for me to go through them quickly....

Thanks for your wonderful friendship and business! Peace, hope your day is grand!!!

Store News :)

YAY, should be able to accept Visa, Discover and Master Cards via my cellphone by the end of next week. I won't be able to print ya a receipt but we will be able to send you one via email :)

Lots of you have asked if I'm taking in SPRING things yet.... The answer: Sure I will be starting this Friday. Please check through and only bring in stuff that is in super condition. Our customer base has grown quite a bit and thus I am needing to be a bit more selective, taking just name brand stuff. That's really the only items that sell well.

We have lots of big items, though I did sell the castle and fairy paintings I had at the store. Oh, I have received some super cute shoes lately. Spring/Easter shoes plus a few pair of Winter Boots, these usually sell quick so if you need some, stop by within the week and take a peek :)

my mini epiphany

So i am driving home from my 5am-ish workout and reflecting on some of my life choices. Repenting of a few things, but mostly just wanting to know "WHY" did I do that, instead of this. Actually thinking about friendships and relationships, some from long long ago. So I am sitting there and my mind is trying to figure it out... And I hear this song on my radio "Don't you know I've always loved you, even before it was time..."

And I realize that most everything I do, has to do with me doing things myself, in my own way. Always searching for love and acceptance on some level. It's like I always have to have a back-up plan... Why am I like this??? Oh I know, maybe I haven't learned to fully trust GOD! :) UGH, really? After all this time and all we've been through... Yes I am afraid it's so, I've got to learn to trust GOD with EVERYTHING! Good and Bad! He knows me anyways right?

You know I want to do things in my own time, and in my own strength (or weakness). I have to learn to "Let God", more now than ever. Let God lead me, let God sustain me, let God discipline me. During the horrible summer of 2010, I realized that I am always closest to God when I am desperate and destitute, I literally remember being at the McNeese Track late one night jogging, with tears just sorta filling my eyes, yelling in my head, "Why God? What do you want from me???" I felt like I couldn't handle one more thing. I felt attacked and punished.

I've always had deep trust issues. With superficial stuff, sure I trust people, but with the deep, true hardcore inside ugly stuff, no way! But slowly God is peeling away that distrust and replacing it with the right people, places and events. But mostly He is teaching me that I can TRUST him and I should TRUST him.

So let's see, more leaning in and on God. More FAITH, less work. More Love, less hate. More Joy and less sadness. Less of me, more of Him... Doesn't it usually work better that way anyways?

God's beloved..

I should be at the gym, but I'm enjoying the dark and the quiet of my home. I'm watching Courage Under Fire, but for a mind like mine, that's not good enough... I feel useless, if I'm not multi-tasking. So now I'm blogging and watching and thinking, hmnnn this could be a dangerous combination.

I've been trying to really focus on just BEING with JESUS. I'm not so good at that. I mostly picture me and Jesus two ways: sitting on his lap with my head buried in his shoulder, just hiding in the wing of Jesus.... and secondly, sitting at his feet, while he is in this huge rocking chair. In this scenario he's telling me a story or giving me guidance and I am sitting there, my face aglow with His glory His goodness lights up my face and I feel warm inside. But I never get that far into our conversation because my mind leaps to the things I need to do. I want to learn to just be in the presence of God.

It's not such an easy thing, to focus, but really in this world, there should only be one focus, our relationship with Jesus. I've learned that I have to take a step back, and look at the world through the eyes of Jesus, bc when I try to look at people and the world through my own human eyes, then I feel overwhelmed. Through my eyes I see sadness, pain, struggle, stupidity, disappointment, fatigue, hate, weariness, sickness, and more... But when I look at things through the eyes of Christ, I see hope, faith, grace abundant, joy, peace, calmness and an outpouring of love, and even more than that I hear a beautiful melody that makes my spirit dance. Maybe it's not the world that needs to change, maybe it's our perspectives. And as we treat others as Christ's beloved people, then the world will change to be as it should be.

This is how it works....

Ok, lots of peeps are wanting to bring in items and clothes... So I just wanted to go over how it works and give you a heads up as to how I decide how much credit I give etc.... All I ask is you don't waste my time, if you read through all this and follow our criteria then hopefully your time won't be wasted either.

#1. Items must be CLEAN, and free of STAINS, RIPS, TEARS or excessive wear... if you DRYER burn your clothes, then I can not use them. If I start going through your items and the first 4 or 5 items I can't use, I put them back in the bag... and move on to someone elses. I literally work 10 to 12 hours everyday, so I don't have time looking through 30+ items to find 2 or 3 good ones and I would not expect anyone to waste their time doing that for me.

#2. In-season Namebrand items take precedence... I don't particularly like to store out of season items but I will. I don't give as much credit for out of season items.

#3. I am pretty up to date on tags and what years items were sold in the store... a five yr old gymboree or gap item is not valued the same as last seasons... I hope that makes sense...

#4. I do not buy things that are as long as they are wide, they just look awkward. So if the item has shrunk to high heavens, I can't use it.

#5. Please don't bring in things missing buttons or snaps, or that smell like cigarette smoke. People do not like their newborn babies or children smelling like smoke... Tide febreeze does a good job of taking that smell out, if you do happen to smoke, it may help.

When I decide on a price, I consider original price, the amt of wear on an item (Fading, wash/wear, quality and the resale value).... I try to be generous especially if your items are hangar ready and i do not have to wash them (if I seen animal hair, or pick up an odd smell I wash them!), but we do have to make some sort of profit... my building, elec, water, and workers run me nearly $1800 a month... plus I do buy items, so after the $2500 I spend a month, I promise ya, I'm not getting rich financially... but I am blessed by getting a chance to do what I love so that makes it worth it... and with the money I do make... I pay for my kids daycare and things like my trip to Nicaragua, my tithes, KLOVE radio sponsor, etc, etc...