by Kimberly Snider
Missionary to the Philippines

Jeremiah 29:11

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,
'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future.'"

What kind of day are you having today? Great, mediocre,
bad, or tragic?

Life is made up of all kinds of experiences. Some are
really wonderful, and others are just plain hard! When
things are not so wonderful, do you have enough joy on
the inside to carry you through?

One thing I am trying to learn is that what happens does
not change what is real.

When everything is going well, it is easy to be optimistic
about the future. But when bad things happen, I tend to
cave in to despair. It would be so easy for me to give up.
The thing is, events do not change the reality that we
have in Christ.

Whether you are having a wonderful day or a terrible one,
Jesus still loves you and offers you the gift of eternal life.
Our Heavenly Father still thinks about us all the time.
We are still headed toward heaven where our loved
ones wait for us.

God is still able to do more than we can ask or think.
These truths never change, even if our world seems to be
falling apart.

My oldest son's favorite song is Louis Armstrong's "What
a Wonderful World." It is, because we know the end of the
story already, and it is a happy one.

Whatever you are experiencing now, God offers the hope
of a bright future. With God as our companion and Father,
it is a wonderful life!

Kimberly Snider, Missionary to the Philippines, is host of the radio
program "Moments for Mothers," produced by Asia Pacific Media
Ministries and distributed by Media Ministries of the Assemblies of
God, Springfield, MO.