Declaration of Dependence

I was dusting my shelves where the knick-knacks are displayed and the framed document entitled “Our Declaration of Dependence” caught my eye. I got choked up with tears thinking, Where has the time gone? Oh! Look at the precious signatures of my then eight and ten year-old sons.
Sixteen years ago when my husband lost his job, I was nursing a baby, homeschooling for the first time, my mom had left me, my relationship with my dad had become estranged and my best friend moved to Tennessee. Life was spinning out of control. A psychologist told me “Just losing your mom in the destructive way she left could put someone over the top.” How did I survive these six life changing events at once?
Prior to the year these things happened my family had come to know Jesus, but not to the full extent that we know Him now. We could not stay the way we were and go with God. The unanimous decision to declare our dependence on God for everything required us to look to scripture and be led by the Holy Spirit. That would necessitate us asking God to increase our faith and help us to live out WWJD. WWJD became our personal motto that stood as a reminder of our belief in a moral necessity to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through the actions of our lives. We gave God permission to do anything He pleases with our ordinary selves fully dedicated to Him. We would commit regularly to worship, thanksgiving and giving back to the Lord what He so graciously blessed us with. Looking back I would not change a thing. I felt so close to God. This experience taught me the same thing Paul learned from his trials. He stated “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12 NIV).
I made it through panic attacks and other health issues that arose from stress. Every step of my healing became a lesson to learn. I began to journal the healing process. Today I am known as “The Recycle Girl” meaning that the trials that I have experienced in my life and how God has taught me and helped me get through them has never been wasted. It has all been reused to help comfort others with the comfort I have received.
I want to ask you, have you made your “Declaration of Dependence”? Do you go through life barely getting by and learning nothing from your hard times or do you have a take–away that is recyclable for others?
PRAYER: Father in heaven I need an attitude adjustment. Help me to see trials from Your perspective. I realize I cannot stay the way I am and go with You. Thank You for showing me this. Forgive me for the times I do not ask you for help. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Topics Elaine Speaks On

A DAY IN MARJORIE OVERLOAD'S LIFE

Your closets may be clean, your spices in alphabetical order, but how’s the space between your ears? When the pace of life leaves little time to process and organize our thoughts, our minds can become cluttered with “woulda, shoulda, coulda”. When the temptation to put ourselves down or compare ourselves to others strikes, defeat and condemnation can lure us into faulty thinking,

Through humor and drama Elaine shows what a chaotic mind looks like. Listen as she helps to identify “stinkin’ thinkin’ and what the Bible has to say about it. Then learn about the tools God has given us to overcome these thoughts and move to become the person God created you to be.

Personalities Plus

Do you find yourself trying to change the people around you? Frustrating, isn’t it? Why can’t everyone be just like me? But do you really know yourself? Take the test; find out what makes you you. Understanding ourselves – and others – better allows us to change what we can and live with what we can’t. Truly, a life changing experience. Elaine’s passion for teaching the personalities comes from the great success she has had personally in her own relationships, especially with her husband and children. She bases the teaching on Romans 12:18 If possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Elaine is a certified Personality Trained through Florence Littauer’s Classervices, Inc. Classervices, located in New Mexico, is a Christian Organization that teaches individuals how to speak and write professionally. They have been around for over 40 years.

The Greatest Gift Ever

Using a wrapped gift, Elaine demonstrates that Jesus Christ is the greatest Christmas gift ever given. Using Scripture and her testimony, Elaine clearly communicates the gospel message and invites listeners to receive this incredible gift from God. The Greatest Gift Ever is a wonderful message for a Christmas tea, or any other evangelistic event and can be customized with a skit for your special gathering. How can you create your testimony, so you can share with others?

LOVING GOD-We love because He first loved us. Busyness always keeps us from meeting with God, where our deepest satisfaction comes from. King David writes in Psalm 63 his desire toward God. His satisfaction in God. His dependence upon God, and assurance of safety. Elaine does a drama called “I Invite You Into My Sanctuary” describing the place where she sees God’s power and glory. She will challenge you to commit yourself to God, to be easy and pleased, and quiet from the fear of evil. Explore with her the answer to the questions “how and why David loved God more than his own life?”

Theater with a message:
RUTH- There is many messages that can come through in the story of Ruth. As Ruth trusts God with her life she finds God blesses her and unimaginable and amazing things happen in her life (length of this one women show can be altered to fit the duration of any event).

THE INNKEEPERS DAUGHTER- A woman, Ana, tells her story of living and working at an Inn, where the miraculous event of Jesus’ birth occurred, and her life was changed forever.

A LOOK AT CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD- The wonder of childlike joy is expressed when three young sweet innocent sisters come together to read the Christmas story that always teaches them the rich beauty of Christmas. This year they realize they need a gift for the baby Jesus, what will it be?.