The Holy Spirit in Action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftmAwbAzPDQ&feature=popt00us09

A Little Poem

How happy am I!
How happy am I
that the lord of wind and earth and sky
would hear a little one such as I!

The Demon Neutrality

Often, being neutral is seen as positive in the world today. Those neutral in war are congratulated for not fighting, those neutral in an argument between friends are congratulated for not picking sides. But in spirituality, nothing is neutral.
One can claim that every action or thought or word they speak is neutral, but nothing really can be neutral. Regardless of what one intends, each action has a consequence for good or for bad. Say you're invited to a party, but you know it won't exactly be a 'good' party (it may be fun, but you know people will be doing things they shouldn't be doing). But you're bored, so you go to the party anyway. You don't exactly have "Christian fun" but you do enjoy yourself. But hey, why not enjoy the party? I mean, obviously you're not respecting God, but you certainly aren't worshiping Satan or anything. The party is neutral.
Lies. You can lie to yourself and say the party wasn't good, but it wasn't evil. But anything that isn't for God is against him. Just like the butterfly effect, every action has a consequence, and you cannot expect good consequences when you do bad things.
A common saying warns that those who stand by and let evil happen are just as much at fault as those who do the evil. The idea of trying to remain 'neutral' is the same lie. You can't remain neutral. I'm not saying you can't be equally nice to two people, or that you can't agree with multiple ideas. But if you succumb to accepting things that are less than good, you succumb to evil. It is the little things, the little slips that lead us farther and farther from what is truly good.
So just don't be neutral. If you can't find anything good about a party, then don't go. If everyone tried to preform good tasks instead of evil or neutral tasks, then the world would be a better place. Because instead of being lazy all day, (because watching TV for eight hours is neutral, not evil) people might work at broken friendships, or volunteer, or pray. If everyone always tried to do something good, something useful, something worthwhile, then how much more could we accomplish? How much more could you accomplish?

How do you pray?

Prayer is like a personal phone call to God, so obviously conversations with Him will vary from person to person. Yet within these prayerful conversations, there are often similarities in style. There are those who pray classical prayers, such as the Hail Mary, and those who make up their prayers as they go along. Personally, I like to combine both methods. I'll review the day with God, then close my prayer with a handful of well known prayers.
One of the most important aspects in prayer is that you have to be honest. Don't pray for what you think you should pray for or what you think you have to pray for, pray the way you feel. God knows everything, so He's going to be able to tell if you're lying in prayer. Just be honest. If you hate someone, say it, then ask for God's help. If you're angry, don't pretend like you have everything under control. God is always there to help us with his infinite wisdom and love, but if you refuse to acknowledge your angers and problems, He can't help you. God will not force you to listen to him or come to him, you have to do that yourself.
If you don't know where or when or how to pray, here are some ideas I've found useful.

Where to Pray:
Quick prayers can be made anywhere, but I find it easier to concentrate for longer prayers when I am at somewhere quiet.
-a church
-your bedroom
-outside in a secluded area
-a park
-while walking around the block
-while running

When to Pray:
Again, because I enjoy quiet thought, I often choose times of day that provide me with peace... but any regular time that makes you get into the habit of praying is probably the best choice.
-right after you wake up in the morning
-before you fall asleep at night
-before meals
-whenever you see or hear a certain signal (for example, if pray after you see a cross or after you hear a bell)

People invest in the future every day. You go to school so you can eventually get a job. You save money so you can eventually get a car. You practice hard so you can eventually win the race. But how do you invest in the future of your spiritual life? An everlasting life with God should be much more important than a job or a car or a victory (and it will certainly last longer). So invest a little prayer every day in your spiritual bank account. It will be well worth it.

Who is Mary?

Mary is Jesus's mother... which is kind of difficult to understand, seeing as Jesus is God's son. So let's start at the beginning:

Mary was a virgin chosen by God. He sent down the angel Gabriel to bring her the news that she had been chosen to carry out a special mission. Mary consented to God's will, and the Holy Spirit blessed her with a son, Jesus. She and Joseph, her husband, raised him, then later followed him when he began teaching and preforming miracles. Mary was with Jesus until his last moments, when he died on the cross. Some time after Jesus's death and resurrection, Mary too ascended into heaven.

Because Mary ascended into heaven, how we pray to her can be a bit confusing. Mary is not a god, for there is only one God. So we do not worship Mary. However, she is more than a simple saint; she is Jesus's holy mother. We pray to her and ask her to help us in times of great need. If we feel week or helpless, we can ask Mary to pray to God for us to lend us some of her strength and gentleness. Mary herself cannot grant us these gifts or intercede for us; only through the grace of God can she aid us. A common prayer to Mary is stated below:

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Why are you Christian?

At first, I was just Christian because my parents wanted me to be. I mean, I was just a baby when I was baptized, then only a first grader when I accepted First Communion and had my first confession. Mommy and Daddy said God was real, and the Church said God was real, so I believed. But I never really got it. I mean, I went to mass every Sunday, but it was just repetitive and boring and something I had to do, not wanted to do.
But then I spent a weekend preparing for first Confirmation, which is pretty much the mass in which a Catholic makes the adult decision to stay with the Church. It was during this camp that I truly began to see, feel, and understand the true meaning of being a Christian.

Being a Christian isn't a title; it's a way of life. It's a commitment to love everyone, no matter what they do to you. It's a commitment to obey the commandments and lead others to God. It's showing Christ in every one of your actions. It's obeying God, no matter what. It's the meaning of life. To love unconditionally as disciples of Christ is the true meaning of being Christian.
So why am I Christian? Because I believe it's the meaning of life. It doesn't immediately unfold a clear path before me, but it guides my feet. If God put us on this world to follow Him, who am I to say no? He's like the referee in the game of life, and every rule or suggestion He makes only makes the game easier to play and win. And winning a place in heaven, the perfect prize, is well worth whatever challenges I have to face.

I asked God

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey...

I asked for health, that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things...

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise...

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God...

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things...

I got nothing that I asked for-but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.
-Anonymous