amiefaith: 2014 IN REVIEW.

W H A T A Y E A R.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

A M E N.

As I was reflecting on this past year...this verse from Romans came into mind as well as a distinct memory I have from earlier this year. Back in March I was on a 7 hour post bus riding from Gulu to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. I remember walking to the bus stop at 4am to ensure my spot on the usually overcrowded bus with nothing but my headlamp and my backpack.

I was taking the trip solo because I was meeting up with a few college friends in Jinja. Before I left, I had a rough outline of my travel plans - 7 hours to Kampala - boda to the bus station- 2 hours to Jinja- boda ride to find the hotel to meet friends - and yet the details of how this would all play out were so incredibly unknown. I was terrified.

Maybe this memory sticks out because I thought it was an impossible journey. Or maybe because I was squished next to a lady and her 2 year old daughter on the bus. Or maybe it's because for the first time the reality of being all by myself, so far from home really set in. Or maybe it's because I had been in Gulu for 3 months and this trip was the first time I headed out to the big city.

all these could be true... but I think the real reason was because on that hot, crowded, long bus ride in the middle of Eastern Africa the truth of Romans 8 rung loud and clear..NOTHING CAN SEPARATE ME FROM THE LOVE OF GOD. whoaa. No time, no distance, no present circumstances, or future plans, or evil spirits, or height, or depth, or anything in all creation could separate me from Jesus Christ. That is remarkable.

What I hope to remember from this year is the power that Christ Jesus has in all circumstances. The remarkable and undeniable power of Jesus and the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of our savior. Not even a solo 7 hour bus ride through Eastern Africa!

Living on the other side of the world made all this a reality to me - but I pray we all hold fast to the love of God at every moment of our lives and to celebrate because in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us!

praise God for 2014! here are some of my favorite photos.