NSM Evotional 05/13/2011

[GPiper]

A Glory Seed Devotional
The Little Engine that could...

Remember the story of the Little Engine that could? When all the other train engines refused to take a load of toys over mountain the Little Engine heard a voice telling him he was being called upon to make the over the mountain trip so he said he’d take them. All the bigger engines laughed but it was the inner voice the Little Engine listened to not theirs. And as the story goes at the train started up the mountain the Little Engine began saying, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” And finally the train made it over the mountain.

Let me give you a little history on the Little Engine. He was built smaller because it was going to be his job to move railcars around the yard. And the shop he was built in was owned and operated by a Christian family who was struggling to keep their business afloat. And each morning before beginning the day’s work the owners and employees would gather for prayer and after saying amen they always ended with a bible verse from Philippians. “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12-13 ESV)

It was in that atmosphere that the Little Engine was created and somehow the phrase, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” stuck with him and he knew it was his creators that gave him life and he also knew that if his creators had given him life they would also give him the strength and courage to do whatever he was called upon to do.

If you were thinking the next thing I was going to say is the Little Engine’s story is your story you’d be right. But I have a word of caution for you – you cannot do ALL things – you have human limitations unique to you. At 64 years old with two artificial hips there are some things I cannot do – I couldn’t run and complete the Boston Marathon – I couldn’t play professional football and live. But then because God also knows my limitations he would not call upon me to run a marathon or play football but he has called upon me to make Jesus as real to as many people as I can and because he calls upon me to do that he strengthens me (sometimes he even carries me).

The next time you’re called upon to climb a mountain think about these words, “I know I can because God strengthens me. I know I can because God strengthens me. I know I can because God strengthens me.”

It is the Spirit who gives life!
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.*

Grace and PEACE,
Gary

*Galatians 5:25 KJV

"Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."