There are many prayers offered to God and we often wonder what kind of prayers does God really answers? What are the secrets of answered prayers? What gets God attention?

I know many of you pray. Some of you - when tragedy hits close will cry a “please help God”, others when something excited is happening in your life will say a “thank you God” and some of you are praying daily. It’s part of your religious routine: morning prayer, before meal prayer, evening prayer … you do it without thinking. And some of you are prayer warriors who can spend countless hours on their knees to pray for others and themselves with sincere hearts and expectations from God.

I personally pray a lot. I pray short prayers, when someone asks to pray for them I do it right away. Over the years I learned that we ought to ask, for everything … because Jesus said: ask and it will be given to you, but we ought to ask according to God’s will. Jesus showed us this when in the Gethsemane he was able to say: Father, not my will, but yours … these are some of the hardest words we can say, if we really mean them. It’s not easy to give up our will, totally surrender and unconditionally trust God - but it’s possible. It will never be easy, but as you get to know God better and better you will know that he wants your very best and it will be easier to give up control over your life.

Yet in my journey with God, I noticed that God will always answer those prayers that come from heart and they are longings to know Him more, prayers which will help us grow in faith.

Advent … for some it means nothing, for others means a lot. While we are in a great anticipation for the upcoming Christmas, advent is more than that. Advent reminds us that in the darkest times there is HOPE. Before Jesus came, the world was in a deep spiritual darkness and when God’s people cried out God did sent His son. It seemed for a long time; it seemed that God doesn’t hear their prayers … but God was preparing a way for his people. As we remember the first coming of Christ, we out to keep our eyes and thoughts on Jesus’ second coming. We live in a constant Advent time.

We celebrate advent in our family. Every year four weeks before Christmas I set up the candles. And every Sunday we light a new candle. But four years ago, the meaning of advent totally changed. It became really personal.

It was the second Advent Sunday. The Sunday after my baby daughter’s funeral.

Lately I meet more and more people who are desperately search for something. We are made in God’s image and it’s a desire in us to find that relationship with God. But often people try to fill that need of God with all kinds of gods.

Many pick pieces of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam and they mix it together picking the parts they like to fill their needs. People praise the Universe, and Karma for their success of failures, yet few acknowledge that there is ONLY ONE GOD.

I personally know ONE GOD only, and I am not apologetic or shamed about it. The God I know is the real God, his name is Jehovah – Yahweh. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega, he is my shepherd, my salvation, my provider, and he is my healer, the Almighty God, my Father.

You might call me radical, but my God radically changed my life. He took all my sins, all my failures, all my mistakes and exchanged it on the cross for a new life.

I don’t know theology and I don’t know all the religious facts, I know one thing, that God changed my life. Gave me peace in the midst of my turmoil and loss, gave my strength when I had none, gave me hope when I couldn’t make it, provided when for months a job seemed totally hopeless.

How do I know that the God I know is the real God? He hears me when I call and answers my prayers. Does your God do that? Can Your God hear you? Can he deliver you? Do you know him personally? Does he know your name? The number of your hairs on your head? Does your God talk to you personally?

I don’t believe in a God image … I trust a God who is real, the one and only God, my God.

Today we remembered the events that took place ten years ago, when On September 11th 2001, four planes where hijacked in midair. Three planes succeeded in hitting their targets. With great courage and resolve, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 prevented their plane from reaching its likely target, the White House or the Capitol Building.

I remember the phone call my husband made and asked if I was watching the TV. Told him no … I had my twins who were 1 at the time and my oldest 5 home. I was a busy mom who rarely watched TV. But when I turned on CNN the pictures I saw totally changed my life and the lives of many that day. I didn’t saw when the first plane actually hit the World Trade Centre, but saw the second one and the devastation before the towers collapsed.

The most vivid picture that stayed with me was the image of people jumping out of the windows thinking that they have more chance to survive then just being on the top floors of the building.

We will NEVER forget that day. It changed the world, and it definitely changed the American nation. We will always remember the tragedy, the courage … later the love and unity. Thank you for all who serve and served.

Yesterday, the movie Flight 93 was on TV, and we were watching it as a family to help my kids understand the events of that day, one thing really thought my attention. The last phone calls.

Passengers were allowed to call their relatives. One more call, to say good bye. But the passengers from the other three planes didn’t have that opportunity. They couldn’t say good bye. When they left their homes, whatever they said last time … was their last words. Whether a husband, a wife, a son, a daughter, a mom, a dad, a brother, the newspaper boy, the coffee lady … whomever those people were in contact with, did they ever crossed their minds that this might be the last time when they can talk to these people?

We live in a busy world. Running with agendas to meet, goals to reach, and often we take our days, and the people in our lives granted. What if … the words I say, will be the last I could say …

God gives us time and puts us around people … do we realize the impact we can leave with our words? We can choose to be nice, and grateful, and build up people … or we can be angry, disrespectful, always complaining, draining others.

Our words carry power. It either builds up, or tears down. Every interaction we have is God given opportunity to lift someone up, to build someone up, to tell them there are valuable, and to let them know they are loved and appreciated.

When it’s not easy to hear God’s Words

There are times in your life, when you go through difficult circumstances and you feel you’re alone. You cry out to God, you pray, but it seems that there is no answer. In those times what do you do???

When you feel everything is falling apart, remember you are safe in his arms.

Sometimes is hard to hear God’s voice, sometimes your circumstances are so overwhelming that you just feel you can’t take one more step, you can face one more day, and more than anything you just want to hear His voice … but you just can’t hear it.

When it seem your prayers never leaves your room, you wonder if God even knows your name, or hears your voice … in those moments you have to choose to trust God anyways.

I faced many heart crunching circumstances … when it seemed that I couldn't take one more step, one more day … and the truth is – on my own, I would of never made it, yet with God’s help I was able to stand … better said, he held me so  I didn't collapse.

I was having a heart to heart conversation with God lately. I know God is able, I know he spoke and the Universe was formed, I know he doesn’t change, I know and sincerely believe that he can change my circumstances, and your circumstances … it’s not about if he is capable or not … It’s about if he is willing or not.

When our life seems like is falling apart and is totally out of our control, we have to CHOOSE to trust God. We have to remember that he loves us; with a love we can’t understand or comprehend. NEVER question God’s love for you. Your circumstances are not the result of his love. We can NEVER assume that if God loves us, our lives should be problem free. If you ever doubt God love: REMEMBER THE CROSS! On the cross you can see God’s love for you. He gave His only son, to save you, because he loves you so much, that He can’t imagine eternity without you.

So when our situations are overwhelming, remember that he held you all the way until now, and he will do it again. Remember, that NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING can happen to you without his knowledge. God knows what you are facing now, He knows your pain, your heartbreak, your tears, your fears, your doubts, and he loves you.

God Provides You with the Strength needed for each day 

I was at the car dealership this Monday. My hubby’s business car lease expired, we bought the car and had to transfer the ownership to the business name. Victor the dealer, we know him for years, was showing me the new cars and conversation moved from one to other. We been joking about the seats and that the two seats in the last row are smaller. Anyways, as our conversation moved he mentioned that it would be nice for two girls after the tree boys. These are the moments when my heart beat rises and my stomach goes into pain. My baby daughter, she’s never forgotten. So quietly I told Victor that actually, God gave us a little girl, but choose to take her awayfartoo early.

For a short moment he opened up and shared his life’s struggle. His third son was born with a lung disease and the doctors announced his son death when he was born, YET he survived. His son spent his first year in the hospital, when they couldn’t take it anymore. They told God, Lord you either take him or heal him. That night they took him off from life support and he was able to breathe on his own. By the medical assumptions he supposed to be death, he is four and alive. Yes, he needs daily massage treatments, and he is on pills, but he is a normal little boy.

Then Victor looked at me and said: I guess God gives us only as much we can handle. I could off never handle to lose my kids; God knew that you (as me) will be able to handle it.

And in that moment God talked and I just shared it forward.

I don’t think that’s true, sometimes we go through circumstances what we can’t handle on our own, but when we are in those overwhelming situations, God will give you the strength needed to face each day, sometimes only enough strength to face one step at the time, one hour at the time, and one day at the time. It’s not about our capability, but His availability, not my strength, but His strength.

What is your first thought, emotion when you think of the possibility that Jesus might come back in three days?

In the last few days you heard more and more news coverage in TV about the predictions of Harold Camping that the judgment day is May 21, 2011.  The followers of Harold Camping spent their own money for bench ads, bus ads and big billboard ads to get people’s attention of the second coming of Jesus.

I really don’t want to go into details about what the bible says and what not. I’m not interested in a theological debate. Over the years I learned that if people want to explain and support their believes they will find a way and scriptures to support their point. You either take the Bible as a whole, or is senseless. To pick and choose some parts to support your ideology is not right.

Could God reveal to someone his second coming if he wish to? Yes – He did send Jonah to Nineveh to save those people. God is Almighty and he can choose to do whatever pleases him.

For me the question is not whether Jesus is coming back on May 21, 2011 but whether you are ready for his coming?

I was sitting in the church few weeks ago and to be honest I don’t remember anything from the sermon. The truth is if you are a church attending person, in your lifetime you will attend thousands of church services and it’s absolutely normal that you will not remember all. You don’t even have to. God uses your church time, your daily ordinary events, and all of your circumstances to personally talk to you and by doing so he is transforming you one step at a time.

But while you will listen to thousands of sermons and you will forget many of them, I find it amusing that I never forget when God talks to me personally. I can recall every time God talked to me: tell you exactly what I did, what he told me, and the impact it had on my life. Whether God talks to me at church through a pastor, a song, a book, a dream or just simply when I don’t even expect it, those moments and words all are imprinted in my mind forever. I treasure these sentences more than anything in my life. God, the God of the universe talks to me, little me – personally.

So going back to the Sunday, I remember the pastor asking: “Do you love Jesus?” And of course in was a grooming yes in the room - well we are in the church setting - of course we love Jesus. But then the next question came: “Do you obey him?” and after this I can’t remember the sermon anymore because God, started to talk to me personally.

Is Your Name on The Guest List?

I was asked by quite few people if I am planning to watch the live podcast of the royal wedding. Well the answer is no. I am not a big fan of the monarchy and not really crazy about the “royal family”. I just don’t have a vested interest to set aside time to really follow their lives, just as I never followed closely any Hollywood star’s life. I guess we get more then we ask for coverage through news channels and that is just more than enough for me. I will of course check in to see the wedding dress … the love for fashion will push me to watch for a short period of time, just to check the royal fashion, so to speak.

But something really captured my attention, and that is the preparation for the wedding. After the official engagement announcement on November 16, 2010, I could say without any exaggeration that an entire army of people were set into action. Their ultimate goal is to plan and make every preparation needed to provide William and Kate – a dream come true – wedding experience. TV channels followed the preparation steps and kept us informed about the latest news in regards of the wedding details.

While William and Kate’s wedding might be one of the most watched weddings in our days, there is a huge – yet unnoticed by news and media crews – wedding preparation going on for the ultimate wedding of all times. We might not even realize it at times, but you can be assured that there is a heavenly army getting ready for the big day of the Lord.

We are one day from Good Friday and three days from Easter. If you are a Christian then more likely your church has some kind of Easter cantata or presentation. This is the time when about a month before Easter your pastor start to pressure you to bring a friend to see the “show”. They might not word it like that, but that’s the point.

Don’t just shoot me now, just let me finish what I started. Don’t take me wrong, I been part of many Easter presentations and cantatas. Since I was a child I grew up in church. I know the customs. I invited my school classmates, friends, co-workers and the list goes on. Well I would say I had some kind of success with these invitations. Maybe 100:1 ratio. You had been there too. You know the feeling. One of my neighbors said: Piri keep inviting us, one day we might show up. At least she was honest.

This year too, I planned ahead. Ordered the lamb and called our friends. I would invite them for lunch or dinner after they would attend church with us. I planned this year after year. I always go the extra mile and try hard not only to invite them to the church and let them just leave, but make it more personal, more friendly, have some food together. Well – still doesn’t work. They are always having other plans Good Friday and Easter Sunday as well as at Christmas time.

I was praying about this and telling God what to do? I love my friends, and I really care about their spiritual life. I can’t even imagine that they would perish while I know God and going to heaven. I sincerely believe that God put us in their paths with the purpose of being the signpost to show them the way to God. But what do I do wrong? I pray for them, not only at Easter and Christmas time, but on a regular basis.  I pray that God would open their hearts, open opportunities and draw them close to him.

As I was praying and asking God what should I do to somehow be able to get a yes to the invitation to the church – God’s answer really got me unexpected. “Piri, you don’t have to bring people to church, you just have to bring God to them”. And I was like “WHAT?” God said: “Jesus never invited the tax collectors, the sick, the hungry, the blind, to the temple … Jesus went out brought God to them by reached them where they were”.

It absolutely amazes me Jesus’ behavior from his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane to his death on the Cross. Jesus didn’t defend himself, he gave up his privileges being one with God, he gave up his powers and endured the rejection, denial, pain, contempt and in the end death for me and you.

Though he was God, de did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal death on a cross. ~ Philippians 1:6-8 (NLT)

Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? ~ Matthew 26:53 (NLT)

Jesus gave up all his privileges and powers, so that we can set be free and become children of God. He could of … just ask for thousands of angels … what a show would of that have been. He could of prove it that he is the Son of God to all those who didn’t believed him. We know that everything was created in him, Jesus, and for him. He was there at the creation when “Let it be” was mentioned and the entire universe instantly was created.   We just don’t understand what does it mean to be God, have the supernatural powers to strike with one word and all would be death … yet, Jesus gave up everything, he didn’t even responded to the accusations against him. He always affirmed his authority. Whenever he was asked if he really was the Son of God, he would affirm their questions. He never denied his authority, but didn’t defend himself.

While mostly in his trial he was quite, Jesus had seven very important sentences which show us and teach us deep Godly principles.

We live in a society when many are possessed with their possessions. There are many teachings on how to protect, invest, and how to increase your possessions. But there is a good chance that many will never possess their possession because they are not taking charge to go and get it.

Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the LORD, the God of your ancestor, has given to you?” – Joshua 18:3

God promised the Israelites that he will give them victory over nations and give them the Promised Land. Yet, the Israelites still had to go out and fight their enemies to possess the land. When the walls of Jericho collapsed, they had to march straight into the city and finish the war: capture and destroy everyone and everything. Every time they went in the battle against a city, God already promised them the victory, yet they still had to go out, put on their armor and fight, to take over their possessions. Once they destroyed the cities, they had to rebuild them to become their livable personal possessions.

Do you recognize that the above mentioned verse clarifies that God has already given them victory. It’s already theirs, it’s their possession, it’s their land, their territory – yet there is still one more fight ahead of them – to go and take possession of the land.

Why would they not want to possess their land?  Why would Joshua need to prod them?  Probably because these people had not lived in permanent dwellings for more than a generation, and they were afraid of something new, even if it was good.

I don’t know about you, but reading the Bible I found many bold, sometimes almost crazy prayers. Here is Joshua for example – who in his right mind would have the guts and the boldness to ask God to hold the sun still until they defeat their enemies?

On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and did not set as on a normal day - Joshua 10:12-13

I was reading and wondering how many of us, called the children of God had ever asked God for any kind of crazy, totally unthinkable things?

How often we have these, I call them “just prayers", like:”God could you just provide enough for paying this month’s bill?” “God, could you just please forgive my sins”, “God just help me pass the class”, “God just …. Fill in the blank”. The reason we pray “just” prayers is because we think less of God then what he is capable. (Actually what is what he is no capable?) Do we really believe that He is the creator of the universe, the one who said – Let it be – and suddenly there it was: the stars in the sky, the sun, the moon, the oceans, the rivers, the mountain, it was all he said – Let it be – Do we believe that our God is a Mighty God, he is the Lord of Heavens Armies???

I often speculate how we’ll react in Heaven when we’ll find out that we missed so much, just because we never had the boldness to ask amazing things.

If you thing about God as a small God, a God who is just enough to go by – you will pray accordingly.

If you believe that God is for you, and he is more than able to grant your heart’s desires – you will pray accordingly.

We are confronted daily with decisions that must to be made; sides to take and we try our best to examine the facts laid in front of us. We try hard to look to as much details as possible before we make our final decisions. We might opt to consult some of those people around us, who we think – they kind of know more than we do. But how often do we turn to God to consult him about the decisions we have to make.

“So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord" - Joshua 9:14 Read the entire chapter (Joshua 9) to really understand what just happened.

This one verse summarizes one of our biggest mistakes we can make. I already talked about, how our choices impact not only our future, but our entire family’s future – HERE

One of the most important things we must learn if we want to be successful, and be all that God made us to be, is to ALWAYS consult the Lord, in spite of how things might sound like or look like.

I am studying Joshua as part of Life Journal Readings. This is not the first time I went through this book, yet I found many deep life messages. Here is Rahab, the prostitute and here proclamation about God.

„For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and earth below”- Joshua 2:11b

This is a prostitute’s declaration after hearing all the things God did in the Israelites lives and the journey from Egypt.

People around you  are watching your life: the way you talk, the way you respond in different circumstances, how you handle stress, how you face difficulties, how God delivers you or sustains you in difficult times, how you handle success and who gets all the glory in your success all those daily choices you make, talk laud about who God is in your life.

How People see Your God? Do you give God the deserved glory? Being God’s child doesn’t mean that you won’t face difficulties. To be straight with you, if you haven’t noticed yet, then you will sooner or later, that as God’s child you WILL face difficulties. The more I see it, these times are times of miracles! Whether God is doing a miracle IN you or FOR you it is absolutely visible for those around you. Whether he changes circumstances or changes your heart and attitude while in a circumstance, those who are around you WILL notice, even if they don’t verbalize what they see.

“I wanted them so much that I took them” – Joshua 7: 21 –THE CHOICE.

Achan knew the rules. “Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel. Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury” – Joshua 6:17-19

God gave special instruction to his people about Jericho’s destruction. Yet, while most of them where following God’s instructions, Achan SAW few things and wanted them so much … that in a moment he made a choice to take them. They are only few things. Who will notice anyways?

Well, God did and he brought trouble on the entire camp. Israel was defeated by Ai because of the disobedience of one man. But there is more than that.

“Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold (the three things that were stolen), his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. … And all the Israelites stoned Achan, and his family and burned their bodies” – Joshua 7: 24-25 – THE CONSEQUENCE

Brutal ending. And you might as well feel sick to your stomach.

Why Achan’s family – the sons and daughters had to be killed and be punished for their dad’s choice? Seems unfair, isn’t it? I totally agree with you. I found it even more unfair, because in the next chapter, God allowed the Israelites to keep the plunder and the livestock for themselves. So, if in the next battle they could keep the plunder, why in this battle not only Achan, but his entire family was killed for three objects?

“Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you” – Joshua 7:13

You know your life and you KNOW what the things are, what should be set apart for the Lord.

“They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must set apart for me” – Joshua 7:10b

What are the things God wants for himself, things that should be set apart for him, yet you stole them?

Your time, your tithe, your attention, your obedience, your love…Do you love God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, ALL your mind and ALL your strength? Or is your heart, mind, and strength divided between your selfish wants and his ways?

This is a really tough question to ask ourselves.  As I was reading this chapter I had to stop and ask God to search me. Like David I cried out:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” – Psalm 139:23-24

Please understand, God says that you will NEVER defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you. Are you defeated? Do you feel your enemies are defeating you? Do you struggle again and again with the same problems? Don’t take it lightly. We can’t rob God and expect his blessings over our lives. We can’t live our way and expect him to give us the desires of our heart.

“For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy” – Mark 15:10

Every time I read Jesus’ life’s events while he was on earth as recorded in the gospels, one thing becomes more and more evident: the people or better said group of people who really disliked Jesus, where the religious law’s representatives. Priests and religious leaders. They were jealous, because people would rather listen and follow Jesus instead of them. And they were the ones who couldn’t take the fact that Jesus would point out their sins openly, often in the public. This anger and envy moved them to the point that they planned the death of Jesus.

There are times in our life journey, when God comes so close to us and challenges us to slow down, step back and take a look deep inside in our hearts and answer the most important questions of our lives. One of the most important questions of your life is:

“Then he (Jesus) asked them:”But who do YOU say I am?” – Mark 8:29

It doesn’t matter what other people say about Jesus. It doesn’t matter what they think. It doesn’t matter where their relationship stands.

When it comes to YOUR relationship with God, what YOU believe about Jesus is THE most important thing about you. You will live YOUR life accordingly to what comes first to YOUR mind when YOU hear the word: Jesus.

This question is so personal and so deep.

The choices we make today will impact our tomorrow, and not only our personal future, but the future of those who are around us. Every personal choice is more than personal. A parent’s choice impacts its children and partner life, a child’s choice impact its parents and siblings life, a teacher’s choice impacts its entire class life, a leader’s choice impact all those whom she/he leads, and the list can just go on.

Just because we often think it’s our personal life and we can do whatever we want with it, that statement is only half true. Every time we make a choice it impacts our future and those who are in contact with us either positively or negatively. History was shaped and will be shaped by individual choices. Sometimes, little, seemingly insignificant choices make tremendous differences.

In our lifetime, we and those around us made and will make some plain bad choices that impact our lives. Have you ever found yourself wondering: what IF – I didn’t say that? Or what IF – I just would have said that?  Have you ever wondered which hurts the most: saying something and wishing you had not, or saying nothing, and wishing you had? As you look back, what hurts you more: the choices you made and turned out they were bad choices or the steps you never made being afraid of failing or the consequences your choices would bring?

If we are honest, then we know that, most of us made some pretty damn bad choices which caused pain not only for us, but for those around us. Some people live their entire lives with regrets over the choices they made, or others made for them. Would be nice, wouldn’t be? - to have that one opportunity to just go back in time and backup our life to the date where everything was just perfect, to the times before the storm hit. As I was restoring my websites and the operator asked to choose the date … the question become lauder and lauder:”Piri: if you could go back what would be the date where you would like to restore your life?”

On the sleepless nights I would travel back in time: