Jenny Oaks Baker: The Wisdom in God's Plan For Our Lives
Oct 16, 2024
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Jenny Oaks Baker, a Grammy-nominated violinist and Juilliard graduate, shares her extraordinary journey from childhood musician to a Billboard No. 1 artist. She discusses the profound influence of parental support on her musical development and how faith shaped her career choices. Jenny emphasizes the importance of trusting divine guidance over personal plans, revealing how unexpected opportunities enriched her life. She also reflects on her role as a mother, balancing family and passion while nurturing her children's talents with purpose.
Jenny Oaks Baker emphasizes the importance of trusting the Lord's plan, which often reveals opportunities beyond our own expectations and desires.
Through her experience of balancing motherhood and a music career, Baker illustrates the profound impact of prioritizing family alongside pursuing one's passions.
Deep dives
Maternity Leave Announcement and Gratitude
The host announces a maternity leave and expresses deep gratitude for the podcast's six-year journey, appreciating the audience's support and sharing. The heartfelt message reflects on how the podcast has positively impacted the speaker's life, offering a sense of fulfillment beyond initial expectations. The need for a break into the new year is shared, along with hopes for continued audience engagement upon return. The speaker wishes listeners a joyful holiday season anchored in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jenny Oaks Baker's Musical Journey and Background
Jenny Oaks Baker shares her extensive musical background, starting with learning the violin at a young age and achieving significant accomplishments. She recounts her family's influence, highlighting her mother's encouragement and her father's support in her musical endeavors. Pearls of wisdom imparted by her parents, including prayer before performances, instilled a strong spiritual connection to her talent. Baker's remarkable trajectory includes numerous prestigious performances and the creation of popular albums, solidifying her legacy as a gifted musician.
Pivotal Decisions and Divine Guidance
Jenny reflects on the challenges she faced while pursuing her solo career amidst family responsibilities. A transformative moment occurred when she resigned from a prestigious position with the National Symphony to prioritize her family, despite the fears and uncertainties involved. The decision was guided by a desire to be present for her children and to fulfill a greater purpose that she felt the Lord had in store for her. This faith-driven choice opened doors to a fulfilling path that blended motherhood and her musical career in unexpected and rewarding ways.
Following Inspiration and Creating Christ-Centered Shows
Baker recounts a pivotal moment where she received divine inspiration to create Christ-centered musical shows, recognizing her role in sharing faith through music. Despite having no formal training in producing, she launched a successful tour that significantly impacted audiences, showcasing her commitment to spreading light and truth. The creative process was filled with challenges, yet she describes the experience as miraculous, highlighting the Lord's guidance throughout her journey. This endeavor reinforced her belief that music should serve a higher purpose, deepening her connection to the gospel and community.
Jenny Oaks Baker began playing the violin before elementary school and she has not stopped since. Her violin has taken her all around the world and given her opportunities she’d never dreamed of. But there have also been opportunities she has sought that have never come to fruition and other opportunities she didn’t even know to seek that have made her life much richer than it would have been otherwise. On this week’s episode, Jenny shares her witness that sometimes the Lord’s plans are much better than the plans we have for ourselves.
2:59- The Role of Parents 10:10- Music Education 11:41- Trusting the Lord 16:40- Choices as a Young Mom 27:36- Hard Work and Dreams 30:30- Performances Behind the Scenes 37:32- Identity and Talents 41:55- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
"It's hard to not know the future. I still want what I want and want to know what's going to happen. But the Lord provides"