Happiness

Keep Doing What is Good

“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ ” – 1 Peter 3:13,14 As we continue exploring Jesus’ teachings on treasure, He taught us there is both a heavenly and an earthly perspective. We can also apply this understanding to how we deal with people who are offensive. How should we respond when people are mean or cruel? The worldly way is to lash out, to tell it like it is at all costs. The heavenly way is with respect and gentleness. This response is often difficult for us to carry out. In 1 Peter Chapter 3, it was a period of hardship for many Christians in the Roman world. Rome was under the rulership of Nero, who many blamed for the great

January 4, 2023 No Comments

A Meaningful Life is a Peaceful Life

“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.” – Titus 3:14 I am passionate about you having a peaceful life. I’ve said in past sermons that Jesus was relaxed and that spending time in His presence frees us from a lot of the fear and angst we face. Today, I want to introduce another concept to you: that a peaceful life is a meaningful life. In order to have a relaxed and calm mind, especially in difficult times, we need to devote ourselves to pursuits that are noble, praiseworthy, and that require effort and discipline. I believe that meaning in life comes before happiness. As much as our American orthodoxy says that we should pursue happiness before all else, a transformed and tranquil existence demands the opposite. To experience the abundant life God promises,

September 29, 2022 1 Comment

Make Christ Part of Every Moment

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” – Colossians 2:6,7 In today’s passage, Paul writes in the Book of Colossians to followers who are dealing with an influx of different spiritual people who on the outside seem good, but on the inside are trying to invalidate the Gospel that Paul preached. In Colossians, Chapter Two, Paul says, “So then just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.” This means that in every moment, Christ is a part of it. When you wake up, and go to sleep, Christ is at the center of all you do. God’s love, grace, and accomplishment on the cross, and resurrection — that is the core of your life. And

August 4, 2022 1 Comment

Happy or Blessed?

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” – Psalm 1:1-2 Being happy is a state of mind that God wants each of us to experience. As you think of happiness, words like joy, gladness, and pleased come to mind. I remember memorizing Psalm 1 when I was younger. This Psalm seems like it’s coming from a king, and it is powerful. It reads “Blessed is the one who does not walk in the way of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”

June 7, 2022 No Comments

Joy Isn’t Found in Power

“Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” – Jeremiah 10:23 Today, I want to sum up our lessons about King Herod by saying that his legacy is proof that wealth and prestige can’t buy happiness. In fact, when I look at his story, I don’t see joy or success, I see narcissism and rage. Even though he had everything that money and power could procure, he was miserable — constantly fighting to maintain his position and worrying about who he had to conquer next to stay on top. As hard as he tried to make his name immortal, like the compounds and shrines he erected for his glory, he himself came to ruin. And while to his contemporaries he had no rivals, his life is evidence that we cannot gain joy from power. Since the fall, our natural

March 18, 2021 No Comments

Make Small Things Big

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24 As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that we inherit abundant life when big things become small and small things become big. What I mean is that although society teaches us that fulfillment comes when we attain wealth or find worldly success, the truth is that the seemingly ordinary and less glamorous things in life are actually the fabric of contentment, happiness, and productivity. Though I’ve traveled all over the world, I just love New York City. There’s something about that bustling metropolis that allures me, because it seems to represent the American spirit under a magnifying glass. And while many imagine New Yorkers being stern and mean, I haven’t found that to

March 13, 2021 1 Comment

Embrace Joy!

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” – Psalm 16:11 Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a joyful person, and I get told that…a lot. I tend to go around whistling; in fact, someone said that I come with an announcement because I always seem to be chirping a tune. I don’t hear myself doing it, but when I enter a building or a room, people know I’m there. I’m also a smiling and silly person — I enjoy living, and it’s not uncommon to hear comments (sometimes sideways) about my happiness. While some may feel that it’s superficial or “over-the-top,” I can say for certain that it’s not, because I have a reason to be glad! Every day, I wake up overwhelmed by the goodness of God and by what

March 12, 2021 No Comments

The Blessing in Righteousness

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33 For the next few days, I want to discuss three things that I believe lead to a blessed life. As Christians, we use the word blessed a lot, but I’m not always sure we understand what it means. Because I try to look at the Bible holistically, I’ve come up with a triad of virtues, which, based on the entire compendium of Scripture, seem to lead to the most happy and fulfilling human existence. While this is just my observation, I hope these next few devotions offer a point of focus as we seek to obtain the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. That said, the first thing that causes us to inherit blessing is righteousness. Though this can be an uncomfortable word, the reality is

February 11, 2021 No Comments

Love is Favor

“Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” – Psalm 5:12 There’s nothing like the love of a grandparent. While parents get to deal with all the tough parts of raising kids, grandma and grandpa get to do the fun stuff. Though not true across the board, most grandparents take joy in spoiling their grandchildren, whether it means buying them gifts, taking them on outings, getting their favorite food, or sharing a hobby or craft with them. Since they are typically older and less busy than mom and dad, they can give the kids their undivided attention and spend focused time with them (often to the delight of their parents). If you’re wondering where I’m going with this, the fact is that I believe envisioning the lavish and unconditional love of a grandparent better equips us to understand the role of God’s

February 6, 2021 2 Comments

Image vs. Truth

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being…” – Romans 1:22,23 I’m increasingly troubled by the impact of social media on our world and on our mental health. Whether it’s political information, sensationalized headlines, or pictures of our friends and family living the “high life” and looking like they have it all together, the truth is that most of it isn’t true. Image — not reality — has become an idol, and many are addicted to the praise, attention, and reactions of others (even if they’re negative). A story broke last year here in L.A. that certain Instagram influencers who had posted pictures of themselves on a private jet had actually paid to take those photos on a set. When they removed the plane interior backdrop, all that was really there

January 25, 2021 1 Comment

Keep Doing What is Good

A Meaningful Life is a Peaceful Life

Make Christ Part of Every Moment

Happy or Blessed?

Joy Isn’t Found in Power

Make Small Things Big

Embrace Joy!

The Blessing in Righteousness

Love is Favor

Receive your daily eDevotional

Don't miss new updates in your email!

WATCH

CONNECT

SHOP

ABOUT

DONATE