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Whoops :P Personal use :P

Surprised by Joy

Meant to post this last week, but couldn't really find the time to.. Pity, cause can't remember things so clearly by now.. >.<

Anyway.. There is joy, happiness and pleasure. The distinction between them, I would say, is not really sharp - in that everyone who "experienced it will want it again".

True, this is language and depending on how we use the word, the word will have different meanings. This is not to say that it just depends on the definition - there is only so far that we can define things. Joy, pleasure and happiness certainly have some shades of difference.

Usually, I like to think of happiness as a state of emotions, joy as a state of mind. So it is like, "I am happy" or "I feel happy" as opposed to "I will be joyful". Those who "went away rejoicing" were, in my terms, happy. But those who "rejoice in the Lord always", and those who "Consider it pure joy.." are in my terms joyful.

Now, I think this distinction may be important because we can somewhat control our state of mind much more easily than our state of emotions. Everyone would feel sad about failure, loss and all kinds of negative things. And certainly we should. It is right to mourn (for a time) for a loss. But thanks be to God, even in our feeling of unhappiness, we can have joy. We can hope in our Lord... we can look for treasures, lessons to learn and so on..

Pardon me if I am difficult to comprehend. I can only write as much as I understand, and there are gaps in my understanding.

Of course, there are links between the 2. If we would be joyful at nothing, then nothing can make us happy. And if we decided to be joyful, even if the sorrow does not disappear, the unhappiness may no longer be so severe.. I do believe in the idea that what you think affects what you feel to quite a significant extent. But not totally. Emotions.. cannot always be controlled.

If we are happy because situations are good, let us not mistaken it for joy. And if we are unhappy because of lousy situations, let not our sorrow be our condemnation - what matters more is our response to it.

Er.. hope this makes some sense :P

Transit

Whoops.. Had been out of commission for quite a while...

Anyway, sorry for missing the last meal and the first gathering of the old and new cell respectively.. To the old People In Transit: You people were great! Thank you for the wonderful past year or so. Thank you thank you thank you ^_^ To the new cell (er.. not too sure what name its going to be.. same name??): Looking forward to it too :)

Life thus far had been quite hectic. It really need not be, but if you want to do things.. then it will certainly be. Thank God though for fair leaders and good weather and other conditions :) Truly His protection can be clearly seen...

Hope to be able to do many more things in church. I miss going there weekly.. with so much disruptions in the middle.

Yup :)

Hey dear CELL,
Due to the clashings of everyone's busy schdules,we have decided to postpone the cell gathering on SUNDAY. SUNDAY Lunch! So once service ENDS let's all gather outside the lift alright?

Please co-operate so that we can have more time to get on each other's nerves :) for the very last time! :(

smellMEL:p

Before we break up ....

OK... i was gonna attempt to be cheesy! ha ha something about the break up but ah well ... i shall be myself... NON CHEESY! :)

ok i am gonna get straight to the POINT! :)

Let meet up for dinner! (before the OLDIES leave zone 2 :( )

Feb 2 (Saturday)
7pm
Venue: ??? (undecided as of now) Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Singapore has changed so much! which makes me super out dated on nice places to makan or chill.

Please please please please please block out 2nd Feb dinner okie pokie? Well i am looking for to this dinner cause, you guys know i am probably only like 1/4 a member of the cell cause of the time i have been away. probably missed out on many many cell lunches, gatherings, dinners! SO! i would really mean alot to me to have a meal w ALL of you. Please let me know if u guys can make it ok?

Cyrus ONZ
Vyn Will let me know
Wei2 ONZ
Mel ONZ
Algene Will let me know
Rochelle ONZ
The rest please let me know ya?

i ll be overseas till next monday so just TAG to say if u can make it yeah?

Okie i am off! see you all sooN! GOD BLESS!

Hello PITs!
It has been a year since I've been you with guys.(:
Thank You for all the laughters you all have brought and some of the fruitful masterlife discussions!
Year 2008 will be a challenging year...for me and us!
I thank God for bringing me through the year 2007,for watching over me all the time.
As I "browse through the pages" of yesteryear,God has indeed protected me from many harm.
Once,I foolishly heated a glass pot of soup from the refrigerator...and "BOOM!" It literally exploded and the glass shattered everywhere..and guess where I was?!?
Just a 2 steps behind from the pot!
Thank God none of the flying shards cut me at all.
Thank God!

Have a fruitful year ahead PITs!!

rochelleloves.((:

Thanking God

I thank you that,

I've breath, to live life's ups and downs.

I thank you that,

I've ability to love, many have lost the desire/ability & so miss out on what living means.

I thank you that,

I've friends and family that love me in return.

I thank you that,

I've a church, to journey with on this narrow path.

I thank you that,

my basic needs are of no concern, I'm already taken care of.

I thank you that,

I've a purpose, You are my purpose.

I thank you that,

I've the ability to bless, it means that I've been so blessed myself.

I thank you that,

I've joy, so many live in gloom.

I thank you that,

I've peace, no war rages around me and I can present my personal wars to you.

I thank you that,

I've a friend everlasting, no matter what others say.

I bless you Lord, for who you are. I bless you Lord, for what you've done. Though you take these away, I pray, I'll still choose to bless you for the saving grace You gave to save my soul.

What is man that he should grumble & question what you do? Much less me a mere woman who doesn't know what she's doing many a time. What I have, I lift to You and humbly avail to your use. Not because I am able, but that I am willing. Lord, see my small gift and do not laugh. It's just me.

-----------------------------

I wrote the above this morning. Guess last Sundays of the years are reserved for reflection. And I'm really thankful for what has happened and even things that have not. I hope the year's been good for you too...

luv vyn.