"Team Baker" and our dear friends and coaches, the T's from Arizona. We thank God for giving us leaders who love Him and love us and want to see us grow in Him.
"Team Baker."Today, D and I "graduate" from the first three years of Christ Quest Institute. I say "graduate," because the entire purpose of this program is to teach and enforce Christ likeness, to change the way we act, think and speak. Until we meet Jesus face to face, each of us will be working to be more like Him. That will be our true Graduation Day.
In the meantime, I want to share one simple truth that I have found during the past three years. This class and all that is taught has given me permission to be single minded, the put first things first. My life focus has changed, my commitments and priorities have shifted, my passion is fueled. And I don't feel the least bit guilty. I've learned to say "No" to countless good things so that I have the time and energy for the best things, His plans for my life. It begins with loving Him with all my heart, soul and mind. Of course that is a lifelong aspiration. Secondly, I long to love others as He loves them. Another massive undertaking. I no longer have to wonder "Who, when, where?" Now I see clearly.
First things first, "Team Baker." The ones who live under my roof are the ones He's called me to give my heart and soul to. Day in and out, hour by hour, moment by moment. Over a year ago, we made the decision to home school our three boys. My heart ached to see how fast time was passing by and I longed for more time with my sons. I wanted to be the one who got the best part of each day with them, the one who witnessed those "Ah Ha!" moments as they learned a new concept or remembered something they learned before that could now be built upon. That is one of the best decisions we have ever made for our family. When I am exhausted at the end of the day, I feel good about my fatigue, knowing that I spent myself on the very ones that He entrusted to me.
"Team Baker" is being built and conditioned, day by day, line by line, precept upon precept. We have many lessons to learn but we are stronger today than we have ever been. I long for our home to be a place of peace, where others can stop by in the storms of life and rest. Family is our number one ministry, as we are strengthened, we can move as a unit and reach out to others. It starts at home. We have no business trying to minister outside our four walls if our own foundation is shaky.
We are raising three future husbands and nothing matters more to me than teaching them to love Jesus with all their hearts, souls, minds and to love others as Christ does. These three boys will one day become husbands and fathers. Yesterday, I drew a diagram to visualize this. B, C and J will each choose a wife and if each one has two or three children, "Team Baker" quickly grows. If we are grounded in Jesus, our family line will become one that stands and gets stronger with each generation. What we learn in our 30's our sons are learning before high school. The revelation can be passed on and learned younger and younger. Our goal is to raise up godly children in a fallen world. To keep first things first.
I thank God for bringing Life Partners into our lives three years ago. I thank Him for allowing us to be a part of Christ Quest Institute and to hear Biblical truths that are opening our eyes, restoring our marriage and healing our home. We have started our fourth year of classes and plan to stay with this program as long as it takes to see our home transformed into the likeness of Christ.
In the meantime, I want to share one simple truth that I have found during the past three years. This class and all that is taught has given me permission to be single minded, the put first things first. My life focus has changed, my commitments and priorities have shifted, my passion is fueled. And I don't feel the least bit guilty. I've learned to say "No" to countless good things so that I have the time and energy for the best things, His plans for my life. It begins with loving Him with all my heart, soul and mind. Of course that is a lifelong aspiration. Secondly, I long to love others as He loves them. Another massive undertaking. I no longer have to wonder "Who, when, where?" Now I see clearly.
First things first, "Team Baker." The ones who live under my roof are the ones He's called me to give my heart and soul to. Day in and out, hour by hour, moment by moment. Over a year ago, we made the decision to home school our three boys. My heart ached to see how fast time was passing by and I longed for more time with my sons. I wanted to be the one who got the best part of each day with them, the one who witnessed those "Ah Ha!" moments as they learned a new concept or remembered something they learned before that could now be built upon. That is one of the best decisions we have ever made for our family. When I am exhausted at the end of the day, I feel good about my fatigue, knowing that I spent myself on the very ones that He entrusted to me.
"Team Baker" is being built and conditioned, day by day, line by line, precept upon precept. We have many lessons to learn but we are stronger today than we have ever been. I long for our home to be a place of peace, where others can stop by in the storms of life and rest. Family is our number one ministry, as we are strengthened, we can move as a unit and reach out to others. It starts at home. We have no business trying to minister outside our four walls if our own foundation is shaky.
We are raising three future husbands and nothing matters more to me than teaching them to love Jesus with all their hearts, souls, minds and to love others as Christ does. These three boys will one day become husbands and fathers. Yesterday, I drew a diagram to visualize this. B, C and J will each choose a wife and if each one has two or three children, "Team Baker" quickly grows. If we are grounded in Jesus, our family line will become one that stands and gets stronger with each generation. What we learn in our 30's our sons are learning before high school. The revelation can be passed on and learned younger and younger. Our goal is to raise up godly children in a fallen world. To keep first things first.
I thank God for bringing Life Partners into our lives three years ago. I thank Him for allowing us to be a part of Christ Quest Institute and to hear Biblical truths that are opening our eyes, restoring our marriage and healing our home. We have started our fourth year of classes and plan to stay with this program as long as it takes to see our home transformed into the likeness of Christ.
1 comment:
beautiful, beautiful, beautiful...
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