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

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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

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Nancy Ray Website

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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

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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

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Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

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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

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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!

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Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

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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

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Dwell Bible App Discount

Rhythms Reset

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Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!

Nancy Ray Website

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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

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Rhythms Reset

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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

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Nancy Ray Website

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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!