Heather Cofer

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Gospel-Centered Productivity

11 Jul

Our dishwasher has been out for several months now, so the sink has been a more common spot to find me as of late.

It was an old dishwasher, and we could tell it was on it’s last leg. Still, we eeked every last bit of use out of it before finally accepting the fact that it was “done done.” I admit it… there was a little bit of grumbling when I realized the dishwasher was out, because it naturally means more work for me for a while until there’s room in the budget for a replacement. But what I’ve found instead of being a burden is that it’s actually been a blessing in disguise.

As I stand quietly with my hands busy in the warm, sudsy water (which is often interspersed with handing out cheerios or helping a little person run to the potty), it’s given me more time to process, to ponder, and to pray. The increase of dishes has meant the simplifying and slowing down of my sometimes frantic pace, reminding me that productivity isn’t my highest aim.

God has gently corrected my mindset yet again, that accomplishing two or three things in a day in joyful obedience to Him is *far* better than getting a thousand things done out of the motive of “self-satisfaction.” One reaps greater love for Jesus and contentment where He has put me. The other reaps discontentment and frustration because I’m looking to my accomplishments for satisfaction instead of Jesus.

It’s so easy to find my worth in accomplishments (or seeming accomplishments)–how clean my house is, how well-behaved my children are in church, if I checked off all the items on my to-do list, how well the dinner came out, how many loads of laundry got folded and put away. But when I subconsciously look to these things to give me my value, sooner or later (usually sooner) it falls short–I fall short. Because this is never where I was meant to find my worth. My worth is and has always been in Jesus. And when I do everything that I do from this standpoint, my whole perspective changes. My eyes are fixed on eternity rather than here and now. I’m not concerned about how my children’s behavior or the state of my home reflects on me. When I am doing all I’m doing out of love for Jesus, I can rest in the way a day goes, whether I accomplish a lot or there’s not much outward evidence to show for it.

Colossinas 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

I’m all-too guilty of having worked for the approval of men. I want to be seen as capable, efficient, productive, put-together, wise, and able to do it all. I don’t want people to see that I have flaws and limitations–that I’m still learning how to care for a home, that I fall short in training my children, that I sometimes let stress dictate my actions and attitudes rather than the Spirit of God. Why? Pride mostly. But the reality is, I need Jesus. Desperately. And, the other reality is that there is freedom in only truly caring about the opinion of One. When I am content to walk in loving obedience to Him, my productivity becomes truly productive; eternally productive.

Jesus is my righteousness and my contentment, not productivity. Jesus is my joy, not checking off all the things on my to-do list. And maybe today, obedience just looks like doing a sink-full (or four) of dishes.

Your friend,

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Trina Celine Cofer says

    July 14, 2019 at 7:23 am

    Precious thoughts of a wise young woman. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Heather says

      July 16, 2019 at 2:16 am

      Thank you, Mom! So appreciate your input in my life.

      Reply
  2. Ashley says

    July 15, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    Thank you Heather a great reminder. Recently I have found myself trying to remember a similar view on productivity by actually remembering to Sabbath.

    Reply
    • Heather says

      July 16, 2019 at 2:16 am

      You’re welcome! Yes, that’s so good!

      Reply

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This dear, dear friend is off on a new adventure o This dear, dear friend is off on a new adventure of obedience to Jesus. I’ve known her longer than 3 of my kids, and they’ve never known life without “Buddy.” How we are going to miss you.
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You’ve blessed us in more ways than we can count, and your friendship is an incredibly precious gift. I know the Lord will use you to advance His kingdom wherever He calls you. You’ll always have a special place in the Cofer house fam. 💕
Have you ever gotten that funny feeling something Have you ever gotten that funny feeling something is off? When someone you’ve read, followed, and respected for a while seems not as “right on” as you thought, but you can’t quite put your finger on it? It’s not that they’ve totally turned away from God or don’t still say lots of things that are true, but there’s an internal twinge that makes it a little harder to fully get behind them.
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As I’ve wrestled with this more and more, praying over it, reading Scripture, and talking with others, it seems (at least in part) to be this: everything begins to revolve around a theme/cause/platform other than Christ. It might be something good that Christians should care about, but it slowly shifts from being an overflow of their love for Christ to being what their life becomes all about. Jesus is used as a tool for them to support their cause rather than their main emphasis; their All in All.
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This also opens the way for other voices that speak up for the same causes—but are not grounded in truth—to gain a place of influence in their lives. And slowly these voices can become an equal or greater authority than Scripture. It doesn’t happen right away. But you know it’s happening when you see subtle re-shaping of truth, you begin to hear the same language, and you begin to realize the same worldly patterns of thinking.
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None of us are immune to this deception. And that is why it is eternally important that we always, *always* make the Word of God our highest authority. If it becomes us against the Bible in even the “tiniest” way, the Bible must win every time. If we find ourselves trying to contort passages to fit our point of view, we are the ones who are off.
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As Christians, may our lives wholly revolve around and be built upon Christ, because this is our only true hope in life and death.
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#ponderings #lookingtoJesus #Jesusplusnothing #truth #Scripture
We live in a world that largely devalues children, We live in a world that largely devalues children, especially those that are in the womb. And the more children you have, the crazier you are seen by others. The first child is usually celebrated with baby showers and elaborate gender reveals, but the fifth child? I know that some people will actually feel sorry for me.
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But as Christians, we need to start being intentional about declaring how precious children are, whether they are the first or 10th. Every single person who enters this world has been made by God with a purpose. No child is an accident to God, regardless of whether they were planned for. Not only should this be reflected in our attitude, but also in our words. The kiddos in our lives (whether our own or others) should be talked *about* and *to* as valued, loved, and wanted. We need to stop with the jokes that would make their little hearts wonder if they are a mistake. And when a new little person is preparing to make their way into the family, our other children should see this as a wonderful thing by the way we talk about it.
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Every child is a gift. I want all children I have and interact with to know that through my attitude and words.
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#expectantbook #pregnancy #Christcenteredpregnancy #motherhood #childrenareagift
For the past few years I’ve had a word or phrase For the past few years I’ve had a word or phrase for the year, and each time I’ve marveled at how perfectly they have summed up what I needed to learn or focus on. As I was thinking and praying about a theme for 2021, there was one word that kept coming to mind: hope.
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At first I kept mentally pushing it aside, wanting something that was more unique or creative. But when I paused to ponder this word a bit more, it became very clear that this would be the right word for 2021.
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We need to be reminded again and again where true hope lies: in Jesus. It can be tempting to place our hope in a new year (especially after 2020), in our goals and dreams, in other people, in experiences, or anything else. But at some point these will all fall short. Jesus is the only one who will never fail us. He is our Living Hope, our Risen King who conquered death and redeemed us from it. No matter what is ahead—good or bad—in this year or this life, we have a perfect eternity awaiting us in His presence. We can’t see it all now, but one day it will all be sight.
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“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” - Romans 8:24-25
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Friends, because Jesus is our hope the best is yet to come.
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#hope #2021 #lookingtoJesus #livinghope #Jesusplusnothing #Christcenteredlife
Write a book (or another one). Start a podcast. Bl Write a book (or another one).
Start a podcast.
Blog regularly.
Start your own ministry.
Look for speaking opportunities.
Come up with more products and resources.
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There is so much out there on how to become successful as a writer/communicator. A lot of it is great advice, but it can quickly become overwhelming. It can be easy to frantically start trying to figure out how to make them all happen. “If I want to be successful I guess I have to do #allththings.”
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But I am in a stage of life right now where God has called me to care for four little people, and is growing our family by another tiny person. And with each “yes” to another child it means saying “no” to something else. This means that in my current season many of these “platform builders” just aren’t possible, or can only happen at a slllooooow pace. It can be tempting to think that I’m falling behind. But God continually reminds me through His Word and through the wisdom of other godly people that this exactly where He has me. And if this is where He has me, it’s where He wants me to fully invest and be faithful. And, He will make time and space for me to devote to my writing or any other opportunity as He sees fit.
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I’m so thankful God’s definition of success is not the same as the world’s. It may look like a waste of opportunity to others, but in reality caring for these little ones in a mostly behind-the-scenes season is eternally valuable. And, this is where my writing is tested and proven. This is where I see the gospel power sanctifying my own mind and heart and how it transforms every aspect of life. And this is where the message begins burning in my heart to share with those around me: a life with Jesus changes everything.
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If you, too, are in a season where many opportunities are no’s or not yet’s, take heart. This season is not in vain, and is preparing you for what God has ahead. Let’s be faithful exactly where we are today.
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#motherhood #eternalinvestment #Christcenteredmotherhood #pregnancy #writing
//So when I fight, I’ll fight on my knees With m //So when I fight, I’ll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh, God, the battle belongs to you
Every fear I’ll lay at your feet 
I’ll sing through the night
Oh, God, the battle belongs to you//
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I was so grieved yesterday as I watched the chaos unfolding in our country, as I witnessed the verbal wars and division, even amongst some believers. My heart was heavy over the rampant sin in this world. And these song lyrics came to mind over and over again. The battle belongs to God. He is still on His throne. None of this surprises Him. We still have an eternal hope. He is still coming back to make all things right one day, and in the meanwhile those of us who bear His name still have a job to do. We are called to represent His eternal Kingdom here on earth, being His hands and feet to those around us, displaying His love to those who desperately need hope, and fighting on our knees. This is our commission, fellow Christians. May He find us faithful.
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#battlebelongs #lookingtoJesus
“To be loved well and to be known completely by “To be loved well and to be known completely by one is far more fulfilling than being adored by many and truly known by none.” - Gary Thomas
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It’s rather shocking how quickly we can begin to prize the good opinion and praises of people we hardly know above the one human relationship that is most significant. This person we were head over heels for when we first said “I do” now we’re now tempted to give our second best for the sake of being appreciated by others. “They’ll understand,” or, “they’ll always be there,” we might justify. And if we’re not careful, soon we can simply have two lives that are existing side-by-side rather than in intentional pursuit of one another.
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But the relationship of marriage is one that is worth investing in over any opportunity to gain someone else’s praises. Because a husband and wife are a reflection of Christ and His Bride, this world needs to see spouses who are prizing each other, honoring each other, adoring each other, and whose love for one another continues to grow deeper and more precious with time rather than less.
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We have such an incredible opportunity to love, cherish, and champion our spouse in such a way that displays the beauty of the Gospel to this world. In a time when marriage is treated so flippantly, let’s live it out by God’s grace in the way He intends it to be.
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#marriage #sacredmarriage #Christcenteredmarriage #husbandandwife
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