I’ve been a little quieter here for some time, but for good reason. And I’m *thrilled* to now be able to share one of those reasons: A new book is coming this November! Keeper: Becoming Faithful Guardians of What God has Entrusted to Us The seeds of this book were first planted many years ago as I began grasping just how important it is for women to stand upon the unshakeable Word of God in the shifting and sinking sands of our time. It is my earnest prayer that it will encourage and strengthen my sisters in the Lord to guard what has been entrusted to us by His grace. More info soon to come! (The cover art is an original painting by the incredibly talented @LaurelinArts)

One of the very special elements to me of my new book is the cover art. As I was brainstorming with my cover designer about my vision for what I wanted the cover to convey, she asked if I knew someone who could do a custom painting to capture my vision. Almost instantly someone came to mind. @LaurelinArts was able to put paint onto paper in a way that perfectly illustrates what the home of a keeper holds. Beauty. Watchfulness. Protection. Intentionality. Peace. All that is good and true. And what style of home is more warm and inviting than an English cottage, right? 😉 Seeing the original painting in my home every day is now a continual reminder of this weighty and wonderful calling. #keeperbook

Our earthly homes should bear witness to the reality that we’ve been saved and changed by God. This is why home matters. This is why our role as keepers of our home matters. It can put the truths of our salvation on full display in a tangible way. And maybe, just maybe, that’s why the enemy wants so badly for us to forsake it for other things. Excerpt from chapter 3 in my upcoming book ‘Keeper’. Coming November 21!

I have a 13-year-old son. Last year when our twins were struggling to sleep through the night and I was dealing with exhaustion and chronic health issues he (and our 11yo) would sneak into our room in the mornings, grab the babies, and entertain them so I could get more sleep. This week we’ve dealt with some hefty sickness, and I haven’t been sleeping well. This morning he whispered to me, “Hey mom, would you like me to get the babies their breakfast so you can sleep a little longer?” Cue the heart-bursting gratitude. I have *never* been more excited about being a parent than this year as I’ve watched our oldest become a teen. He is capable, kind, responsible, and fun to be with. I am full of hope for the years ahead. But even now, he’s a blessing. Young(er) mom, if you seek to faithfully parent your children in the fear of the Lord, holding onto a long term vision and trusting His Word and His grace as you plant seeds of godly instruction day after day, there is such good in store for you. He will help you and grow you along the way. He’ll give you wisdom and increase your patience. And even if you’re reaping the fruit of not parenting well (which we’ll all experience on some level), there’s always hope. It’s never too late to repent of the lack of obedience and ask Him to help us learn to parent for His glory.

An extremely important thing for young wives and moms to understand about marriage and motherhood: If you make your happiness the ultimate focus, you’ll be unhappy and discontent. Because joy is not the byproduct of selfishness. But if you make the good of your husband and family your pursuit, your joy will increase tenfold. Your contentment will grow deep. But it’s not instantaneous. It takes a long-term vision and commitment to denying selfishness and choosing what accords with love day after day, moment after moment.

This is the truth. What a gift!

I’m incredibly thankful for @TillyDillehay and others who gave their kind and meaningful endorsements for ‘Keeper’. I truly pray it will encourage us women to build our houses upon a rock. Less than a month until launch day!

The mindset behind this post is both disingenuous and dangerous for women. - It’s disingenuous, because that “work” block behind the man includes many elements that could be divided into responsibilities that I, for one, am incredibly grateful I don’t have to carry. I have said *so* many times that the load my husband carries at work (and carries with excellence) is beyond what I can fathom. - It’s also disingenuous, because he works due to his responsibility toward his family. That’s part of the weight he shoulders. - It’s dangerous, because women are being taught to think about their family as a burden. As something that drags you down. As something that zaps the life from you rather than being a significant blessing and strength. I’ve been a wife for fifteen years and a SAHM for thirteen years. Now with eight kiddos I’ve never taken more delight in caring for them and our home than I do now. - It’s dangerous, because it tells women they are incapable of growth through the daily mundane details of life due to our feelings about them. What can be used to mature and strengthen us is instead framed as something that inhibits us. Hard things are presented as bad things. But in reality, the hardest things are the ones that build endurance, resilience, and help us understand what God has created us to be capable of when we are willing to grow and learn under the daily tasks of life. - It’s dangerous because it frames the work of the home as lesser-than. It makes it seem as if these are necessary evils rather than opportunities to serve and love in the most foundational ways. It also removes the agency of saying you can actually gain skills through homemaking that are really valuable: time, people, and item management, organization, culinary skills, efficiency and attention to detail, keeping cool under pressure, etc. - It’s dangerous, because her demeanor is one of being downcast. Yes, sometimes the work feels discouraging. But it has the potential for so much joy. If we have a vision beyond today those weights are going to strengthen us in wonderful ways that are worth it in every way.

The idea for Keeper was sparked by the phrase “Keepers at home” in Titus 2. I looked up the root word for this phrase, which means to guard. This led me to begin searching Scripture for what God calls His people to guard and keep, and specifically what that means for women. So although being keepers very much includes being guardians of our homes, it doesn’t start there. It begins with keeping watch over ourselves; over the influences that are shaping our thinking and believing. It means seeking the Lord for wisdom, and walking in it in every aspect of life. When we do this, we will have a right view of ourselves, our families, and the purpose for which God has created home. And His purpose is far more glorious than anything this world can offer us. Mark your calendars for November 21! I’m so excited to get Keeper into your hands.

In case you missed it, I’m coming out with a new book in November! It’s been a years long labor of love for my sisters in the Lord. As I’ve witnessed and experienced the swirl of confusing voices in our time, I’m more assured than ever before that we need to be guarding ourselves according to God’s Word. We need to hold fast to truth as defined by God, not as defined by our feelings (or someone else’s). He will hold us fast as we do, and fill us with joy and confidence in Him. If this is a message you’re passionate about, too, I’d love for you to join my launch team!

It’s been one year since Charlie Kirk’s assassination. I’m resharing this song I wrote a couple of weeks after his death as I processed how the Lord was using that horrific tragedy to refine me. It is still the prayer and cry of my heart today. \\When hope feels dim, When I faint within, When my heart is drawn to apathy, Do whatever you must do To draw my gaze back to You Until I reach eternity Here I am, here I am, Lord, Send me where you want me to be In things unseen or greatly known, Far away or here at home, How I long, how I long, To live faithfully\\

Happy Birthday to my love. God’s kindness is evident in countless ways through his life. A man of (and continually growing in) wisdom, love, courage, integrity, and most importantly, the fear of the Lord. A man who lives knowing he’s been created and called by his Savior. You are loved and celebrated today and every day, Judah. @judahcofer

“Hey babe,” I say, “Let’s get a picture just the two of us for our fifteenth anniversary.” He sees the photo and says, “Let’s get one with our sunglasses off.” As he removes them he says something a touch outrageous that he knows will get a reaction out of me. He wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t know Jude was snapping pics the whole time. But they ended up being my favorite. What does one even say? Fifteen years of being his, all in the twinkling of an eye. My delight in belonging to him, the privilege of being protected and cherished by him, the gift of rejoicing and sorrowing with him, the adventure of raising a flock of kiddos together. the glory of growing in our longing for Christ together—it’s really too precious to adequately sum up in words. Thank you, Lord, for this gift of marriage. I love, love, love being Mrs. Judah Cofer.

Happy 250th Birthday, USA! 🇺🇸 //America, America, God shed His grace on thee//

The babies received their own babies for their birthday, and are completely smitten. They’ve been smothering them in kisses, and my heart can’t take it. I marked each doll with the respective birthmarks so we can tell them apart.😆

Today the twins are one. It's been the sweetest, fastest, most intense year of my life. My heart is a well of ponderings over these events, over their lives, over God's care for us. These ponderings have been spilling over in tears as I've gone back through pictures and videos of this day and the days following. In honor of their first birthday I thought I'd re-share their birth story for those who, like me, are blessed by reading testimonies of God's faithfulness in bringing little ones into the world.