"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever."

Jesus knew that many of those who followed Him did it because they were moved solely by the excitement of the moment, caused by the miracles He performed. He also knew that when he had to finish His mission on Earth, many of His followers would simply disappear and even deny Him. To His followers He was their strong man, the column and pillar on which they leaned. Near Him they felt a security that they had never before experienced. Because of this, when He was captured fear seized them. Knowing all this, He prepared them for the moment of His departure and promised them that God would send to them another who would give them the necessary strength to go forward with the mission that He gave them. This "other" is the Holy Spirit.

The first time I went up Space Mountain at Disneyworld, it was a thrilling experience. Something I wanted to repeat again and again. But after taking the ride several times, I began losing interest, because I already knew the trip and it had nothing more to offer me.

When I converted to Christianity it was also like riding a new mechanical attraction at a theme park. Motivated less by faith and more by the enthusiasm of knowing I had met the living Christ, I accepted Him into my life without understanding what this meant. So, when I sensed the Church no longer had anything to offer me, I decided to leave.

Nevertheless, to be a Christian has more to do with giving than receiving. Similarly, going to church is not so much about me coming in, sitting down, listening to the sermon, putting a few coins in the offering, and with that having the sense of fulfilling my obligation to God. No. To attend church or to be a Christian is about giving. It's about giving, and offering ourselves to fulfill the Great Commission.

Many times we think we don't have the ability, the training, the time, the maturity, or aren't sufficiently moral to truly and literally follow the command "go to all the nations and make them my disciples." At least this was my case. What can a gay Latin man, a member of the laity, do in this regard? But God works in mysterious ways, and according to the promise of Jesus Christ, He sends the help so that you will find the necessary tools to do this, using your own special abilities. He helps you discover the gifts God has blessed you with. When I understood this, I came back to the Church, not to receive something from it, but to offer my gifts to others.

Some years ago, when training courses were given on excellence in ministry, the importance of the "Extra Effort" was frequently mentioned. Then someone asked me how we can illustrate, in a simple fashion, the motivating force that makes us able to give a little more of ourselves, especially when we think that we can't give any more. The first thing that came to my mind was the question, "How many of you believe in the Holy Spirit? Well, then, this is the motivating force to offer an extra effort, get a second wind, give ourselves a second chance, to convince ourselves to try again."

The mission of building the Kingdom of God here an Earth is a task that can make us weary. Perhaps in such a moment you or someone you know will be at the point of leaving the Church and abandoning Christ, just like I did. If this is how it is, pray for the intervention of the Holy Spirit so that you will receive from Him this invigorating second wind of the soul. Does it work? It certainly does! Always and whenever you permit Him to help you discover your own gifts and utilize them, no matter what they are.

SCRIPTURE
John 14:8-17 and 25-27
New International Version (NIV)

Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you...All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

To read more devotionals by Mr. Rubio, visit A Big Child Ministry (http://abigchild.spaces.live.com).