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

From cinnamon rolls to fried chicken and mac and cheese, we’ve got you covered when it comes to comfort foods! Our current seasonal theme...

This recipe takes a little time and effort but it’s all worth it in the end! Mandy's homemade sourdough cinnamon rolls My mom has made...

Lessons learned while making Ina Garten’s recipe for this hearty salad featuring arugula and farro A few months ago, I discovered Ina...

Five ideas for easy weeknight dinners School is back in session, which means busyness is back. While summer may have been a little more...

A Few Things We’re Loving as We Head into Fall We end most episodes of The Bookery Podcast with a few Bookery Bests, so today, we’re sharing a few things we’re loving as summer fades into fall. Frittatas For some reason, frittatas are really in season right now, at least for us. Frittatas are kind of like crustless quiches and can be adapted to fit your favorite flavors—or, if you’re like us—whatever happens to be in your fridge. Most recipes start on the stovetop and finish

Read 2 Peter 3:17-18 . Ponder If you’ve ever studied another language, you’ve likely run across the word imperative . Imperative...

Read 2 Peter 3:14-16 . Ponder Often these days, I find myself thinking, “I want to go home.” What I’ve come to realize about that...

Read 2 Peter 3:10-13 . Ponder While Peter wanted his readers to understand God’s character, he also wanted them to understand—with...

Read 2 Peter 3:8-9 . Ponder I teach a first grade life group class at my church. One Sunday, after a particularly harrowing class with...

Three Jane Austen-related things you can't miss this summer! This August, we've been celebrating all things Jane Austen. With our latest...