Amy's Oasis

"O Jesus, joy of loving hearts,

Thou fount of life, Thou light of men,

From fullest bliss that earth imparts

We turn unfilled to Thee again."

"Thy truth unchanged has ever stood,

Thou savest those that on Thee call;

To them that seek Thee, Thou art good,

To them that find Thee, all in all." 

"We taste Thee, O Thou living bread,

And long to feast upon Thee still;

We drink of Thee, the fountain-head,

And thirst our souls from Thee to fill." 

"Our restless spirits yearn for Thee,

Where'er our changeful lot is cast,

Glad, that Thy gracious smile we see,

Blest, that our faith can hold Thee fast." 

"O Jesus ever with us stay,

Make all our moments calm and bright;

Chase the dark night of sin away,

Shed o'er the world Thy holy light." 

So, I would love to say I learned to drive standard this morning.  Unfortunately, my one track brain gets very confused when you throw yet another pedal into the mix of all the things you need to do when you drive.  I mean, if there wasn't the very stressful factor of having other cars on the road . . . well, things might be different.  AND my poor mother who is getting jerked around beside me . . .

Well, peoples, all I can say is, watch the road carefully.  Just a warning.

Anyways, I've got an active 2 yr. old on my hands who desprately wants me to watch him kick a pillow.  Oh, and I should probably feed him lunch soon.  Later!

It was always nice to talk to Steve on the phone.  I would get home from school some nights to a telephone call, and the knowledge that someone loved me and wanted to talk to me in spite of the late hour was so comforting.  It was a good long-distance relationship, even though both of us hated the phone. But there was nothing quite like the days when we got to see each other face-to-face.  Suddenly the voice over the phone and the message on my inbox was there in the flesh, and he was real . . . the emotions would be so intense that I would be shaking and would feel that I didn't have the strength to walk or even talk - all I wanted to do was look at this person without ever fully meeting his eyes.  The initial awkward moment would pass and eventually we would be comfortable with one another, but we never fully got over the amazement that we were there together.  Then he would leave and I would be intensely lonely . . . more with each visit and departure.  Soon there will be no goodbyes - not in that kind, anyways.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find life on this earth hard.  I get bogged down with the weight of my own sin and the sin of other people.  It seems an eternal cycle that just keeps on getting deeper with no end.  Praying is good.  Connection with my Savior is great.  Reading God's word to me fills a deep inner ache.  But still . . . I long for the face of Jesus intensely sometimes.

What will it be like - that initial moment of meeting?  I think I understand a mere fraction of it.  The pounding heart, the mind-boggling amazement, the bursting emotions - I understand those.  But to see the face of my Savior?  The one who with one glance can kill a multitude?  The one who single-handedly defeated sin and death? That is something I cannot comprehend.  What will it be like to be gathered into those arms?  To hear His voice, with all its depth of power speaking words for you alone?  Will we ever get over that amazement?  Will we ever not be gripped by the awesome wonder of it all?

The long-distance relationship is good.  But oh, let me tell you - face-to-face is infinitely better.  And soon - very soon - there will be no more goodbyes.  Remember that.

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