Na'Cole's Testimony

[Na'Cole]

WHO IS BARABBAS?

I’m a real person. This is part my story.

I was raised in a Catholic/Baptist family. I was christened into the Catholic Church when I was 1 year old. After being pulled out of Catholic School, toted through Methodist, Episcopal, and Baptist churches, I was saved when I was twelve. I came to meet Jesus as a living being. But no one told me what to do with Him; no one showed me who He was. So, I continued forth attending church regularly, being involved with youth group, and noticing Jesus as much as I would a notice a distant uncle - someone who I barely knew anything about, but I knew was somewhere. This routine ended with my parent’s divorce and my mother’s liberation of self. High school and the beginning of college are a blur of good grades, happy faces, and utter inebriation at any given chance. I was still praying and I longed for that connection with Jesus that I had when I was twelve years old. I began to ask questions. What was it that kept me lingering on religion? What are the real differences between religions? What are the differences between Christian thoughts? I needed to understand this crazy drive to know more about Jesus and God.
Why is God such a big deal?

Two years ago, I actually started to read the Bible. After reading what other people thought about religions, I wanted to see what I thought about the source – the Bible. I was looking for contradictions. I was frustrated. I didn’t see any. So, I read some more. The more I read, the more it began to rest in me and make sense. But I kept living the same way. What does a Christian do besides get up early and go to church? Sometimes they stay out late and go to a later service. When I started looking for a church home last year (2007)(only because God literally calls His followers to assemble), I was looking for God’s community: people who were walking the walk, and living His word. I thought I had found that community at a beautiful Catholic Church, where I committed to complete my confirmation. Soon thereafter, once challenged, I began to dissect the doctrine, while at the same time I witnessed something real – people sincerely reaching out, investing and caring for others. It wasn’t through the collectiveness of traditions that were a security at the Catholic Church where I witnessed this oddity. I thought that the idea of community and aligning with others in search for a community was enough. But God has something more for His children than philosophical pursuits; He has something tangible. This display of family was not at the Catholic Church, but at Barabbas Road.

At Barabbas Road, I was struck that “there was something different happening here”. Once I resolved my stance on the importance of a found doctrine, ever since Easter 2008, I have been here, at Barabbas Road Church. God’s word is God’s word, is God’s Word. And someone’s commentary about His word is par from God Himself speaking. Barabbas Road Church presents God’s Word and backs it up with more scripture, a.k.a. God’s Word. And through discipleship, I’ve blossomed in confidence of God’s diligence and God’s goodness.

In my life, I’ve been abused, I’ve sedated myself legally and illegally: and my only hope was God. It’s been a process, but now that I’ve committed to changing for God, I seek to reflect God. Not for me, but for God – to do His Will. The only way for that is to take that additional step – that step that no one told me when I was twelve years old, to step down from myself and let Jesus be sovereign over my life; accept God’s grace through Christ, and take up Jesus’ sword.

I’ve learned so much about God’s character at Barabbas Road. The big deal about God is this: He created everything; all of His promises have come to pass (yet one), He humbled Himself on earth and defeated death so that we may live eternally. He is worthy of worship.

I've been beaten, I've been accosted, I've been drugged against my will, I took hard-core drugs because I didn't know what else to do, I've walked fine-lines pushing the idea of being invensible, I've been a sexual victim, I've been left for dead. People will disappoint you. In spite of my straying from God, he welcomed me home. (You'll see this time and time again in the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament with the earliest belivers. Just read it!) All I had to do was say 'Yes' to His Will and to the life He had planned for me (planned at the beginning of time). When I learned that He knows every hair on my head (and yours), at the age of 27, I finally rested on the fact that my life was and is not a mistake, as I had been told throughout my upbringing. That is not news and reality that can come from anyone but the Ultimate, only, Creator and Sovereign God. He loves you and will discipline you. When you are ready to come to God, just ask Christ to forgive you of your sins. John 14:6 - "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Know that you are a sinner: a born liar, blasphemar, thief; broken. And know that God will put you together perfectly according to His will. Philippians 1:6 - "For I am Confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus".

In our weakness, when leaning on God, through Him we are made strong. Just say 'Yes' to God.

Thank you for reading.

~All for Him and to His Glory~
_________________
Your Sister in Christ,
~Na'Cole~

All for Him because there is nothing but Him.

[Brad]

Amen
_________________
In Christ
η αλήθεια ο τρόπος και το φως

[brett]

rock on sista!
_________________
In Christ,

Brett R. Schoenck

[Big B]

Preach it girl!!
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Yep! That just happened!

[pastormatt]

wow you should write...a book or something

you are a good writer but your testimony was well done i pray someone reads it and questions his or her own faith.

Thank you for your faithfulness it is an encouragement to us all
_________________
Matt Smith
Pastor, Barabbas Road Church
pastormatt@whoisbarabbas.com
www.whoisbarabbas.com
619.459.3873


[Na'Cole]

To those reading this on March 8, 2010 and on:

God is calling you. Just say 'Yes' and let him care for you.

Almost two years have past since I have written these words, and I feel more strongly about them today than when I was initially convicted and charged to write them.

The world will lift you up just to drop you down in a cycle of dysfunction for disappointment. God does not disappoint. He will build you up, as He has me many times over again, each time stronger than before.
We must commit to allowing Him access into our deepest darkest crannies of life, and let Him shine and cleanse us - amend our brokenness to complete His righteousness.

I pray right now for you who are reading this.
Please feel free to email me.
NaCole@WhoIsBarabbas.com

God Bless you
_________________
Your Sister in Christ,
~Na'Cole~

All for Him because there is nothing but Him.

[ddeuling]

Na'Cole-

You Rock! Thank you so much for your constant encouragement and faithfulness to this body and us as individuals... Thank you for your heart! I loved re-reading your testimony this morning and the conviction it brings...
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Dee