Where has the past month and half gone?

I have no idea. I guess times flies when you're having fun! Life is good and the Lord is great. I can't get that truth out of my mind right now. The Lord continues to draw me near to Him, and I continue to know and understand the truth of who He is in my life. He is the lover of my soul, my redeemer, and knows the depths of my heart and loves me the same. That's incredible.

Since my last post I've:
gotten a sweet tattoo of the greek word for hosanna on my wrist. check facebook for pics.
bought a sweet car. an '07 red Jetta named Sophia.
got a new roomie for this fall
I'm being discipled by this amazing gal from the Austin Stone

Things are great. I can't even really go into much more detail than that. The Lord is incredibly faithful to me. The more I seek Him, the more I find Him.

The Austin Stone community church feels the most like "home" on this earth. (This earth isn't my home though, you know this). The sermons continue to challenge me, and I continue to seek ways to serve this body. I yearn for great community in this body as well. I have a quote from this past week's sermon that has been on my heart all week. There's nothing flower-y in it, or even anything that would make me boast. It's just a quote on the truth of mourning over sin. Over my sin, that thankfully is covered by the grace of Christ. I was dead in my sin, but am alive because of Christ. Amen. I say yes, and Amen.

"The thing about Christianity is that you can never experience the fullness of the joy of your salvation until you really understand and comes to grips with your sin and the affects that sin has on your life. You'll never understand the heights of grace until you understand the depths of your depravity and the depths of sin. So mourning is extremely important for you to really experience the joy that God has for you. The more you see your own sin the more precious and amazing God's grace appears to you. And the more your aware of God's grace and acceptance of Christ the more your able to drop your denials and defenses and admit the true nature and character of your own sin. It's reciprocal, more grace, more brokenness, more brokenness, greater grace."- Ronnie Smith

Keep seeking the King wherever you are.

Peace.Love. Hope.

over and out.

oh, and TWENTY TWO FREAKIN DAYS TILL MY THIRD TRIP TO THE DR! YESSSSSSSSSSSS! :)

- Leticia Ana
Psalm 6:7-11

My Trip to the DR!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Random Facts about Myself

I was tagged by Alexia to post this meme on my blog, so here we go.

The rules are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules here
3. Share 7 random or weird facts about yourself
4. Tag 7 random people at the end of the post, linking to them.
5. Leave a comment on their blog so that they know they’ve been tagged.

6. I really like to stay up late even though I have to get up early for work. If I had it my way, I'd go to bed around 2am and get up around 10am. That would be the life!

7. My biggest pet peeve is when people don't email/call/message me back. It's so frustrating to me.

8. I like burnt popcorn. Of course I prefer that it not be, but the taste of burnt popcorn doesn't bother me at all. Ha. It's true.

9. Even though my schedule doesn't reflect it, I really do hate to be busy all the time. I wish I could wake up every morning not knowing exactly what I was doing the rest of the day.

10. I don't like icing, and I think the best part of a cupcake is the actual cake. I could completely do without the icing all together.

11. Being a missionary and living in third world country doesn't scare me the way that it use to. In fact it intrigues me more than any other job in the states.

12. I love airports. alot. Also because I really really love to travel. If I had an endless amount of money I would travel to a new city every weekend. (one can dream, right?)

Nothing Compares...

To the greatness of knowing the Lord. I was driving down Mopac today and listening to an old Third Day CD of mine and the song "Nothing Compares" came on. Here are the lyrics:

I've heard all the stories
I've seen all the signs
Witnessed all the glory
Tasted all that's fine
Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You, Lord
Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You, Lord
I see all the people
Wasting all their time
Building up their riches
For a life that's fine
I find myself just living for today
'Cause I don't know what
Tomorrow's gonna bring
So no matter if I rise or fall
I'll never be alone, oh no

I've been a lot of places. I've been in so many different states. I've been everywhere that any person in the world might say is "great". I've eaten at some really expensive fancy restaurants. I've worked in downtown Austin. I've dressed fancy and been around people who have more money than they know what to do with. I've pretty much done everything that this world says should satisfy me. However, as I drove down Mopac in my nicely air conditioned SUV looking at all the mansions in Rollingwood, Texas I realized that everything that I've seen, done, eaten, spent money on doesn't even come CLOSE to what it means to me knowing the Lord. That the fellowship I have with the Lord is the sweetest thing in all of my life. That He fills me more than anyone in the entire world. And I say that with an honest heart. I say that because I've tasted the things of the world, and I've tasted the things of the Lord, and I can honestly say that knowing the Lord is absolutely the most fulfilling experience of my entire life. I'm more filled now than I have been in probably my whole life. My prayer and hope is that this passion that I have for Christ would never leave me. That this passion I have for preaching His name to the Nations would never leave me. That the Holy Spirit would live inside me all the days of my life, and that I would humbly listen to whatever He asks of me. I ask to never forget the Cross. I ask to never forget the unending amount of grace poured out into my life that I don't deserve. I ask that I never forget that I have a Saviour who came for Me. That he had ME in mind in His great plan. He is my Jesus, and He loves me.

The Lord has been good to me, and all I can give Him in return are these hands to serve Him. May he continue to mold me into a woman who seeks passionately after Him. May God be given the glory all the days of my life because absolutely nothing compares to the greatness of knowing Him.

Amen.

peace. love. hope.

---
leticia ana
romans 12:1

The Lord is Faithful

I'm not sure if anyone ever reads this, but I just wanted to write a quick update.

The Lord is faithful. That's all I have to say. The Lord was completely 100% percent faithful to me and my two weeks spent in my favorite country, The Dominican Republic. I felt the spirit move in my life there the way I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt the Lord's presence and guidance active in my life in such a sweet way. I just felt like the Lord met me in such a sweet sense of fellowship in my time there. He provided so much, and I learned so much about how faithful of a God He is. I was absolutely blown away by the schoolhouse, and the women and men who walk through those doors everyday to teach, minister, and love on the children of the DR. The friends that I made, and the old friends I got to see were some of the greatest times I've had in a long time. I felt so loved, and comfortable every second that I was visiting, and I know that without a doubt in my mind, I'll be back to that place sometime this summer. I love the DR, Makarios, and my friends who are faithfully serving the Lord in that place. I could not have scripted a better two weeks for my life. It's exactly what I needed for a refresher of the Lord's faithful will and goodness in my life.

In other news, I'm going to be helping facilitate groups from the Austin Stone who head down to the DR in the future. Someday, I may even be able to lead my own group. The two things that I love the most have collided to form one big ball of awesomeness. Not only do I get to serve my church and get more involved there, but get to serve as they goes to serve Makarios. Holy stinking cow, it's so awesome. Again, the Lord is faithful to my prayers.

Also, as I've been praying for over a year for someone to disciple me, and the Lord has faithfully provided someone to be that light in my life. I will be discipled by a very dear friend of mine, who also works at the Stone. I'm SO excited for what the Lord has in store for our relationship as she mentors me as I grow closer to Christ. Again, the Lord is faithful.

This month has been one of the best months of my entire life. I feel the Lord alive and working in my life, and I've tasted and seen great community over the past month or so that's been so so good. I know the Lord has big things in store for the rest of the year. My prayer is that all the glory would be given to Him, a King that will reign in Glory Forever.

The Lord is faithful, and nothing is impossible without Him. He conquered the grave for crying out loud! I pray that my passion for Him would only grow stronger each day of my life. I choose Christ over this world. Amen.

Godspeed.

Faith. Hope. Love.

---
leticia ana <><
Romans 12:1

He's the God of THIS city!

You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are

For there is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

You're the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You're the King above all Kings
You Are

You're the strength in our weakness
You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness
You Are

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for you and love for you
In this city

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here
- Chris Tomlin lyrics to "God of this City"

Austin Stone- Sunday, February 17

Please click the above link to listen to the sermon from this past Sunday. It will change your life.

I've been meaning to write this blog ALL week but am just now getting to sit down and write out my thoughts. This past Sunday at the Stone was one of the most challenging sermons I've ever heard. Truthfully, I've heard "better", but I'm not sure if I've been impacted by any previous ones the way that I was on Sunday. The Austin Stone is definitely not a seeker-friendly church. It's a church that preaches the truth, no matter how hard it is to hear. Week in and week out, that's the heart behind the church and it's elders. Quite frankly, that's why I stand behind them. And this is why....

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Matt preached on the verse above, and reminded us that the Word of God is not always easy to hear, but that because we are a church that teaches the bible expositionally, we will go verse by verse, not skipping over any part regardless of how it might make you feel. The jist of the sermon on Sunday was realizing that a lot of people love God, but a lot of people aren't living on mission for God. The Austin Stone's heart is to be a missional church but that can't happen until we each become missional people. A missional person is someone who lives day in and day out on mission for the Lord, not just loving God. Hear me on this, you do have to love God, however you have to be on mission for Him. On mission to preach His name to the ends of the earth. On mission to love those that are hard to love, to tell others the truth that you've found in Christ, to minister to the least of these. If you are doing one, and not the other, I believe that you're missing part of what God desires for our lives to look like. On judgment day, this is what the Lord says:

"All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ' was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me."
Matthew 25:32-36

God's heart is pretty clear in that passage of what He wants our life to look like. Austin, Tx is a place that has many people who are hungry and thirsty (but not in a food type of way). Hungry for more than a life of fame, riches, and popularity. They are hungry to be filled, and as Christians our mission is to tell them that the only thing that will ultimately fill them is Christ, the King of Glory. Austin is known as a dark city. A city that doesn't have the reputation of knowing Christ. How can this be? How can 4,000 (yes, four thousand) people walk in and out of the doors of the Austin Stone Community Church, and not change this city. I'll tell you why... there are a lot of great Christians at my church, but I'm just not sure if there are a lot of people who live their life on a mission for the Lord. (myself included). John 14:12 states that, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." Christ says that we will do GREATER works than even He did. How incredible is that? I believe that if we truly truly believe what that verse is saying that we could change this city to be a God-fearing city. I believe that because God is the God of this city, and Greater works are still to be done in this city. God isn't done with this city, and neither am I.

amen.

Godspeed.

Love.Faith.Hope

----
leticia ana
i john 3:18

Happy Valentine's Day

Did you know that I am in love? I'm going to tell you about the man I'm in love with because let's face it, he's perfect for me. I'm in love with a man who's given me the ability to love (1 John 4:19). I'm in love with a man who knows the depths of my heart and who loves me the same. I'm in love with a man who encourages me to pursue pureness and holiness. He inspires me to be holy because he is. I'm in love with a man who teaches me how to have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). I'm in love with a man who pursues my heart in a way that is indescrible. I'm in love with a man who loves me even when I fail him. I'm in love with a man who loves me even when I don't spend time with him. I'm in love with a man that waits for me to come to him because he's always waiting for me without complaining. I'm in love with a man who always wants the best for me. I'm in love with a man who faught every struggle, desire, and want that I have but yet never sinned. (Hebrews 4:15). I'm in love with a man that is, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. (Psalm 86:15). I'm in love with a man that pours out an abundant amount of mercy and grace into my life that I have never deserved. I'm in love with a man that will never leave me, and never forsake me. I'm in love with the man who makes my heart beat, who makes me humbly chase after Him every day. I'm with a man who demans my soul, my life, my all and I'm ok with that. I'm in love with a man that will reign in Glory forever. I'm in love with a man who's love is so amazing and so divine. I'm in love with man that I will spend eternity with. I'm in love with a King. I'm in love with the Prince of Peace. I'm in love with a man who suffered the greatest suffering of them all. I'm in love with a man who who died on a cross for me so that I could live!

I'm in love with a man... and his name is JESUS.

Today, examine your heart and remember Jesus. Remember that he's given you the ability to love in the first place and for that you should be forever greatful. Hosanna!