 to share what the Lord has done in my life and for him moving me back to Orlando to be a part of this body. As many of you know, this is my second profession of faith that I've given at this lake and in front of Cornerstone. For those who do not know my back story, I was raised in a Presbyterian church in Tallahassee, Florida. Even though I went through confirmation class and had to go to church every Sunday with my mom, grandmother, and brother, God was not present in my home. Just like many we witnessed I had no idea what it meant to be a Christian. Due to the hard times at home it led me seeking love, acceptance, identity, and security in others. However, I always had an issue with trust so I would keep people at arms length away not really wanting to let people in but at the same time wanting to cling to anyone that showed love to me. In high school I was involved in a charismatic church at a fellowship of Christian athletes retreat. I said a prayer but there was not a desire for God or things of God. That was my freshman year in high school by the way. So I still let my sin. At the FCA event in college I met Ashley Mudge. During a visit at Cornerstone I could see being a Christian wasn't about walking an aisle and praying a prayer. It's repentance turning from sin to serve God. For about a year after returning from Army basic training I lived in Orlando until my tour in Italy and then Iraq. With Ashley I did a Cornerstone. At one point I had believed I had repented. It was baptized. I was evangelizing, going to church every Sunday, attending college group as well as small group. There were times my friends would counsel me on sin they would see. For instance my issues of pride, not trusting the Lord and His people, the love of my sin and the sin of homosexuality. A point came where I would push them away because I had no desire to repent or acknowledge what I was doing with sin. I wasn't broken over my sin. Many times I would just make excuses for the sin I was committing. By His mercy and the person that worked in Jesus Christ in the gospel He has opened my eyes to see my sin and the beauty of the gospel that saved sinners which by the power of the gospel I see the wages of sin is death. As 1 Corinthians 6-9 through 11 says do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of heaven and such were some of you. But you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified. In the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. He granted me repentance and a repentant heart before Him around March of last year causing me to turn from my sin to count the cost no matter the cost and the desire to follow Him. My heart desires to bring Him glory. God has changed my heart. My desires has made me teachable where I once was hard of correction and didn't want nor desired wise counsel. Before knowing the Lord I was making excuses for sin. The Lord has made me to desire it to be transparent with those who disciple me. A dear sister has been faithful to remind me of a truth in 2 Corinthians 5.17 when I battled with assurance that says therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. All things have passed away behold all things have become new. I am a new creation in Christ thanks be to God. It is as Ephesians 2.8 and 9 says, for by grace I have been saved through faith and as not of myself it is a gift of God not of works lest I should boast. A hand that has been a blessing to me since my salvation is he will hold me fast. I battled a great deal with assurance which has caused me to question whether to go through with giving my testimony today or not. But when I go through these doubts I try to remember God's promises as well as the lyrics that say when I fear my faith will fail Christ will hold me fast. He will not let my soul be lost his promises shall last. Bought by him at such a cost he will hold me fast. It reminds me that nothing that happens in my life the sins I commit or even my doubt is where my assurance lies. It lies only in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and since God's justice was satisfied and Jesus sacrificed for my sin he will hold me fast and not let me go. I can trust his promises. Thanks be to God for the radical change he is doing. It is only by his grace and mercy I can say these words. Glory to God.