October 2025 How can I be happy when people attack me for doing the right thing? “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.” Matthew 5:10 Parents who won’t let their teenage daughter go to R-rated movies might not win a “Favorite Parent” contest with their daughter’s classmates because…

September 2025 How can I be happy if I don’t take sides? “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5:9 Who really wants to be a peacemaker anyway? A peacemaker in a marriage is usually the one who has to swallow his or her pride. Who wants to say, “You’re right, and…

August 2025 How can I be happy without doing anything dirty? “Blessed are the pure in heart.” Matthew 5:8 Wash your hands. Wash your hands! So often we are reminded of the need to wash our hands. After using the restroom, before eating, after eating, before cooking, after cooking. It’s…

July 2025 How can I be happy if I think only of others? “Blessed are the merciful.” Matthew 5:7 Mercy is certainly something of which we like to be on the receiving end. A police officer pulls you over. You know you rolled through that stop sign. Will he show…

June 2025 How can I be happy when I’m hungry all the time? “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Matthew 5:6 I have never really been hungry. Have you? What I mean is I can’t remember a time when I had gone days without eating and didn’t…

May 2025 How can I be happy when I’m not getting my way? “Blessed are the meek.” Matthew 5:5 Who wants to be considered meek? A meek tiger doesn’t get ahead in the jungle, and a meek person doesn’t seem to get ahead in this world. To be meek is…

April 2025 How happy can I be when I’m scared of dying? “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” Revelation 14:13 Many things are scary. Watching your infant wiggle out of the car carrier that you had momentarily set on the table—that’s scary. Witnessing a…

March 2025 How can I be happy when I’m crying? “Blessed are those who mourn.” Matthew 5:4 Be happy while you’re crying? I don’t think so. Most tears come because of sorrow. People usually cry because something important to them has gone horribly wrong. But Jesus says that Christians are…

February 2025 How can I be happy when I’m poor? “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Matthew 5:3 The hand is out. The face is pleading. In this case, the need is real. When one has run out of options and is desperate for help, begging seems the only choice….

January 2025 How can I be happy when the future is so uncertain? “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” Matthew 13:16 Every generation talks about the “good ole days.” As we embark on a new year, many people would be more than happy…