The Key to Happiness

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The Key to Happiness

Pastor Ben Diaz
 

In this week’s message, Pastor Ben urged us always to choose thankfulness, reminding us that it’s not just a suggestion but a command. Why? Because “Thanksgiving is the doorway into God’s presence!”

 

Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.”

 

Pastor also pointed out the opposite truth: “The way to stay out of His presence is entitlement.”

 

Pastor used the Israelites as an example of entitlement vs. gratitude. Despite being miraculously freed from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites struggled with entitlement. They grumbled, complained, and even wished at times to go back to Egypt, all because they lacked vision and gratitude. They failed to see the blessings of freedom and have a vision for the bright future that awaited them in the Promised Land. Instead, they remained stuck in a mentality of slavery, unable to fully embrace the grace God was extending to them.

 

Supernatural miracles start happening when we have a heart of gratitude and give thanks. Paul and Silas were locked in the inner prison, but at midnight, as they praised God, the shock of praise shook loose their chains and set them free!

 

The word “thanksgiving” in Greek is eucharistia, which combines thanksgiving and grace. By giving thanks, you show that you are giving credit to God for His grace showing up in your life.

 

In Philippians 4:6, Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

 

Pastor stated, “Thankfulness draws us into our promised land. Thankfulness is how you put action to your faith.”  Our faith connects to His grace! As it says in Phil. 4:6, ask God for what you need. Then be thankful that God heard your petition and is answering “Yes!” When you thank God before you see the answer, your faith activates grace in your life, which positions you for even greater supernatural intervention!

 

To dive deeper into this powerful message and to hear the story of how God’s grace showed up for “Coach Ben” in a volleyball tournament, click the link and listen to the full sermon.


By Benjamin Diaz May 18, 2025
Pastor Ben walked us through the story of the Israelites. As they journeyed through the wilderness, they were like baby believers—learning who their God was. He performed spectacular miracles for them: parting the Red Sea, raining down manna, bringing water from a rock. But when they reached the edge of the Promised Land, it was time for them to grow up. This time, God wasn’t going to do everything for them—He wanted to do it with them.
By Benjamin Diaz May 18, 2025
El pastor Ben nos guió a través de la historia de los israelitas. Mientras viajaban por el desierto, eran como creyentes jóvenes: aprendían quién era su Dios. Él realizó milagros espectaculares para ellos: dividió el Mar Rojo, hizo llover maná, sacó agua de una roca. Pero cuando llegaron al borde de la Tierra Prometida, llegó el momento de que maduraran. Esta vez, Dios no iba a hacerlo todo por ellos; quería hacerlo con ellos.
By Benjamin Diaz May 11, 2025
In celebration of Mother’s Day, Pastor Ben shared a powerful message on the value and divine design of women. He reminded us that when God saw man alone—He took woman out of man, creating her equal, but different. Pastor said it best, “Women are equally powerful, divinely different.”
By Benjamin Diaz May 11, 2025
Para celebrar el Día de las Madres, el pastor Ben compartió un poderoso mensaje sobre el valor y el diseño divino de la mujer. Nos recordó que cuando Dios vio al hombre solo, sacó a la mujer del hombre, creándola igual, pero diferente. El pastor lo expresó con claridad: «Las mujeres son igualmente poderosas, divinamente diferentes».
By Kara Diaz May 4, 2025
En este mensaje, la pastora Kara se centró en uno de esos principios: sembrar y cosechar, especialmente en el área del juicio vs. la misericordia. Jesús cargó con todo el peso del juicio de Dios sobre sí mismo. No vino a condenarnos, así que nosotros tampoco debemos juzgar a los demás. Estamos llamados a sembrar misericordia, porque lo que sembramos se nos multiplica.
By Kara Diaz May 4, 2025
In this message, Pastor Kara focused on one of those principles: sowing and reaping, especially in the area of judgment vs. mercy. Jesus took the full weight of God’s judgment on Himself. He didn’t come to condemn us—so we’re not to judge others either. We’re called to sow mercy, because what we sow is multiplied back to us.
By Benjamin Diaz April 27, 2025
All throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, He gave example after example of the Kingdom of Heaven. Pastor explained, “it’s kind of like a video game—you’ve got to crack the code, figure out the algorithm, and learn the rules of how it works.” The good news is, we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to experience God’s Kingdom—we’re called to live with the supernatural impact and power of the Kingdom right now, here on earth. Pastor described it as living with “One hand in heaven, one hand reaching out to others, and our eyes always locked on Jesus.”
By Benjamin Diaz April 27, 2025
A lo largo de su ministerio terrenal, Jesús dio un ejemplo tras otro del Reino de los Cielos. El pastor explicó: «Es como un videojuego: tienes que descifrar el código, entender el algoritmo y aprender las reglas de su funcionamiento». La buena noticia es que no tenemos que esperar a llegar al cielo para experimentar el Reino de Dios; estamos llamados a vivir con el impacto y el poder sobrenaturales del Reino ahora mismo, aquí en la tierra. El pastor lo describió como vivir con «Una mano en el cielo, una mano tendiendo a los demás, y la mirada siempre fija en Jesús».
By Benjamin Diaz April 20, 2025
“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.” — Matthew 28:6 If Jesus hadn’t risen from the dead, we’d be just another religion with a set of beliefs. But we serve a living Savior! Jesus overcame death by the power of God—and that same power now lives in us who believe. He wants to work through us to heal the sick, raise the dead, and be vessels for miracles, signs, and wonders—so that the world will know the depth of God’s love and the power of His forgiveness.
By Benjamin Diaz April 20, 2025
No está aquí! Ha resucitado de entre los muertos, tal como dijo que sucedería. Vengan, vean dónde yacía su cuerpo. Mateo 28:6 Si Jesús no hubiera resucitado de entre los muertos, seríamos solo otra religión con un conjunto de creencias. ¡Pero servimos a un Salvador vivo! Jesús venció a la muerte por el poder de Dios, y ese mismo poder ahora vive en nosotros, los que creemos. Él quiere obrar a través de nosotros para sanar a los enfermos, resucitar a los muertos y ser instrumentos de milagros, señales y prodigios, para que el mundo conozca la profundidad del amor de Dios y el poder de su perdón.
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