Place is the Five Minute Friday prompt for this week. This week I learned more about surrender and waiting, trusting that God’s purposes would be fulfilled. In the surrender and waiting, God reminded me that I belong to Him.
[bctt tweet=”Everybody needs a place, whether it be at home, at school, at church, at work or even on the web.” username=”GaylWright”]
Almost Losing My Place
Yesterday I almost lost my place on the internet. I had received a notice that my web hosting would be renewing. The problem was that the price had gone up. In order to get the cheapest price I would have to renew for 3 years. But even the lowest price was too much for me to justify.
Then, my blog went down. Every time I tried to access the website, it gave me an error message, so I contacted my hosting service to get that resolved. She told me she could fix it but it might take several hours before I could access it again. In reality it only took a short time.
Soul Searching and Surrender
I did some soul searching. Then, I came to the place that I was willing to even close my blog and work on other things God may be calling me to do. I had searched for a cheaper hosting service but could not find one without taking a big step down. That meant I would lose some of the features I have on the blog.
Finally, after searching and praying and enlisting the prayers of friends, I decided to contact the host and find out if I could renew for 12 months instead of 36. But even then I was not sure because of the price. After chatting with the agent, he was able to offer me a much lower price for the 36 months. I had to make a decision quickly as the offer would only be available for 8 hours.
[bctt tweet=”Earlier in the day, when I thought I might have to lose the blog or take a step down, I was willing to do that.” username=”GaylWright”]
But when the agent gave me the offer, I made the decision to renew. God gave me such a peace about it that I knew it was the right thing.
[bctt tweet=”Then this morning, the blog was down again! I prayed and enlisted prayers of friends once more.” username=”GaylWright”]
So I signed in to the host service and began a chat with an agent and we found the problem and resolved it. Once again they told me it could be up to twelve hours before it was resolved. But it was up and running in a few minutes so I was pleased.
Even in this troubling circumstance, I was able to encourage the agent. When I told her I would give a high rating on the review, she thanked me and said it meant a lot to her. Maybe God allowed my problem so that she could be encouraged today. We don’t always know why problems come or why we have delays, but God does.
Finding My True Place
Maybe God wanted to test me to see how important the blog was to me. I needed to make sure it was not important in itself and that it did not define me.
[bctt tweet=”Even if I lost my place on the internet, I will never lose my place in Christ, who is my real home.” username=”GaylWright”]
Colossians 3:2-4 (CSB)
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
My goal from the beginning has been to glorify God and encourage others. But I also know that I am human and maybe sometimes I let myself get in the way. This was a reminder that everything I do, including my blog, should be done for the glory of God.
Colossians 3:23-24 (CSB)
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.
Where is your place? Do you have any thoughts on place? I would love to know your ideas!
I’m linking up with: #FiveMinuteFriday, #InspireMeMonday, #LMMLinkup
Glorify and encourage others…..yes!
Thanks for your agreement and encouragement, Tara. Blessings to you! xo
Dear Gayl,
I am so thankful that God opened the way for you to remain in this place! And I am so glad that He gave you grace to walk through those places of surrender yesterday. I love that graphic with Isaiah 26:3 on it; the peace of God just flows so beautifully from it. He really does bring us His peace and His presence in those places of surrender. And I am enjoying your “spring freshening” on your page here! Blessings and hugs and love to you Dear Friend! xoxo
Dear Bettie,
Thank you so much for all your encouragement and prayers yesterday! I appreciate you so much. I’m so glad you like the graphic and the “spring freshening” here. Blessings, love and hugs to you, dear sister! xoxo
I do the same thing so many times. There’s so much I struggle to figure out. For example, a newsletter that is set to go out today (after almost 24 hours all total trying to figure it out). I tell myself it is not God’s will after all, this writing goal. I do thing His plan for us is that we don’t give up and that we have patience with ourselves and Him. I can so relate to this post!
It’s so easy to think maybe the setbacks are God telling us to stop writing, but I think sometimes the enemy wants us to think that so we will stop sharing God’s love. I do think it’s good to reevaluate what we are doing at times to be sure we are serving God and not ourselves. Of course, we can be so hard on ourselves at times. I’m thankful God is patient with us and gives us strength, courage and ability to do what He has called us to do. Blessings to you, Lisa! Thanks for your understanding and encouragement.
Surrendering to Him. Surrendering my fear, my pain and knowing He loves me.
It sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it – To surrender in order to be free? But yet surrendering to God, knowing He loves us makes all the difference in the world. We are truly blessed! Blessings to you, Melissa!
So glad you got a deal to keep the blog around, Gayl. You would be sorely missed.
Home is not an address,
an need not be a place.
It’s shelter from the madness
in the gentle arms of grace.
Walls are not definition
and foundations may be sand;
you don’t need book-erudition
when you need to hold a hand.
We have a Master-Carpenter
who does not work in wood;
His steel is our soul-sharpener
and we’re in His Neighbourhood.
We’re proof against the fires of Hell
when in His Sacred Heart we dwell.
Dear Andrew, thank you so much! I’m glad I can keep blogging, too. Thanks so much for your insightful poem. I love it! It’s so full of truth. Blessings to you, dear brother!
Oh my, Gayl, you have been through a trial and a half! Technical glitches are bad enough but the thought of losing your blog is a scary place to be in. I’m awed and amazed at the way God brought you such peace over the possibility of giving up this lovely online home, and then gave you such grace over everything, including the financial wrangling and tense decisions that eventually led to you staying here after all. Phew! I’m so glad this story had a great outcome and that you also received a better deal than you could have hoped for. Your graphic for Isaiah 26:3 is truly beautiful, tranquil and restful in every way. I think it exemplifies the way I feel when I come to your sweet place on the internet and read your gentle, encouraging words. Blessings, love and “well done!” hugs! xoxo <3
Yes, Joy, it was a bit scary, but I knew that God would have something else if He was asking me to give up the blog. It gave me a chance to really think about why I have my blog. But I’m so glad things worked out. I know I would have missed being here in this space. God knew all along what would happen and I’m glad of the outcome. I’m glad you like the graphic. Thank you so much for your encouraging words, dear Joy. I’m so glad you feel tranquility and rest when you visit here. Blessings, love and hugs to you, dear friend! xoxo
God always plugs us in the right place at the right time. I just need to be more aware of the people He places around me. I may have just what they need.
You are right, Mandy. We never know who is watching us and who might need what we have, but He does. Our job is to be faithful, right? 🙂
Blessings to you!
I can assure you it is the enemy, last week I got a message someone was using my picture trying to get people to believe the government would just give them free money, normally I would have panicked, but I reported it to FB and forgot it. Peace is where He wants us to reside.
Wow, Rebecca! I’m sure glad you were able to stay calm and report it. Yes, peace is what He gives us as we trust in Him. So glad of that! Blessings to you!
Gayl, I would miss you if you had to close your blog.
Susan, that means a lot. Thank you! Love and hugs! xo
I’m glad you were able to work things out! You have a place on the internet that only you can fill!
Anita, thank you so much! Your encouragement means a lot to me. Blessings to you! xo