Be Joyful Always

These past 7 days have not been a good start to a new year. Many had lost family and friends, and yet many more have lost their homes and property. Inspite of all these, some people have maintained Hope, Love and Joy. Holding onto Joy isn't ironic or cruel, it's the thing that we need in circumstances like that. Happiness isn't congruent with joy, though joy brings happiness. If we are joyful, we can maintain a level head and not be overcome with grief to the point of inefficiency. We need to rationalise now to put the situation into a better light. These actions can be brought into our own small crisis as well. Losing a job doesn't mean the end of the world. Instead, treat it as a lesson learnt, ask God what you can learn from it, and make sure you progess. Seek relentlessly a job beyond your scope and pray for Him to remove the pride that may obstruct the jobseeking process. Not that grief is not good, it can, in fact, be a good thing: [Ecclesiastes 7:3] "Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart." Grief allows one to start healing, and also allow closure to that certain circumstance. But to hold onto grief and cling unto it like it is a buoy will bring downfall and drowning in despair as it is akin to lead strapped onto your ankles and cuffing your wrists, in a deep sea that is infested with sharks hungry for the faintest smell of blood. I'm saying that there needs to be a delicate balance of Grief and Joy, and they are, contrary to popular view, able to co-exist in a unique mix that can bring growth and wisdom. I haven't been able to find that though, obviously, or He wouldn't need to remind me of joy, but yea, that will be what I seek. We will feel for the victims, dead and alive, and because we feel for them we will overcome this and build a better world for those alive to live in. 1 Thessalonians 5:16~18 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. When I woke up this morning, and on the way to work, somehow He gave me small little images in my mind that perked me up. Images like watching a funny video with a friend, joking with another, just hanging out with a third. Small things in life can make your day, if you let it. :) Life ain't all that bad. We may not have much choice over circumstance, but yea, we have choice over how we see it, and that in itself influences both life and the next proceedings. Hey Vincent.. you need some good news? :) This can't be beaten down. [John 3:16]“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Amen! God bless your day, and your whole life ahead.