DECEMBER 7, 2022
ON THE PORCH
** I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
As most of my friends know, this has been quite the year in the Baker household. We have had fantastic, life-changing events happen, but we’ve also had heartache.
Last year during the Christmas trip home, Xavier asked Madison Bailey to marry him out at the house under a full sky of stars, and she said yes. On March 23, 2022, Sierra graduated from the army as a 68 Whiskey and married Brandon Kellar three weeks after returning home. On September 2, 2022, Noah and Grace were blessed with our first grandbaby, Wesley Benjamin, and we were officially “Crina and Papa Bear.” On November 20, 2022, Xavier married Madison, and our adult family circle was completed.
It has been quite the year, from start to finish! If you’ve talked to me in the past few months, you’ve probably heard me say, “If we can just get through this ________, we will focus on the next thing.” In the meantime, among other things, I’ve also lost VERY dear, very close friends this last year. It has truly been a roller coaster of excitement, sorrow, hope, exhaustion, and adrenaline.
Day after day, week after week, and month after month rolled into the next. My body got tired, my soul became weary, and sometimes I felt like I was losing my mind. (It cannot be because I am getting older AND have a gazillion things going on! LOL)
Without realizing it, my inner being made plans to basically check out after Xavier’s wedding. Subconsciously my mind set the rest of the year aside as a time of recuperating and resting without my consent. After the wedding, my schedule did not allow for this amenity, and I continued to race through each day. My soul stayed frustrated, waiting on the day I could just stop.
This past July, I attended a virtual pastor’s wives conference. Because of this, I met a couple of new sisters who have been wonderful additions to my life. Traci Mason has a ministry of encouragement. Literally, that is what she does. She strives to be a modern-day Barnabas. Sometimes she sends a quick smile, sometimes more to think about.
Months ago, Traci started organizing an online day of encouragement titled “Finish Strong.” She sent sign-ups emails, reminder emails, teaser emails, and sign-in emails. She was all in, and it was obvious where her heart was. Satan threw everything he had at them the week of the conference. They were covered in prayer and the show went on for God’s glory.
Traci had an entire team of encouragement coaches, ready and waiting to be God’s light and a ray of hope to the tired, weary women who were attending.
I got up at 4 a.m. that morning to get ahead of my to-do list, charged an old phone to watch on wi-fi, and had my setup ready to go. My heart needed this, and I was determined it would be a day of encouragement. About 7 minutes before the appointed beginning of the conference, the distractions started, and they continued one after another. I literally saw people I haven’t seen for almost 6 years during this time. As I put the fires out, I kept the conference going and watched every moment I possibly could. I even ended up having to go to Circleback during this time and listened while driving. I would log out of one device and into another.
These beautiful, Godly women spoke from their hearts and God spoke to ours. I know that I know I was not the only woman that needed to hear the precious words of these women who had put so much into this. I took notes on my phone I could review later. Encouragement was the entree that day, and I believe the ripples will last.
After about two hours of “what now, LORD?” I was ready to log off and just give up. Because of the continued interruptions, I felt like I had a feast laid before me, but I was just eating breadcrumbs.
About that time, Traci’s “last lap” segment began, and she asked a sister to play a specific song. It was unfamiliar and beautiful. What caught my attention, though, was Traci sitting at her desk swaying back and forth with pom poms, eyes closed, dancing. She was praising her Savior, and nothing else. In that moment, my frustrations faded, my stress shattered, and my eyes started leaking. Traci was in the presence of our King and was inviting me to join her. I cried as the song played and the mood of my heart changed. My distractions disappeared and my attitude adjusted from huffy to holy.
Are you tired? Weary? Stressed? Frazzled? Worried? Worn? If so, you are not alone. It seems everyone I’ve talked to lately “just wants to make it through it.”
Traci shared a recipe for joy that stuck with me. My entire life I have heard that joy is Jesus, Others, You. I immediately thought, “God, I know!!”
But what she shared was not what I’d always been taught…Traci said this is how she keeps joy front and center in her heart.
JOY =
Jesus
Over
Your ________.
Fill in the blank with your circumstance. No matter what you are facing or worried about, choose Jesus. He is over it all.
After the conference was over, I hit my knees in my shop and asked for forgiveness. ”Checking out” was no longer an option. Jesus didn’t check out and give up on me when life got tough. He persevered because He knew what was at stake.
There are still days left in this year, and I cannot stop short of the finish line. So, I just wanted to pass the encouragement on. We are in the 4th leg of 2022, and the finish line is within our grasp.
Benny always says, “I don’t understand why God has blessed us so richly, far beyond what we deserve.” He is totally right. As I look in the rearview of 2022, I want to feel blessed instead of burdened, with an attitude of gratitude. Our family has gained a strong weekend warrior, a kind and gentle son-in-love, a healthy and perfect grandson, a beautiful-inside-and-out daughter-in-love, and two new precious sisters in the faith. What else could we ask for? The dearly loved family and friends that passed away are with Jesus now, and we will see them again in glory.
Will you take a deep breath with me, get our second wind, and finish 2022 strong beside me? Will you lace up your running shoes with Traci, me, and the other lovely women of Sister Barnabas? We are almost there, sister!! I will hold my hand out if you need it. Instead of “just trying to get through it,” I want to truly celebrate the birth of our Savior and remember the reason for the season…Jesus.
LORD, thank You for always being the giver of the perfect gifts. I want to keep my eyes on the goal, and that is a relationship with You. Remind me to be grateful, LORD, with an attitude of gratitude, even in the tired, weary, and worn. Thank You for the blessings of 2022. It is a year I will never forget! And God, give me the strength, energy, and endurance to FINISH STRONG! And when my last race has been run in this earthly body when I enter Your presence, I want to hear, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” In Your Precious and Holy Name, Amen.
**His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:21 (ESV)
** I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
** I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
For encouragement straight from Traci Mason’s ministry, visit:
**The replay of the FINISH STRONG conference will be available soon to anyone interested in viewing it. Please shoot a comment or PM. :0)
MARCH 2025 UPDATE: Traci has become a very close friend over the last three years and is precious to me. She truly has a heart for pastor’s wives, and she isn’t afraid to put in the work to ensure they stay encouraged and uplifted. Traci is an inspiration and joy in my life. She now has another website and a group of ladies to encourage pastor’s wives.
https://ladyfirstministry.com/
ON THE PORCH 