HOUSTON— Lakewood Church has been called many things, but never boring, and co-pastor Victoria Osteen is almost never without a smile.

“I would say I choose to be happy. I really do,” said Victoria.

Many say that faith, encouragement, and happiness are the foundation of Victoria and Joel Osteen’s message.

It is a message that Joel says has spread with the help of two successful books.

Victoria has now written her own book. It goes on sale Tuesday and is titled “Love Your Life.”

“(I wanted to) help people embrace the fact they are important. When they understand their purpose and their gifts, they can give that away to other people,” said Victoria.

Critics have long called the Osteen’s version of faith "Christian light," but with the largest congregation in America, you would have to wonder about the critics. 

Cannon: “The message connects. Why?”

Victoria:  “I think because it is an authentic message. We don’t act like we know something they don’t. We really are trying to live the way we encourage them to live.”

After 21 years of marriage and two children, Victoria and Joel are the picture of happiness and calm.

Victoria says it was a different story when she and Joel first met more than 20 years ago.

She said that she was working in her family’s jewelry store when Joel walked into the business.

“I was shy. I wanted him out,” said Victoria.

Cannon:  “Did he make you nervous?”

Victoria: “It’s a girl thing.”

Joel remembers the meeting well.

“We left there, my friend Johnny and me. We were going to work out. I shut the door to my car so hard that my speaker fell out, because he knew I was excited,” said Joel.

One year later Joel asked Victoria to marry him, but first he went to her father.

“I asked her father. I took him to Jojo’s on I-10 and Wilcrest where he lived. We sat there. He wept and wept, and said yes,” said Joel.

Victoria has grown out of her shyness, but her mother, Georgine Iloff, told 11 News some things she hasn’t lost.

“She has always been compassionate. She has never been consumed with herself. She is the little girl (who is) all grown up,” she said.

Since their marriage, the Osteens have become famous and rich. It is a situation which carries its own burdens.

Victoria was in civil court earlier this year.

She was being sued by a flight attendant, who claimed Victoria assaulted her.

Victoria denied the accusation, and the jury believed her.

Cannon: “In hindsight, would you have handled that situation any differently?”

Victoria: “Well, I didn’t do anything wrong. I think I just fell prey to something.”

Victoria doesn’t mention the incident in her book, but she does offer some advice.

“I will forgive the people who have wronged me. I am trusting God to move me past those hurts and pains into a new season for my life,” she said.

“One of the greatest things I worked on is not to become skeptical and cynical of people and situations. It was one of the greatest things for my heart to say, ‘I don’t want to be looking at people with that eye,’” said Victoria.