Runaway Thoughts

Written: Tue, Apr 10, 2007 but requested again today....thought maybe it would be worth sharing again....


Yesterday as I was putting groceries in my car up from my Costco run, one of those little oranges fell out of its crate and rolled down the sidewalk....a runaway! When I finished loading up, I grabbed it and thought, this will be a good snack...I'll eat it on the way home. So I started peeling it. As I was driving towards the freeway there was a homeless man standing on the side of the feeder who had a sign that read...I am Hungry, need food. So I rolled down my window, handed him my half peeled orange with a smile. He quickly took it and exclaimed "this looks wonderful...thanks so much".

My point is simple.....I had what he needed, he asked, I gave, he was satisfied and even appreciative. God has what we need, all we have to do is ask and be satisfied with his offering and be thankful. That's it! So why do we make things so hard. Why do we stew over things and situations that should be so easy....and they turn into runaway thoughts. (I know you know what I am talking about). We are the ones who make them complicated you know. We wrap them up in emotions and pride and then we let fear get involved and then the control issue comes up then it turns into a big mess. SIMPLIFY. I have a sign in my kitchen that says: "Simplify, Simplify, Simplify"(maybe it should have just said it once to simplify the issue)...and each day I look up at it and think...today's the day! Well, today is the day.

God knows my needs and he knows my concerns...and I am simply going to ask, knowing that he has the solution....and wait patiently for his reply.He knows the concerns of those we love who we pray for as well ...we simply need to offer those intercessory prayers with a true faithfulness that he hears our prayers for others and they too will be answered. And when he does answer, I am going to be thankful even if it doesn't "FIT" into the little preconceived idea that I have. For His ways are not my ways! And all I am asked to do is Trust and Obey! Sounds easy enough...we'll see!

If there is some gritting issue that you have been tossing around, and it seems to consume so many of your thoughts (a runaway)? Maybe this would be a good time for you too to try to simplify. Submit your needs as well as the needs you think others might have to God...you can give 'em all to him or just give him one at a time to see how he will handle it. ....God is faithful! It is me who loses track, and loses focus. I am constantly allowing distractions of the world to pull on my tiny little mind...and quite frankly, not only do I I not have room in there for them, they do me no good and distract me from thoughts of excellence and God himself!
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.

Just a thought for the day!
How simple is your life? How simple is mine? God has what we need...we simply have to ask faithfully and wait faithfully...Faithfully, I think is the key!

Dear Lord, Help me to simplify my life. Help me to recognize my needs as well as the needs of others and simply go to you and know that you will honor the requests of humble heart. Forgive me Lord daily for the thoughts and deeds that I have and do that do not bring glory to your name. Help my runaway thoughts to be contained and don't let me spend time dwelling on them....for I know that that robs me of the daily joy you have offered. Let me simply love you and be aware of your presence always. Thank you dear Lord...for loving me and guiding me and for the precious and needed gift of your Holy Spirit. Amen

Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in...For His glory will shine through.


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