praying.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
-Romans 8:26-28

I've been thinking a lot about prayer lately. I've been praying a lot lately, actually. Praying for people on the verge of death, and for the people that love them, praying for hurting friends, praying for reconciliation between myself and people, or between other people, praying for my family and the people I love. These verses have brought me so much comfort, because so many times I'm at a loss of words, especially when praying for people in the midst of VERY grave circumstances. I want to know the deep needs of those people and lift them up to the Almighty. It's so comforting to know that He already knows those needs, He's already meeting them. There is something so much deeper to prayer than I can really understand, which is why it's relieving to know I can trust and rely on the Holy Spirit to intercede on my behalf for the needs that I don't even realize I have. And He's interceding on the behalf of all the people I care most deeply about, because He better than me knows their circumstances, knows their sweet, hurting hearts, and knows how to reach down and comfort them, and me.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your power, in which I do not understand, but am so blesed by.

Dolly and AI

So..I think I really enjoy pop culture. American Idol has become a new favorite, as I've blogged about before, but I really enjoyed last night with Dolly.

The boys had the night. Here are my top three favorite performances (in order)...