Live as in the sight of God

“Do nothing that you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go no place where you would not like God to find you. Read no book of which you would not like God to say, "Show it to Me."  Never spend your time in such a way that you would not like to have God say, "What are you doing?”
- J.C. Ryle

It's the Little Things



Do you have a place - a journal perhaps - where you record praises, little blessings, things that you are thankful for?  I have found this to be an incredible help to me in my walk with the Lord.  It helps me to actively cultivate gratefulness in my life.  

Can you imagine life without God's sustaining grace?  He has gifted us with beauty in everyday objects - green grass, blue skies, brilliant sunsets, kind smiles, bright eyes, hugs from my little brother "just because",  emails from dear friends,  laughter ringing through the house, incredible music, words of encouragement, time with the Lord when my heart is too full for words, sleepless nights when I can listen to scripture and pray, leaves changing color, sleeping with the windows open and snuggling deep under my warm quilt, the truth that HE is faithful, sweet passages of scripture where I can find a "resting place", precious friends, Ultimate Frisbee on Sundays, old weathered barns, wooden fences, cowboy boots, joy, worship, starry nights, dark chocolate :)...these are sweet things that I have been blessed with, and am so grateful to our gracious Lord for His goodness! 

What are you thankful for? 

Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins

Wow!  Just wow!  These little delights are amazing, and the cream cheese frosting is absolutely irresistible!  Try it - you won't be disappointed.  :)

Ingredients:

Muffins:
3 eggs

1 C sugar (I used 1/4 C maple syrup, 1/4 C honey, and 1/4 C sugar)

2/3 C pumpkin puree

3/4 C gluten free brown rice flour

1/2 t baking power

1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t pumpkin pie spice
dash salt

Frosting:
8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 C powered sugar
6 T butter, softened
2 t vanilla

 Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°.
Beat eggs & sugar together. Add pumpkin, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice.
Pour into muffin cups. Bake 13 to 15 minutes. Cool.
Whip together cream cheese frosting. Spread onto cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice if desired.

I took the muffins outside to get some better light as our kitchen is quite dark.  It was supposed to be a brilliant idea, but... 

...I was not happy when the cat took a bite out of the muffin I was trying to photograph... :)

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Lookie what I found today!!!!!  Dry, crunchy, bright, beautiful leaves!!!!!  Autumn is here, and I wore jeans, cowboy boots, and a scarf today, just for the fun of it.  :)  Ahhh, what a wonderful, wonderful day!  It is amazing what joy a dead leaf can bring.  :)

Autumn makes me happy, so delightfully happy!  Listening to some of my favorite music, doing office work for my papa, and praising God for His goodness in creating such a gloriously beautiful world. 

I read the first several chapters of Genesis today and they served as a beautiful reminder that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift, our Creator, and our Redeemer.  You know - He could have made this fallen world an ugly, barren, joyless place with no change of seasons, no color.  But He didn't!  He graciously blessed us with eyes to see His handiwork, bright colors, changing seasons, stunning beauty.  We stand in awestruck wonder of His creation - the sun, the moon, the stars, incredible creatures, the miracle of a baby formed and knitted together in his mother's womb, and created with grace and wisdom that only our God possesses.  This is a beautiful world, though fallen, and I love the life that He has blessed me with!

Psalm 103 (one of my favorites!)

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Of Food, Friends, Frisbee, and Beautiful Moments

God is good.  Always.

 

Life has been an exciting rollercoaster journey lately.  Up and down.  I can't see around the next bend, and sometimes I really wish that I knew what is going to happen next.  But He is holy.  He is leading me, and He knows what is best for me. 

I have been learning of trust and the ever-gracious goodness of God lately.  He is sovereign in salvation, in the beautiful nature surrounding me wherever I go, in the big things in my life, and all of the way down to the tiniest details.  He is sovereign.  And I am grateful.

This summer has been stunningly gorgeous.  Time spent with the Lord, good books, sunsets, family time, business travels with my Papa, fun with friends, a date with my littlest men, lots of yummy food, getting my license and driving all by myself (*gasp!*), great music, and ultimate Frisbee.  Yes, it has been a good summer, a beautiful summer, a blessed summer.  :) 

I am looking forward to what autumn will bring...rustling leaves, soup on the stove, pie in the oven, late night cookouts, plaid scarves, a chilly breeze, and that incredible, unexplainable, happy feeling that only comes at this time of the year.  

But now for some photos from the last few weeks:  

Canoeing at the lake where my parents were married. 

Darling little cousins!  Simply ADORABLE.

Lookin' for trouble?  I think I found him.  :) 

He is seriously one of the cutest guys on the planet.  I'm sure you will agree with me. 

Happy babies blowing bubbles.  Never gets old.  :) 

The first time in history where all 5 of the Armour kids drove anywhere all by themselves.  Elijah is an excellent driver, and I'm an even better passenger seat driver.  :)  Haha!  :)

Heading out for a business trip with Papa, Elijah, and Jeremiah.

Time with Amanda is...long walks and longer talks...staying up late and getting up early... lots of laughing...and maybe a few minor disagreements, for example, about how fast (or, rather, how slowly) I drive.  Haha!  Love you, 'Manda!  You are so special.

I got to surprise and spend some time with this darling little friend of mine on her birthday.  SO FUN!

Travel food is yummy, but not as good as home cooking.  :)

We stopped by the Green Bay Packers' stadium while in Wisconsin.  It was pretty fun! 

Playing spoons in Derek's apartment.  I lost horribly.  :)

Up-high ponytails before bed.  :)

Off on my first date with these two handsome guys.  :)  They took good care of me and Christian said that I was "not allowed to open any doors all day."

We stopped at Chick-fil-A for lunch...

...browsed some antique stores...

...checked out this old caboose, and went to the Monster's University movie (and died laughing) later that evening.  It was a fun, fun day!

My Grandma Great fell and fractured her pelvic bone, so had to stay in the hospital for a few days.  We visited her, and this is what the little guys did.  :)

I had a sweet time getting to know this lovely lady and shoot photos with her last week.  It was so enjoyable!

Sarah is such a dear girl!

Trying a new baked fish recipe.  It was delicious!

My kind of meal:

Grilled venison (my first time grilling venison!), crash potatoes, roasted cauliflower, grilled pineapple, and green beans.  Simply yum!

FRISBEE!  Always a highlight of my week!

These teams are very competitive (a friendly type of competition!) but Christian and Jonnie are right in there with all of the big people!

A-l-m-o-s-t there!

And the block by Christian Armour!  He's a great player!

Brother against brother.  Uh-oh!  :)

Thanks for reading.  :)

Have a blessed week, y'all!  May it be filled to over flowing with evidences of God's goodness and mercy. 

1 Peter 1:3-9

1 Peter 1:3-9
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,  whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,  receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls."

God is good to give us such beautiful encouragement as we fight our daily battles.  These verses have been a  sweet resting place for me lately.