What's in a name?...Lots and Lots Part Two: How?

Picking up where we last left off...Here's part two coming at ya! ;) Read part one HERE :)

Sooo, when I had finally decided to give blogging a go. I was kind of stumped as to what to name it. I knew that I wanted to name it something that kind of explained what the Lord had placed in my heart to write about and a little about my love for cooking. I had wondered for a long time what name could I possibly give a blog that 1. I liked, 2. was easy to remember and 3.had to do with God and cooking.  I had prayed about it for a few weeks and then when God revealed it to me it was like if the sky had opened up and shined a light on me....lol.  I remember I had received a catalog in the mail from the Family Christian book store and was flipping through it as I normally do.  It was an ordinary day when all all of a sudden as I'm going through the pages of their catalog I see a little  notebook with a cupcake on it that has the verse Psalms 34:8 "Taste and see the Lord is GOOD".  <<<---See the pic :)  At that moment...I felt the Lord say to me "Remember the 'God Given Cupcake Story?...well I want you to name your blog that"...wow! I literally yelled that out! I knew at that moment...right then and there it was a God Given name literally!...lol ;) Anyways...now, as I sit here and type this I honestly don't remember what the other contenders were...lol... It was as if the Lord erased them from my mind...Now I know that doesn't seem to crazy or extraordinary but seriously...to understand why the story behind my blog is special to me you must also know that at the time my ''God Given Cupcake'' story took place I was in a very dark time in my life. It was a very trying time for me.  The story in itself is not very complicated and some might even find it.."not that big of a deal" but I have always believed that the AWESOME God that I serve does things that are not always the ''norm'' or expected. I LOVE that the God that I serve gives what I like to call "little" personalized reminders of how much He loves us.... :)

So to answer what exactly is a ''God Given Cupcake". The short answer to all of y'alls question is:....It's exactly what it says it is. A cupcake given by God.

Now I know that sounds crazy but I am a firm believer that God can and will use anything and anyone to He pleases to remind us of His love for us..and yes in my personal experience He will even use a cupcake....It's the little things. :)

Part three's in the oven...and almost ready! Ya'll comeback now ya hear! ;D

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

These babies are just in time for fall!  All the cool crisp air reminds me the holidays are just around the corner! My favorite time of year! :) I made these the other day when I went to my friends house for dinner.  Neither of us had ever made them before so we bought the ingredients and hoped for the best.  She found the recipe and asked me to take care of dessert while she cooked dinner for us (fettuccine Alfredo...Yum-O!...I have to ask her for the recipe to post it up!).  It was so cute baking with her two sweet girls.  Her youngest (She's three) was so excited about being able to bake that she could hardly contain herself.  She kept asking me what she was going to do next.  She would then squeal with excitement as soon as I told her...lol. At one point she even said ''My mom's going to be so pwoud!"...too cute! Dinner was great, and the muffins turned out delish.  We omitted the cardamom because our market didn't carry it.  We didn't even notice it was missing and we used walnuts since our store didn't have pumpkin seeds; but any nuts work well. You could even enjoy them with caramel machiatos like us if you want! Enjoy!

Almost-Like-Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Courtesy of: Musings Of A Mommy

They are very close to the kind you can buy at Starbucks.  She took a recipe for pumpkin bread, added lots more spices and the cream cheese, and here you go. They are wonderful hot, but be very careful of the cream cheese - it gets very very hot and you could burn yourself. That would totally ruin your experience.

Almost-Like-Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

3 cups flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp ground cloves

4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Pinch of cardamom (optional)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp soda

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 cups cooked or canned pumpkin

1 ¼ cups vegetable oil

8 oz package cream cheese*

Chopped nuts** (walnuts, pecans) (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix ingredients together except cream cheese and nuts. Fill muffin tins (greased or paper cups) half full. Put 1-2 tsp cream cheese in the middle, pressing down. Sprinkle with 1 tsp chopped nuts. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean from the muffin part (do not touch the cream cheese!). Let cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to racks to cool completely. Do not touch the cream cheese until it cools, as it is very very hot. Makes 24 muffins.

*The best cream cheese to use is the cheesecake flavored kind. Put the entire tub or brick on a piece of aluminum foil, or wax and shape it into a long log (about as thick as a quarter). Put it in the freezer while you mix and fill the pans, up to an hour. Unwrap and cut with a sharp knife. If the disks are too big around, cut thick slices and then cut them in half. This keeps the cream cheese in one big lump, and also lets you push it down into the batter.

**Starbucks uses chopped pumpkin seeds, which are very good if you can find them.

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Update: We used "Honey Nut" cream cheese from Philadelphia Brand cream cheese.  We did not add any sugar to the cream cheese but you can add a little if you would like it to be a little sweeter and taste more like cheese cake.  Happy Baking! :) 

What's In A Name?...Lots and Lots Part One: Why?

Hi guys! As promised I am finally writing about the story behind my blog's name....lol. Sorry it's taken so long. :) So here goes...I'm going to give you a little background as to why I started my blog to give you a better understanding of the name.  This may be a little long, so bare with me.  :D


The Lord for a long time had been putting in my heart that I should start a blog. I'm not gonna lie; the thought of starting a blog and putting my thoughts out there for all to see (and even comment!)..was very scary for me! I put it off for a loooong time.  I always figured That I might one day write a book (wink wink).  

It's a big dream of mine to write one...so who knows...If God wills it; someday I will.  But, anyways...I knew that the Lord had walked me through certain experiences in my life for a reason. The reason as to why, I'm not entirely sure.  What I do know is that it drew me nearer to Him.  But even with that said whether my personal experiences would help someone else or not I wasn't really sure of.  I had always wondered...how could I use my pain to glorify God.  How could I help someone, somehow? Even if it was just to make them smile or offer encouragement somehow...even in it's smallest increment.  I knew that the Lord wanted me to give out the comfort that had comforted me. So after putting it off, I came to the realization that blogging would be perfect for that in many different ways.  It would give me access to the entire world through the Internet, and would be a good way to  keep record of my walk with the Lord.Win win right? Well, except for the tiny fact that you're putting yourself out there for all to see and be able to criticize you...lol. But even with that...the thought that I was in some small way contributing to someones life as the Lord had asked me to was great.  So, with that I pressed on as I knew I should share my my little story and maybe somehow help someone along the way.  So this is not me saying how to live your life.  This me showing you how the Lord has helped me and maybe along the way I could help some one else.  So, to be that vessel...or stepping stone that the Lord uses to bless someone else...wow, what an honor.  

With that said, you should know that I love "little" stories.  The stories that we might forget if we don't write them down because even if they are not that crazy or unbelievable.  I believe they are.  God allowed them to occur for a purpose and that is good enough for me.  It's the little things that move me most. :)   Now don't get me wrong...yes, I do believe the big stories are good too. similar to the ones you hear about  a mother who's son is saved after X number of years she had faithfully been praying for his salvation..  I'm not trying to down play them.  Not at all.  I  believe those testimonies are awesome and essential and every other positive adjective you can think of but like I said I relish in the little things.  In the unseen beauty.  In the not so obvious. The little gems or stones that Lord sets in our path to grow and learn from.  The little things that the Lord gives us along the way  in our walk with Him to remind us that He is there.  He's there through the storm, through the valley, and though the desert-He's there through it all.  The big and the little.  That's why God Given Cupcake was born. 

Part two coming soon :)

My Desert Song

Musical Muse By: Hillsong United - Desert Song

"This is my prayer in the desert.  When all that's within me feels dry. All of my life; in every season; you are still God.  I have a reason to sing.  I have a reason to worship." That is so true. Regardless of what my circumstances are I still need to praise God because of the love I have for him because he loved me first.  He loved me when I was unlovable and continues to do so! That in it of itself is enough....so...I will keep singing!!!! :) Hope you're week's looking up!  God bless.

This is my prayer in the desert

when all that's within me feels dry

This is my prayer in the hunger in me

My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire

In weakness or trial or pain

There is a faith proved

Of more worth than gold

So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise

I will bring praise

No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice

I will declare

God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle

when triumph is still on it's way

I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ

So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life

In every season

You are still God

I have a reason to sing

I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest

When favor and providence flow

I know I'm filled to be empited again

The seed I've recieved I will sow

Psalm 63

I really wasn't  feeling like myself the other day.  I'm feeling better now I think somtimes we forget God has a way better view of the life's bigger picture than we ever will.  I think this can be especially difficult for us when we find ourselves walking in what feels like a barron dessert where we think that God doesn't hear us or has given us the cold shoulder.  As I was reading the word the other day I was reminded that He is with us no matter what and if He doesn't answer it doesn't mean that he has forsaken us or given the cold shoulder.  As I read I was reminded that it means He is working. He has a plan for me and I musn't focus on the barroness of the here and now based soley on what I can see but remember that my hope comes from Him and only Him. He has a plan for me.  He has a plan for each of us and I need to just keep my eyes on Him and He will lead me out of that dessert.   I pray it blesses your heart as it did mine.


Psalm 63:1-11 A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

"O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,

my body longs for you,

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him"