Blessed

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Blessed Facts: • 1/2 the world lives on less than $2/day • 80% of the world has no roof, electricity or running water. • Everything is God's and you are a steward.

Truth:

• As an American, I am blessed beyond my comprehension. While most people on earth are concerned about their next meal or fresh water, I am not. And chances are you're not either.

Too often we focus on what we don't have rather than what we do have. We allow our desires for the next high-tech device or trendy outfit overrule our ability to be thankful and content. Hey, I'm all for reaching forward and dreaming big, as long as we don't forget to thank God for what He's already done.

This is a big reason why I'm doing this 30 Days of Thanksgiving. To get you and I back to thanking God daily for His provision and blessings, many of which we can't even see. And also to consider ways to be a blessing to others, which is what leave your beauty mark is all about!

So, what are you thankful for today? Have you been on a missions trip or lived in another country where you've seen extreme poverty as I mentioned earlier? Are you thankful for the basic blessings of life that we so often neglect to even acknowledge? Please share your thoughts!

Emonne Markland | Leave Your Beauty Mark

Free Pho

My business card was selected from a tasty Pho restaurant in my area so I received a free entree today! Chicken fried rice? Yum.

Thank you, God for this free meal today!

So, what are you thankful for tonight? Share your comment below!

Emonne Markland Leave Your Beauty Mark

Agape

Agape. Unconditional, Christ-like love. This is what I experienced in a beautiful way today.

I arrived at the door of my church hoping for a miracle. Nothing life-changing, or so I thought.

The deal was, I wanted to attend the KAIROS freedom ministry conference and had no idea how I could make it. It's 9-5. It's Thursday and Friday. It's adults only. So, as the wife of a working man and mother of a toddler...eh, it just wasn't happening. But, I told the Lord a few months ago that I wanted to go and asked Him to make a way. I had since forgotten about my small request and was busy with life up until this week. At the last minute, God showed up and provided a way for me to go. The only problem was, it appeared that the conference was full and registration was closed. Still, I got dressed and ready for the conference, determined to just sit outside of the sanctuary and listen if need be.

So, as I walked in, I replayed the speech in my mind of how I would ask the volunteer to put me on a standby list for if any registrants didn't show up so I could take their spot. When I arrived at the registration table, I gave my speech. I've experienced situations where you are reprimanded for things like this, so I braced myself for the worst. And then, love showed up.

The volunteer smiled and told me that it wasn't a problem at all and pointed to a sign up sheet where I could register on the spot. She handed me my conference package, which included a beautiful conference workbook, Kleenex (you know it's gonna be good when they hand out Kleenex in your package!) and a map to locate nearby restaurants for lunch.

Now, this may seem like no big deal to you. But to me, this was everything. It was as if God was expressing His love for me by welcoming me in even when I didn't deserve it. Even when I was late in registering and didn't know how it would all work out, He showed up in that small way. And that was just the beginning of a powerful day of freedom ministry and worship.

Thank you, God, for showing your love towards me in this small way. And thank you for doing the same for my friends that are reading today. You truly left Your beauty mark on my heart. And I am so thankful.

So, what are you thankful for this evening? How did God show up in your day today? Let me know and express you gratitude for His goodness in a post below! I look forward to sharing with you tomorrow of God's goodness through the Beauty Marked 30 Days of Thanksgiving series!

Emonne Markland Leave Your Beauty Mark

30DOT: Hope

America, we have just elected our president for the next 4 years. Many people are worried, angry and hopeless by the results. Many others are hopeful, proud and excited for what's to come. Here's my stance:

The same God that was in control of my life the last 4 years is the same God that will be in control the next.

Here's what the Lord says in His word:

“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. (Jeremiah 17:5-8 NLT)

Friends, we must keep our eyes on Jesus, our hearts purified by love and our hope in God through prayer. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are members of the Kingdom of God. We serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are empowered by the Spirit. We are commanded to love.

Last night, I had a powerful dream about the future of our nation and feel very strongly about the importance of prayer and love as we go into the next four years of presidential leadership. It's important to keep our hearts right, guard our words and walk in love no matter what. Remember: prayer, not politics, will bring the change we all desire to see in this nation. The same weight of responsibility we have to vote is the same weight of responsibility we have to pray. Please, pray for our president and nation as believers in Jesus. This is the way to true health and healing in our nation.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

Today, I'm thankful for my ability to vote, as many people fought for this right. But most importantly, I'm thankful that God is in control. He is the leader of my heart. He is the captain to my ship. He is the source of my freedom and my hope is fully in His ability to shift the heart of our president and our nation towards Him. As we head to bed tonight, let's rest in peace, remain united in prayer and hopeful in our God's lordship over all.

GOD IS IN CONTROL.

So, what are you thankful for tonight? Do you trust that God is in control? Are you committed to walking in love, praying for our president and elected officials and keeping your heart pure?

Please leave a comment below!

Emonne Markland Leave Your Beauty Mark

30DOT: Anesthesia

Anesthesia? I know...not my average blog topic. But today,  it is absolutely necessary. I got a few fillings done at the dentist and as I was praying during the procedure I took a moment to thank God for the local anesthetic. I mean, c'mon people...imagine having dental filings, a root canal, or oral surgery without being numb!! Yikes!!!!

I'm thankful for modern dentistry and learned a lot from working in the dental industry a few years. My dentist is such a loving, caring woman of God and it's always a pleasure to be in her care. Most importantly, I'm thankful for the fact that God is with me everywhere I go.

Tonight, I want to encourage you that God is with you wherever you go. Whether you're in the dental chair, the hospital bed, a classroom, playing on the floor with your kids, the basketball court or just alone in your room, God is there. He is El Roi, the God who sees you wherever you are. Aren't you thankful for that tonight?! I know I am.

So tonight, thank you God for local anesthesia... and for seeing me and every reader of this post.

Friend, what are you thankful for tonight? Leave a post below and join me in thanking God for something or someone in your life tonight. I look forward to reading your comments!

Emonne Markland Leave Your Beauty Mark

30 Days of Thanksgiving: The Church

The local church is one of the greatest blessings to the world today. The love and giving that God has called us to is a precious gift and great responsibility. We have been given the gift of grace and the responsibility to be His hands and feet in the earth. Every Sunday, and throughout the week, I look forward to gathering together with my brothers and sisters in praise & worship to God. I pray that one day I can join together with churches around the world in this way. Today, I'm thankful for my pastors & leaders that selflessly shepherd the congregations of the world and teach us God's word, and the gift of the family of God.

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 12, 27 NKJV)

So, what are you thankful for today? Did you join in worship with your family today? Leave a comment below and join me in thanking God for His goodness today!

Emonne Markland Leave Your Beauty Mark