I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 NIV
I Can Do All Things
Canada welcomes millions of visitors yearly to experience its stunning natural beauty, vibrant cities, and friendly culture. But beyond the maple syrup and hockey stereotypes, there are specific unwritten rules and taboos that tourists should be aware of. These include not feeding the wildlife, not being a litterbug, not underestimating border security, not wearing seasonally inappropriate attire, ignoring fishing and hunting laws and not wearing your shoes inside a Canadian home. There is a lot to do in Canada, but not everything is acceptable.
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Every child in my generation read the little story of The Little Engine that Could. It tells of a small railway engine who was given a seemingly impossible task of pulling a heavy train over a mountain. Every chug of his steam called out “I think I can, I think I can” and he did. Well, this is a wonderful story, but the reality is that there is much in this life that we simply cannot do in our strength. Human beings are all too frail, physically and spiritually. Most of us will never run a 4-minute mile and none of us will be able, in our own strength, to live a godly life. So why was the apostle Paul able to say, in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul had discovered one of the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God, that stands in opposition to the kingdoms of this world – when we lay down our own strength, God’s power kicks in. If you are facing the impossible today, give up, and let God’s strength supply you with all you need.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley