Read 1 Peter 2:4-9 . Ponder 1 Peter 2:4-9 How is life with Christ described in this passage?  What imagery or ideas are used to describe life without Christ?  Consider the list of who believers are in verse 9. Which of those descriptors resounds most with you? Why? Peter describes Christians using Old Testament imagery: chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people set aside for his possession. Why was it important that Peter would use imagery usually reserve

Read Luke 23:44-49 . Ponder Luke 23:44-49 Where do you see the imagery of light and darkness in today’s passage?  Darkness can symbolize a lot of things in Scripture: God’s judgment, sin and sorrow to name a few. Why do you think it’s important that the day grew dark leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross?  Mull over verse 45. What is symbolic about the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies (where only the high priest could go) from the rest of the temple being torn?  Ho

Read John 8:12-20 . Ponder John 8:12-20 Note any references to light and darkness in today’s passage. What do these verses reveal about light?  What do they teach you about darkness?  Understanding the light and darkness is one of the primary metaphors of salvation used throughout Scripture, what does this passage teach you about sin and salvation?  Meditate on Jesus’ declaration that he is the light of the world. What does that mean in your own words?  Meditate on John 8:12-

Read Isaiah 9:1-7. Ponder Isaiah 9:1-7 How do you see the ideas of light and darkness at work in this passage?  How does the metaphor of light symbolize hope in these verses?  The opening verses of this passage predict that the northernmost section of Israel, the most oppressed and the most influenced by pagan religion, would be honored by God when he sends new light in the future. Think about the original audience, oppressed by foreign governments and looking for God’s promi

To recognize the power of light, we have to first acknowledge the reality of darkness.  If you’ve grown up in the city on streets with automatic street lights and the constant glow of traffic, stop lights and buildings, the first time you experienced the total darkness of the country must have come as a shock. Maybe you were camping or on a road trip, and the night sky overwhelmed you.  Or perhaps, like me, you grew up in a rural area and know well the powerful presence of da

In our Advent meditation today, ponder the following phrases from the meditations you’ve read this week. Journal your prayerful response, reflecting on what God has revealed to you through his Word during this first week of Advent.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness cannot overcome the light.  Let him separate the light from darkness and bring order to the chaos.  Today may be a dark day, but it isn’t a hopeless one either.  Our creator would also be our rede

Read Exodus 13:17-22 . Ponder Exodus 13:17-22 Where do you see imagery of light in these verses? Of darkness?  What does this passage reveal about God’s character? Explain.  Wilderness can be used in much the same way as the word “darkness,” implying a sense of chaos or lack of control. How do you see God displaying faithfulness to the Israelites even in the wilderness and darkness?  When has your journey of faith felt like a wilderness season? How did God display his faithfu

Read Exodus 3:1-22 . Ponder As you read over today’s passage, where do you see images of light? Of darkness?  Scholars and even the early Christian martyr Stephen (Acts 7) point to Moses as a savior who pointed to the greater salvation God was going to provide in Jesus. How do you see that in these verses?  What have been some “burning bush” moments in your journey with God—moments of decision, of calling, of repentance? How have you responded?  What steps can you take today

Read Genesis 3:1-24 .  Ponder Understanding light as truth, goodness and beauty and darkness as symbolizes sin, death and shame, consider this passage. What sections of Genesis 3 point to light?  What sections convey a sense of darkness?  Focus on verses 7-13 and consider Adam and Eve’s actions and words. How do they reflect shame, brokenness or darkness?  Even knowing what they’d done, God came looking for Adam and Eve. Even in their shame, he gave them the opportunity to ac

Read Genesis 1:1–2:3 . Ponder God’s first act in creation is to separate light from darkness. Why do you think that’s important?  Light often signifies order and purpose, while darkness conveys chaos and confusion. How do you see that idea at work tangibly in creation? Explain.  Take some time to mull over the symbolism of light and darkness. How does light bring life? Order? Why is it so often used to signify blessing in Scripture?  Darkness can signify fear, death and even

Read John 1:1-5 . Ponder How do you see the metaphor of light and darkness in this passage?  What’s the connection between light and life? Darkness and death?  How have you experienced Jesus as light in the darkness in your life?  Think about how sin blinds us to the truth. How have you seen Jesus bring light into that darkness, in your own life or in the life of someone else?  Jesus didn’t come to make us better people, but to redeem or buy us back from sin. Why is it import

Before the world began, God was already unfolding his plan of salvation.  In the beginning, Scripture tells us, the world was “formless and empty,” (Gen. 1:2 NLT) and darkness covered everything, a heavy cloak hanging over the watery expanse.  Even before God separated the light from the darkness, before he spoke the sky into existence or separated the earth from the water, God knew the story he was writing.  He would create a beautiful garden full of everything his creation

Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again.  There's just something about that famous first line of Daphne Du Maurier's most successful novel that draws you in and leaves you wanting to know more. What's Manderley? Why is it place that you can only go to in dreams? What is this novel about? The plot is almost deceptively simple: a young, guileless woman is working as a paid companion to Mrs. Van Hopper, a brash American traveling through Europe. In Monte Carlo, the pair r

Practical tips to help you remember God’s goodness, notice his provision and celebrate the blessings he’s bestowed on you Years ago, in a season of sadness, I was reading Psalm 42. It’s a great psalm to turn to in seasons of sorrow or depression, as the psalmist asks again and again, “Oh soul, why are you downcast.”  But in the midst of that season, I read Psalm 42:6: “I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount

Eight books from various genres that invite you to remember, pray and look for God in the ordinary moments As we head into the final months of 2025, our final seasonal theme of the year is a call to remember. It’s more than mental recall, but an invitation to focus, meditate and dwell on the hope, truth and moments that have shaped and continue to shape your daily life.  Here's our Remember Reading List, featuring a few books we think will help you remember, refocus and reori

The Bookery’s final seasonal theme of 2025 is “Remember,” a call to active remembrance that shapes our daily lives. My brother and one of my good friends from high school seem to have photographic memories of our shared past — but mine are a little more hazy.  Truth be told, I sometimes worry a little about my memory. I don’t remember stats (obscure or otherwise) for my favorite baseball team. Last year, I reread an entire book and was three-fourths of the way through before

We’ve had our first glorious taste of fall — a short precursor of highs in the 60s and 70s — even if the warm temperatures of early...

Learn more about the books behind PBS’ “Marlow Murder Club.” The Marlow Murder Club TV series is part of PBS' Masterpiece Mysteries...

Choosing Rest in a Culture of Hustle In her book Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest , Ruth Haley Barton writes that practicing Sabbath is...

Simple ideas to create a cozy reading space in a small space with a limited budget It may not feel like it, but cooler weather is on the way. And there’s nothing I like more than curling up with a good book, a hot cup of coffee and a long, slow afternoon.  One of the best things about reading is that you can do it anywhere, but sometimes it’s nice to have a reading nook or a special place you set aside for diving into a good book. While Pinterest and Instagram are full of bea