Faith Archives - Pea of Sweetness

How We're Blaming God {Even if We Don't Mean To}

September 22, 2016 by Emilee Evans

There is a cliché phrase I’ve heard (or seen) many times, and I’m sure you have, too.
“God Won’t Give Me More Than I Can Handle.”
All the time, right? I’ve used it myself! Now, I admit, I’m sensitive. My spiritual gift is Mercy, so when people are suffering it breaks my heart. I have seen so many heartbreaking comments on social media from “I don’t understand why God did (or is doing) this” to “How can people serve a God that would do that?”
I’m not sure what is more heartbreaking – that a believer is essentially blaming God for their trials or that a non-believer has this impression of God. What are we, as believers, doing to give them this impression? It could be because we are unconsciously saying these things that come across as blaming God.

I don’t think it’s intentional, and I don’t even think that they necessarily even believe God gave them all their trials. It’s a popular quote, and it’s clearly interpreted by many that what they’re saying is God can help them. I’d just love to cross out that quote and replace it with “God Can Handle Any Challenges Or Trials In My Life.” Period.
I have had this on my heart for a while, but it was really stirred up again as I’ve been reading through Job this month. He’s in pain physically and emotionally, and he’s crying out in frustration and anger. Why was this happening to him? He’s been faithful to the Lord. We even ask today why bad things happen to good people.
On the flip side, Job is being accused of having committing some heinous sin. I mean, he had to do something wrong, right? Clearly, God must be angry with him! What else could it be?
When it comes down to it, though, they’re all wrong. God did allow it, but He didn’t do it. The fact is this: Satan was to blame.

Blaming God

When we are affected by trials and tragedy, we’re so quick to point the finger. We know God is in control. With that understanding, though, blaming God could be easy. Many believers cry out to Him and Trust in Him. They may feel that is the message they’re conveying. When statements are made that both blame God and honor him in the same statement, though, how will others interpret it? Believers may understand the sentiment (and even overlook the negative), but nonbelievers may find it quite discouraging! What message do we truly want to convey?
Heartbreak and tragedy affect the world every day. Why? It could be for many reasons. Can it be that God is testing us? Sure, but can we go deeper than that? Trials shape us and refine us. Sometimes trials bring us to our knees, and only then do we look to God for help.
Does that mean He is the reason for every trial? Of course not. What can be confusing, though, is that God does use our trials for His good. Let’s look at it like this: God didn’t give us that challenge, but he is going to use that challenge for good. Just like He can take sinners like us and make them beautiful, He can do that with challenges as well.

What are the Other Factors?

It seems we have forgotten an important detail – Satan. Until Jesus returns, Satan still has influence in our world. Spiritual warfare is constantly around us. We can’t be naive to think the enemy doesn’t have influence over believers. Anyone can be subject to that influence. It’s just one of the reasons why we must read His Word daily and connect with other Christians.
Additionally, there is free will. It’s a factor many people forget as well. We want free will, though, right? Between the enemy’s influence and free will we experience tragedy, heartache, illness, etc.
Should we be blaming God for that accident? Or was it because someone chose to drink and drive?
Did someone get cancer or suffer other illnesses because God gave it to them? Or was it because we have carcinogens all around us?
Did God cause the recent tragedies? Or did people who had darkness in their hearts cause it?
There is one thing I know for sure – As long as there is evil in this world, bad things are going to happen. That is why we will rejoice when Jesus returns! Only then will Satan be defeated. We should all be looking forward to that day!

Being More Conscious

So will you take a challenge with me? Let’s be more conscious about the way we word things. Let the words that come out of our mouth (or from the tips of our fingers) be glorifying to God. May an unbeliever hear (or read) what we’re saying about God and think “I want to know more!”
Our family has experienced many challenges, and I am confident God can see us through everything. I want others to know He can do the same for them! Let’s pray for the brokenhearted and pray for those that have hardened their hearts towards God after experiencing challenges or tragedy. May they come to know Him as the God who loves them and can help them through whatever they are facing!
Perhaps this is you. Perhaps something awful has happened in your life, and you became bitter towards God. I encourage you to dig deeper. Get to know God more and understand His character. If you are struggling, please feel free to reach out for prayer or just to start a dialog about the subject. I pray you will be blessed!

New Family Devotion Pack (and Amazing Summer Promotion) from Friends and Heroes!

August 11, 2016 by Emilee Evans

Our family enjoys the variety of great Biblical resources for kids from Friends and Heroes. We loved their Homeschool Unit Study and were definitely excited to check out their new Family Devotion Pack! Bible is a big part of our homeschool, and using Devotions that work for the whole family is a huge advantage.

Disclosure: I received the Friends and Heroes Family Devotion to facilitate our review. Regardless, all opinions are my own and those of my family. This post contains affiliate links. Please refer to my Disclosure Policy for more information.
Friends and Heroes offers a variety of great Family Bible Resources that kids love! The Family Devotion uses the exciting video adventures Friends and Heroes has been using in their materials that get kids excited to learn about the Bible!
Do you want to know the best part? Friends and Heroes is currently running their Summer Special through August 15, 2016. You can save up to 20% on their great resources including the new Family Devotion Pack! Their promotions only happen twice a year, so you’ll definitely want to check it out!

Family Devotion

When we received the Friends and Heroes Family Devotion we were excited to get started. The kids have loved watching the familiar stories and completing the fun activities together. Plus, we can continue to watch the stories on the DVD as much as we’d like!
The Family Devotion Pack includes parent-led devotions ideal for kids ages 5-12 that are easy to use. The materials for the devotions are on a CD-ROM as PDF files. Printing the files is easy, and you can use them multiple times. It’s perfect for families with multiple children because we can print multiple copies of the activities.
Each devotion follows a simple layout which includes: watching the video, reading a Bible verse, exploring the Bible verse by answering questions, sharing personal experiences and thoughts, and praying together. Guidance, including specific things to say as well as possible answers, is provided. It really helps everything flow smoothly and is really easy to follow! You can print the Devotions or simply save them on your tablet for easy access and readability!

Additionally, families can use the printable activities to complement the Family Devotion as well. Many of the activities are tailored for different ages. For example, there is a simpler Word Find for younger children and a more complex one for older children.
Overall, I think the Friends and Heroes Family Devotion Pack is a great devotion for families with young children. The kids love the videos and the devotion is easy to follow and teach.

Summer Promotion!

If it sounds like a good fit for your family as well, you definitely don’t want to miss the great Summer Prmotion they have going on now!
Friends and Heroes is currently running their BIG Summer Promotion!
This promotion includes:

10% off any purchase of $50 or more
20% off any purchase of $125 or more

This is an amazing promotion, and it only happens twice a year, so you definitely don’t want to miss it! Check out the Friends and Heroes Promotion now! Don’t forget – this promotion runs through August 15, 2016.

Connect with Friends and Heroes

Website | Facebook | YouTube
And Sign up for the Friends and Heroes Newsletter

New 1GN CD – Unite is Upbeat with a Great Message

May 20, 2016 by Emilee Evans

Do you remember a couple of years ago when I shared a 1 Girl Nation review? My daughter and I absolutely loved it and continue to listen to and enjoy it! Needless to say, when I heard 1GN, formerly 1 Girl Nation, was releasing their sophomore album, Unite, on April 15 with Reunion Records, I was so excited to check out this new 1GN CD!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary download of the CD to facilitate my review. Regardless, I only recommend products I feel would be good for my readers. All opinions are my own and those of my family.

1GN CD – Unite

What I appreciate about 1GN is their passion to bring fans music with a meaningful message, and that is certainly true of their newest album, Unite. The album centers around the song “Guard Your Heart,” which is based on Proverbs 4:23-27. “Above all else, guard your heart.” Their message is, once again, relative to young women and girls encouraging them to guard their hearts in a world where it’s so easy to get caught up in things we shouldn’t through social media and things online.
As a mom of a girl, and actually, just in general, I have a passion to encourage her and other young girls to do just that – guard their hearts. There really is so much around us now that can be negative influences. That’s why I love that 1GN has released a second album because now our daughter can listen to more great music that is upbeat and fun for her, and is getting a great message at the same time! Unite has a fun and energetic pop style that you just have to dance to! Or, at least my daughter and I both have been!

More About 1GN

(From left to right) Kayli Robinson, Carmen Hadley and Lauryn Taylor Bach

1GN, comprised of Lauryn Taylor Bach, Kayli Robinson and Carmen Hadley, blends upbeat, relevant pop music, with lyrics that are focused on one united message of overcoming hate with love, and living boldly for Christ, even while having fun. Their self-titled debut album 1 Girl Nation was released in August 2013, which reached No. 2 on Billboard‘s Heatseeker Albums chart and No. 9 on Billboard‘s Top Christian Albums chart. 1GN has played on more than 80 “Secret Keeper Girl Tour” concert dates, co-headlined the “While We’re Young” Tour with OBB and performed at Disney’s Night of Joy. The group earned a “New Artist of the Year” nomination for the 45th Annual GMA Dove Awards.

Since their debut in 2013, 1GN has released A Very 1 Girl Nation Christmas EP (2014), which included “Let It Go” from Disney’s classic film Frozen. In 2015, they released their own 40-day devotional book published by Lifeway Christian Resources titled No Filter. The devotional shares their stories of how their relationship with Christ teaches them to live a life of faith and authenticity. I am definitely going to be checking out both of these!

Get Connected with 1GN:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Giveaway!!!

Would you like to win a physical copy of the 1GN CD Unite? Two winners will each receive a physical CD! This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18+. This giveaway runs through 6/4/16 at 11:59pm Eastern Time.

Enter the Giveaway Now!!

Letting Go of Things to Rest in God's Arms

May 14, 2016 by Emilee Evans

It happened…again. There I was – a crying, heaping mess on the floor. What warranted such a display? My pants were too tight. Sure, I have been upset about the weight I had gained since starting a new medication, but it wasn’t about that. At least not really. It was about a whole number of things that were piling up until I couldn’t handle them anymore, and that one moment just pushed me past my breaking point.
Have you been there?
If you’re like me, chances are you actually knew you had too much on your plate, but you were determined to do it all. Isn’t that how life can be? I know that I’m not supermom and just need to rest in God, but I can be so stubborn!

When I first heard “Just Be Held” by Casting Crowns I got emotional. Keep it all together? Everybody needs me strong? I feel like I struggle to do that every single day.
Gradually, I saw more and more people sharing that song saying they feel like it was written for them. I think we all have a tendency to feel overwhelmed yet try really hard to keep it all together. We try to help others when we can while trying to keep up with our own homes and lives. We take on too much and refuse to admit it or give anything up.
It reminds me of a parent and toddler relationship. Toddlers are very stubborn about being independent. As soon as they’re mobile they always want to be mobile. We stand closely by trying to remind them of their limits, but they won’t have any of that! They are going to go where they want to go and do what they want to do.
Then it happens. They trip and fall or bump into something, and in that moment they remember mom or dad is right there to comfort them. Just a few minutes ago you would think they didn’t even know you were there!
I think that’s how we act sometimes. We want to do all these great things – volunteer here, work on something there, play this sport or that one, plan activities for the kids, etc. and still have sight of the things we need to do in our lives like parenting, homemaking, homeschooling, etc. Sometimes I picture God, my Father, tapping me on the shoulder saying “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

What do I do, though? I stubbornly ignore it. I have to volunteer there or I will disappoint people. I have to help out with that or I’ll let them down. If I don’t work more hours we can’t get this or can’t go to that. If the kids don’t do this or that they won’t reach their full potential.
Truthfully, though, whatever the reason for not being able to something, it doesn’t matter. I had A LOT going on personally at that time I had such a breakdown. Let’s face it. We have a special needs family, so we almost always have challenges! Maybe people WILL be disappointed, and that can be hard. I just want to let it all out about how overwhelmed I am just hoping they will understand. Instead, I bottle it up and keep trying until I just can’t anymore.
We have to remind ourselves, though, that we answer to God. If God is saying “Woah. That is too much. You really need to focus on your family right now.” or “That isn’t where I want you to be.” or “Your kids don’t need that right now.” or even “You just need to rest right now.” then he’ll be faithful to direct our paths. He will guide us to all the who, what, when, where, and whys. But we have to listen and obey.
Something else our kids did as toddlers was always having their arms full of toys. On that particular day I thought of all the things I was doing as something I was holding on to. Just like they didn’t want to put down their toys to be held, I didn’t want to let go of anything either. Have you tried to hold a squirmy toddler with an armful of toys? A toy or two is bound to drop, right?
That was it. I was being called to rest in God, but the only way I could do that was to let go of some things. I had to trust Him that I could let go of these things and still be OK. In fact, I would be better than OK because I would find peace in His arms. It was right where I needed to be.

Rest in God

Maybe you’re holding on to too much. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying don’t volunteer, work extra hours, participate in sports, have your children in multiple activities, etc. Maybe God is calling you to let go of things, though, so you can rest in His arms even if it’s just for a brief moment. Go to Him in prayer. Pray about your responsibilities and your priorities. Do they line up?
Sometimes our good intentions end up taking away from our first priority – Him. Or maybe they’re taking away from your family and home. Spend time in His word daily. Trust that He is your Father and knows what is best for you. Find peace in His arms.