298 - My Favorite Books from 2025

Today I'm sharing all about my favorite books from 2025. Resources from this episode: Every Moment Holy  Rhythms Reset  Nancy Ray Book Club  Work & Play Episode 266 : 2025 Book List  On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni  The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni  Smart Brevity by Jim VandeHei  The Opt-Out Family by Erin Loechner The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins 40 Days of Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole Underestimated by Mary Marantz Work & Play Episode 269 : Underestimated with Mary Marantz Born to Eat by Leslie Schilling  Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin The If I Run Series by Terri Blackstock Restoration Series by Terri Blackstock How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen by Kate Strickler Work & Play Episode 283 : I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen with Kate Strickler  Love Your Life by Rachel Awtrey Work & Play Episode 282 : Love Your Life with Rachel Awtrey  My Name is Ashler Lev by Chaim Potok  When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin A Cross-Country Christmas Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk The Wild Robot by Peter Brown Polyanna by Eleanor H. Porter The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury The Timeless Series Book 1 by Gabrielle Meyer Follow me on Goodreads!  Send Nancy an audio message!  Dwell Bible App Discount Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

You may have heard of my Contentment Challenge where I give up shopping for anything extra in my life for three months straight. Today's episode, I want to challenge and encourage you with four reasons you might consider doing the Contentment Challenge in 2026. Resources from this episode: The Contentment Challenge  Dwell Bible App Discount  Work & Play Episode 003 : The Contentment Challenge  Rhythms Reset  Send Nancy an audio message! Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Are you feeling like you need some encouragement as you are looking ahead to 2026? Do you love planning your year or maybe not so much? Do you need a good look at the rhythms in your life that serve you, bring you closer to the Lord, and ultimately help you carry out God's assignment for you? This episode is for you. Resources from this episode: Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung  Rhythms Reset  Living Fearless by Jamie Winship  The 12 Week Year  Send Nancy an audio message!  Dwell Bible App Discount Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

This episode is for the mom who is overwhelmed by all the stuff in your house. All the kids' toys, clutter, stuffed animals, and tiny pieces. I see you. I am you. Maybe you can pop in some earbuds and just be encouraged today. You are not alone. This is part of our duty as mamas to take care of the stuff in our house. You've got this! Resources from this episode: Send Nancy an audio message!  Dwell Bible App Discount Clear Plastic Toy Organizers  Large Storage Bins  Rhythms Reset  Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

I'm doing something new today and I have made an episode for the whole family. So you don't have to listen to this in your earbuds. You can push "play" while you're riding in the car and listen because this is all about thanksgiving and how we can practice gratitude.   Melody Beattie said:            "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life." That is what we're talking about today. Resources from this episode: Dwell Bible App Discount Rhythms Reset  Send Nancy an audio message! Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

During the week, we work, but during the weekends, we play. Today's episode is all about seven weekend rhythms that we live by. Resources from this episode: Dwell Bible App Discount  Shabbat Candles Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero Art for Kids Hub The Family Teams Podcast Magnetic Whiteboard Wet Erase Markers Anchored Women Rhythms Reset  Send Nancy an audio message! Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

My incredible husband, Will, turns 40 today and I am so excited to have him on the podcast! He is going to give you forty pieces of wisdom for his 40th birthday, or as we like to call it, "40 for 40 will Will Ray." Resources from this episode: Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson Episode 070 - Crucial Conversations Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis Harry Potter Series Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington ​Proverbs 22:7  Proverbs 11:25 God and Money by John Cortines Financial Peace University Parenting by Paul David Tripp Unsung Hero Movie The Family Teams Podcast  The Compound Effect by Darren Harden Proverbs 4:7 F3 Nation Colossians 3:23 Proverbs 3:13 Send Nancy an audio message!  Dwell Bible App Discount  Rhythms Reset Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Today I'm talking about ten ways that I am using AI to simplify my life. Resources from this episode: ChatGPT  Grok  Plugged In Common Sense Media  Send Nancy an audio message!  Dwell Bible App Discount  Rhythms Reset Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Last week I had the opportunity to go to Share the Arrows which is a conference put on by Allie Beth Stuckey. Today's episode is a recap of all the things I learned at that conference. Resources from this episode: Share the Arrows Conference  Dwell Bible App Discount  Carly Jean Los Angeles A'del Cosmetics We Heart Nutrition (Use code: NANCYRAY for a discount!) EveryLife     Rhythms Reset Join my email list!  Send Nancy an audio message!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Hey there! You're in the right place for Work & Play with Nancy Ray. A quick note: The podcast will be taking a break this week (October 14th), but I'm excited to tell you I will be back next week for another great new episode. Stay tuned and I'll catch you next week!