The Spacious Place, with Kari Levang: Recent Episodes
Kari Levang
Hello and welcome to The Spacious Place!! My name is Kari Levang—-I’m a simple girl (if you can still call yourself a girl when you’re 50 something:), with a complicated past and a great big God! This space was designed to create room for us to talk about the things of life—our joys, our questions, our fears and so much more! But most of all, my desire is that we will leave our time together with an enlarged capacity for hope to grow! That our moments together will cultivate our hearts in such a way that we can find ourselves flourishing in this thing called life. Receiving God’s absolute delight in us——letting it take root in our deepest places and allowing it to spill out of our lives to the people around us.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Today I spent a few minutes talking about some things I have been wrestling with around love and I think you might be surprised to hear the bridge between the patience and kindness of love and growing in the fruit that it brings. Hidden in our discipleship to Jesus, I believe there is an invitation that helps us to receive love and grow in our capacity to give it away.
Join me and find out about this simple practice:)
“We make our decisions, and then our decisions make us. In the beginning we have a choice, but eventually, we have a character.” John Mark Comer
The new year often makes us think through lots of new things. Wherever you fall on the scale of loving making goals or intentions or absolutely hating it, I think this episode will be a refreshment for you! An opportunity for you to see that God cares about more than simply what we do. He meets us right where we are and gives us just what we need. We’ll look at Elijah’s life and glean some insight for our own.
Merry Christmas!
A few thoughts on how I've been approaching Christmas this year that I thought I'd share with you today. What if the Jesus that came in a manger all those years ago is also about our daily days? What if its the ordinariness of life that is actually sacred?
Today we'll chat for just a few minutes about what's rolling through my mind this morning.
Enjoy!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever Hebrews 13:8
Happy Advent!
In today’s episode we’re talking about what it might look like to prepare our hearts for Him, to take some moments during this season to purposefully incline ourselves toward the things of God. I’ll share with you three things that I’ve been pondering as I lean into the cadence of this season with hope and expectancy. (There’s also a great prayer at the end my Henri Nouwen that felt like such great preparation for me that you won’t want to miss!)
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 The Message
Of course I’m talking about gratitude in this episode before Thanksgiving. I hope that our time together makes room for you to notice whats in your life that you’ve overlooked and want to note your gratitude for. AND, I think you’ll be surprised at a story I share at the end and how I found deep gratitude in the middle of BIG fear.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Homer says, “The journey is the thing.”
I’m sure many of you can relate to life in the middle space. I'm talking about that place of process where we are trying to figure things out and we often find ourselves without a handle to grab hold of. It can feel so disregulating at times. Join me as I share what its been like for me and as we look back at some others in history who also found themselves in the middle of process. We’ll ask the questions, “What if this season, is actually a gift to us?” ….”what if this is a place that God is generously offering us?”
I’m pondering the idea that this very season could be the exact thing that God wants to use to answer some of my own specific requests of him. Join me ask we talk this through today and hopefully you can find some handles for yourself as you navigate your own middle places.
Purpose in life is far more than property or possessions. Having more to live with is no substitute for having more to live for. Nicky Gumbel
This worked out so great—-my friend Laurine (who has her own podcast) asked me to come and record (while I was in Seattle, in September) and I enjoyed our conversation so much I thought I’d share it here on the spacious place. We talk all about purpose, sharing some of our own thoughts around it from our own lives. Think you’re gonna like it!
“In the face of God’s glorious creation and his perfect law, we are called to both revel and to repent. God’s glory and perfection, like the majestic sun, call us to Himself.”
—She Reads Truth Bible notes
Today’s conversation comes out of some time spent in Psalm 19. This psalm is packed with descriptives about what God is like as well as invitation to commune with Him. As I read it I was deeply motivated and encouraged by God’s generous pursuit, even through creation—-longing for all to know of His goodness. I hope after listening today, you experience some of the same things!
“Uncorking my thoughts and naming them gives me the ability to receive.”
Sara Hagerty, The Gift of Limitations
Are you struggling because of some limit your facing right now? What does life look like for you when you find yourself bound by some kind of limitation? I can tell you that for me, I’m often not proud in hindsight about how well I’ve handled said limitation. I constantly need reminding that God is at work and that my limitations don’t limit Him from accomplishing what He has planned to do. I get so forgetful!
Today I’ll share some of the places in my own life that feel like they could leave me hopeless, and I’ll also share some of the ways I’m practicing some rhythms that are more helpful than the run of the mill, anger, frustration or pit of despair, that feels most familiar.
"In the Kingdom of God, weakness is a superpower because in God’s Kingdom strength and weakness are not opposites, they’re synchronistic with the rule and reign of Christ."
Ruth Chou Simons
When Paul talks about freedom in Galatians, I think it can feel defeating at times when our lives don’t feel like we’re necessarily walking in freedom. In this episode I’m sharing some thoughts about what freedom is and what it isn’t.
(Spoiler alert…freedom isn’t something we can maintain on our own, and we will never do it perfectly. That’s really good news!!! Its not all on us, and perfection isn’t the goal.)
I’ll also share what it looks like for me and the things I begin to notice that have shifted in my heart and mind and my way of being. So join me and lets talk together about how to get back to the free space Jesus made possible for us!
See what’s there, not what you expect to see. See what is really present in your life. See yourself, see each other. Frederick Buechner
In today’s episode I’m sharing an experience I had as I sat quietly at my dining room table, early in the morning. As I looked out the window at a bird, God invited me to watch and listen and it took me to a deeper place that I decided to share with you! I’ll also share some of the thoughts I struggle with at times and the ways I’m combating them. I’ve also got an announcement at the end of the episode, so be sure to stay til the end!
Isaiah 49:14-15
But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.”
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
Waiting is just hard and it can get real messy in our heads the longer it takes for whatever it is we are waiting for. In today’s episode we’re taking a short peek back at the story of Mary and Martha and Jesus from John 11 and taking note of something new and different that I hadn’t noticed before. But we will also look at my own seasons of waiting and how messy they get. I’ll share what they are as well as some of the new things I feel like God is inviting me into that I may have missed out on that, have become a surprise gift to me.
To be human is to live in the space between our expectations and reality. Katherine Wolf
This is the second part of our time around Mary and Martha. I finished the last one and felt like I’d left some things unsaid. I thought I’d just re-reocrd it, but decided on a part 2 instead. So here we are! In this episode we’re taking note of some things around the story of the loss of Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus—-their grief and their disappointment in God and his timing.
But not only must we entrust all of ourselves to Him, but I think you’ll see, with me, that He welcomes our thoughts around our confusion and even frustration around what we can’t see. I hope you’ll see with me that our God is not far off and in fact, He sees all of your circumstances, especially those that are troubling you, and enters into it with you!
Join me for a listen and as always, feel free to leave a review with your thoughts about how the Spacious Place impacts you!
Katherine Wolf, in her book Treasures in the Dark says, “Get curious about what new thing your suffering could be offering you.”
What if we don’t have to fit into a box one way or another but rather there is room for all the parts of us.. Today I’m talking about my thoughts around Jesus interaction with Mary and Martha in Luke 10. We’ll discuss some of my thoughts about whether this portion of Scripture is really what we might think at first glance or whether there’s actually something more that Jesus is trying to lead us into.
Courage, dear heart.
CS Lewis
It takes lots of courage to show up to what’s really happening inside of us, rather than hide and perform on the outside. In this episode I’m sharing some of the places of change for me and how I’m learning to navigate them in new ways. You’ll also get a peek into the experiences in my life over the last two years that have created places in me that have felt very young. Places where I have had to be a beginner, and how at this middle aged place, it rubs against feeling young and out of control. Maybe you can relate??
(Also, don’t quit too soon on the episode because I’ll end it with some encouragement from the disciples that will help you feel comforted in your own discomfort around change!)
The Word of God is powerful against our internal traffic. …It replaces the internal chatter of life—-the criticism, the comparisons, and the shoulds—-with the truth of what God sees and thinks and feels. And that’s a beautiful sound.
Unseen, by Sara Hagerty
In today’s episode I’m sharing part of a conversation I had with a friend that served as a wonderful reminder to me about what it means to run the race marked out for me. I don’t know what you’re facing in your life right now, but hopefully today’s episode will be an infusion of hope for you!
Grace is often painful because it strips us down and shows us how little we have to offer. Bill Bedell
In today’s episode, I’m talking about how that might look as we wait or live in the “not-yet” spaces of our lives. Everyone finds themselves here at one time or another, so I’m talking about what it might look like to intertwine ourselves and how it might not be as complicated as we might think.
And you’re not gonna want to leave at the very end…if you wait, you’ll get a bit of a blast from the past surprise!
Sometimes deciding you want to move towards all God has for you means trusting Him enough to let go of things that are holding you back.
Ashley Morgan Jackson
I got caught up in the words Abide and Abode this week. I found myself pondering what it might look like to make our home with God and shared some of the reasons why I often don’t choose this route. God waiting and saying, “Come home and be with me.”….what will you say???
“It’s not the strength of your faith that saves you, but the strength of Him upon whom you rely on.” Charles Spurgeon
Today I’m talking through a verse that kinda stopped me in my tracks. It’s a verse that I’ve read multiple times before, but this time, after reading it, I was asked, “what stood out to me?”.
What if God isn’t frustrated when we keep coming back, but rather delighted by our presence? What if our suffering is the very thing that invites us to draw near to him, and it’s there where we find out the most about ourselves and learn obedience in new ways?
Come along with me as we talk through Hebrews 5:8 together!
Romans 10:11
For whoever believes in him, will not be put to shame
In this episode we’ll dive into John 21 and take a look at how Peter was possibly navigating his own shame. I just wonder if you can relate to his way of coping…I sure can. And it will lead us to a reinstatement of sorts that helps us to see that what we do doesn’t disqualify us from what Christ has already made possible.
“The past is frozen and no longer flows, and the present is all lit up with eternal rays.” C S Lewis
After preparing to speak at a high school retreat, I decided that the content was too good to not share in this space as well. Today we’re talking about not only the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead, but the wonder of Jesus presence in the middle of Mary and Martha’s pain.
Our idea of time and our expectations of what God should be like, is far different
than the reality of the truth of who He is.
What if the waiting space we find ourselves in, is actually an invitation into intimacy?
“The presence of pain, doesn’t mean the absence of God”
---unknown
I decided before we move into February with rapid speed, it may do us well to slow down long enough to take inventory of what the last month has been like. I think when we do this, it makes space for us to proceed with a better sense of what we might need. So, in today’s episode I share a bit of what January looked like for me, in hopes you might consider doing the same!
The Lord is your Shepherd, you have everything you need.
Psalm 23:1 MSG
God is not a concept or an emotion, and he’s certainly not a doctrine in a statement of faith or a chapter in a theology book; he is a person, who’s burning desire is to know and be known by you. And like in any intimate relationship, there is a kind of knowledge that goes beyond words——a kind you can get only by direct
persont-to-person experience. John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way
We’re almost done with our first month of 2024 and boy has it been a doozy so far. Today’s episode was basically me preaching to myself and letting you in on it. I’m talking about the Psalms, but honestly it’s more about engagement with God than actually reading pages in his book. I make a few observations that felt helpful for me and my hope is that you will go away feeling the same!
The Word of God is powerful against our internal traffic. …It replaces the internal chatter of life—-the criticism, the comparisons, and the shoulds—-with the truth of what God sees and thinks and feels. And that’s a beautiful sound.
Sara Hagerty, Unseen: The gift of being hidden in a world that loves to be noticed
Welcome to the first episode of 2024! Ever feel like your prayer life could use some attention? Today I’m going to share about my desire to grow in this area of my life and the pathway that I’m heading towards to help me move in that direction. I’ll share an excerpt from Eugene Peterson and give you an invitation to join me on this adventure!
The farther I run away from the place where God dwells, the less I’m able to hear the voice that calls me the beloved. And the less I hear that voice, the more entangled I become in the manipulations and power games of the world. Henri Noun
In this episode I’ll share a few of the questions that I’m pondering as I look back at 2023 with an honest perspective and look forward to 2024 with hope and expectancy. Now, I realize not everyone likes this type of introspection, but I think it may be different this time than the typical questions of ‘how can I be better?’. Come along, have a listen and let me know what you think!
The real issue in self examination is not that I’m inviting God to know me, since He already does, but I’m inviting God to help me, know me. Ruth Haley Barton
“The sweetest joys and delights I have experienced, have not been those that have arisen from a hope of my own estate, but in a direct view of the glorious things of the gospel…I felt an ardency of soul to be, what I know not otherwise how to express….to be full of Christ alone; to love him with a holy, pure love; to trust in Him; to live upon Him; to serve and to follow Him.”
Our work matters, and yet, its more than just the work. This episode came directly out of my own time in the Scripture write through plan. I was going through a passage that I’ve been through no less than a hundred times and yet God still had some things to give me. It’s the Living Word! Join me today so you can experience some of His encouragement too!
Hey there!
Thanks for coming to this space where honesty leads the conversation. I had no intention of recording this, but after some interaction with people on social media, I decided to go ahead and do it. So, this is a follow up to a story I shared on Instagram/Facebook about a panic attack I had. There was enough engagement from people wanting to hear how I actually dealt with it, and shared their own stories of anxiety, that I decided to share! My hope is that if you need it to be, it is helpful, and you'll find that you have another who is walking the same journey as you!
God give us the grace to embrace mysteries we don’t understand,
The cruciform openness to live a tender surrender, into Your ways wiser and kinder than ours, and the deep shalom of simply being with You here, right here, with us.
—-Ann Voskamp
In this episode we’re taking a journey through some passages of Scripture together to see that in all the mystery, there is one who invites us to communion with Him. All the places in our lives that feel like unknown and full of fear and questions, become a pathway for relationship and honesty. A place where our vulnerability is welcome and we have a seat at the table prepared just for us!
Come along with me and taste what God has for you!
1 Thessalonians 5:18…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
In this episode I'm having a conversation with some of our long time, dear friends, Joe and Amy Coy. We spent some time talking about what living a life of thanks has been like for them. They shared with me (and now you:), what it has looked like for them in each of their vocational places, in ministry, as well as in their very home as they raised their 5 kids and now live with aging parents.
Joe and Amy are treasured friends and beautiful humans and you'll surely enjoy this conversation with them!
John Bunyan called believing “sweating work”. He once wrote, “He that undertakes to believe, sets upon the hardest task that ever was proposed to man…”
In this episode I’m talking a little bit about what it means to overcome evil. We’ll talk about the reality of the battle we are in, as well as the fact that our Jesus has ultimately bought us victory. We'll talk of the communal nature of the battle and I’ll share a little of my own experience--- I’ll even share a vulnerable piece, with you, at the end that I wrote during a writing exercise.
In this world, you will have trouble…John 16:33
We all experience struggles in this thing we call life. In this episode, I share how my own word battles around my worth led me on a hunt for an answer to this question. I don’t know about you, but I often get quiet and choose to stay alone when things are hard for me, so after a long, hard day I decided to search around for how Jesus had been in the past and thought maybe it might give me some courage for next time I found myself in this space. I also discovered some things through my Bible Study the next morning that expanded my thinking and my heart for God around it all! (Thank you Kristi McLelland for your deep work in your Jesus and Women study:)
I think you might be interested to hear what I found~and if you click play, you can hear all about it!
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Proverbs 4:26
Today my friend and I are talking about steadfastness…what it means, as well as how it is appropriated into our own lives as we live out our days with Jesus and one another.
We share some personal experiences around what it’s looked like to believe God’s steadfastness love for us, even when we blow it or walk in unbelief, and how we’ve found our way back.
Come along with us as we learn to practice this together!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
This week we’re talking about change…how to navigate it with new lenses and different tools. What would it look like to actually take the time to pay attention to yourself and honor the fact that you’re in the middle of a disruption? I have been through major changes this last year and a half and I share a few of the things that I learned along the way that hopefully will give you a little help as you face your own season of change.
How far can we go? How much is permissible? The Psalms suggest that we can go the whole way, that it is all permissible; the praise, yes, but also the grief, the sorrow, the anger… -Walter Brueggeman
In the Spacious Place, we often talk about freedom and I think in some ways it can get confusing for some---actually it used to be very confusing for me! So today I’m gonna share a little bit about what I mean when I say freedom is layered and hopefully let you in on some of the nuances that I have found helpful in regards to what it means to be a Jesus follower and how that relates to my broken places.
Come with me as I take a few scriptures and expand on what they might mean in their fullness, rather than simply taking them at face value and tossing them out because they don’t feel good. I’ll share some of my own struggles as well as some of the places that I have overcome that I don’t visit quite as often as I used to!
This is a special episode to me! The woman who actually, without even knowing it, inspired me to start this podcast, is a guest on today’s show! Cheryl Scruggs has a new book out called, ’Thriving Beyond Belief’ and we’re talking about this whole concept of thriving…what it is and what it isn’t, as well as some of her own personal stories that included trauma and how she found herself thriving, even in the middle of that!
We also talk about the relentless hurry that our culture not only lives in, but really celebrates, and she shares a few practical ways that we can fight against this idea that being busy means we’re flourishing. Cheryl is also honest and kind and has been so willing to let, even the places I’m sure she’d rather not be mentioned again, be used for the glory of God! It's inspiring to hear part of her story and see how God's using it for His kingdom.
Join me as we spend this time together!
“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” E.B. White
Jesus is not afraid to hang out with messy, unkept, sinners. In fact, that was his very plan from the beginning!
In this episode I am taking you back in time to parts of my story where I can see now that Jesus was there….wooing me, drawing me, even tho I wasn’t ready to say yes. I’ll show you how he was making deposits that would begin to pay dividends later. And my hope is that as I have shared how this going back has drawn me deeper and allowed me to worship in new ways, that you’ll be eager to do the same in your own life, if you haven’t already.
A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty.
—Unknown
A spacious place includes all the parts of us. Today I’m having a short chat with my 3 year old granddaughter Winnie that I thought might be fun for you to get in on with me. I mean, who doesn’t love to hear about some of a 3 year olds favorite things?!! If you need to smile today then this one’s for you!
I water you, you water me; we grow together. Brandon Nembhard
How would the Body of Christ look if our shifted from building our own kingdoms, to building His?
This week my friend Laurine and I are having a conversation about the idea of being together. We talk through why we believe it matters, what gets in the way of us practicing it, and how we’ve grown along the way with one another.
Join us as we make our way “together” through this topic:)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
Acts 1:8
The trinity is both mysterious and confusing, comforting and wonderful. Today I’m having a conversation with Laurine from Breathe in Him podcast, about the Holy Spirit. We navigate some of the big thoughts around who He is and why it matters to know the truth about the trinity through God’s word, as well as some of the nuances of walking by the Spirit. Come join us!
If you feel like you’re not valuable
Let me tell you there’s more….from Lauren Daigle’s song “Valuable”
There are so many new people engaging with the Spacious Place, so today I decided to do a little introduction to who I am and how this podcast came to be. I’m sharing some bits of my own story and how God and others moved me to a new space--- and how I couldn’t keep it to myself! Even if you’re not new to this space, I think you might find some nuggets today that could enlighten your journey.
This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Are birthdays fun for you or do they have an element of hard to them? This episode is two days after my 54th birthday, so I thought it might be fun to share some of the things I’ve learned, what I’m still learning this year, and how it feels in the middle of all of that!
Come along with me as I share what this year has held for me.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” -Viktor E. Frankl
Do you ever talk to fill in quiet spaces? Or know someone who does that? Me too! Today we’re talking about someone in the Bible (spoiler alert...it was Peter:)--- who often did the same thing. We’ll look at a story in Mark where this very thing happened and then I’ll share some of the things that felt helpful to me as I sat in it and leaned in closer.
Join me as we dig a little deeper to see what we might uncover!
“You can withstand life’s rhythms of waves as long as you have your own interior sacred rhythms with God who rocks you safe. “
Often when we think about creating habits, it’s at the beginning of the year or a marker birthday, not in May. But in light of the habits that we already have in place, it can be helpful to determine whether they are working or if there are other ways we can use our time and energy in a more effective way. So, today’s episode is not about ‘being better’, it’s more about creating spaces for us to flourish with ourselves, others and God.
Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen. Brene Brown
In this episode, I gathered with a group of women that chose to link arms and entrust one another with our vulnerable places in regards to the creative adventures we were all beginning during our middle age season. Here we are 4 years later, and not only do we still love one another, but our relationship has deepened tremendously by this one choice to choose vulnerability with one another, in the places that felt so sacred and scary.
We’re sharing today how our time together has not only enhanced our creative endeavor, but helped us to become better sisters to one another!
God speaks to Adam and halts him in his flight. Come out of your hiding place…our of your self torment….confess who you are, do not lose yourself in religious despair, be yourself, Adam. Where are you? —Dietrich Bonhoeffer
In this episode I’m sharing about something my friend in Sierra Leone Africa shared with me about living courageously. I’ll tell you her story and then unpack with you what I believe we can take from her encounter from all the way around the globe!
We’ll also go back to the Garden of Eden and remember God’s question to Adam and Eve when they were hiding…. and you may even find, there’s more to the story than you’ve formerly considered.
“Waiting is just a gift of time in disguise——a time to pray wrapped in a ribbon of patience——because, is the Lord ever late?” Ann Voskamp
Do you ever feel like the weather outside lines up with the condition of your heart? I sure do. Today I’m talking about how an early morning peek out the window opened my heart and mind in such a way for God to speak to my soul. His invitation to join Him, to bring all of me, still catches me off-guard. I’m sitting in a pool of gratitude today and wanted to share it with you!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
“The greater the obstacle, the greater the opportunity for healing.” —-Laurine
My friend Laurine has been on the Spacious Place podcast a couple of times before and I just love chatting with her because it is honest. She is one of the most tenacious pursuers of Jesus— and mind, body and soul integration I know! She is fierce about investing in relationship with others, with a desire to entrust herself more, even when it feels scary or uncomfortable.
We have had lots of practice in our friendship, learning how to make room for grace with one another as we grow more and more into the image of Jesus.
Come along for our chat together!
Charles Swindoll…Intimacy with The Almighty
I’m finally learning that His Sovereign plan is the best plan. That whatever I entrust to Him, He can take care of better than I. That nothing under His control can ever be out of control. That everything I need, He knows about in every detail. That he is able to supply, to guide, to start, to stop, to sustain, to change and correct in His time for His purposes. When I keep my hands out of things, His will is accomplished, His Name is exalted, and His glory is magnified.
In this episode I’ll share some very personal struggles I’m in the middle of that I think some of you may be able to relate to. Maybe not the exact circumstances, but probably somewhat the same ideas. And we’ll talk about the differences around giving something up and giving it over.
We’ll talk about how when we'll drag our weary lives to the throne of grace, God will increase our power and ability to navigate all the disappointing places, even if they still feel terrible----giving us the strength to not only hang on, as we ride the wave of disappointment, but also the strength to hand it over to the only One who can do anything about it.
I think... if it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts. Leo Tolstoy
In this episode we’re gonna talk about the language of love and why it matters. I’ll share some ways Mike and I have missed the mark and how we’re still learning and growing one day at a time.
I’ll also give you a tip that someone gave me years ago that I believe has been super instrumental in the flourishing of our marriage.
Maturity requires the integration, not amputation of what we have received thru our conception and birth, our infancy and schooling.
Today’s episode is just days away from my 6 year anniversary of Freedom from captivity. I’m sharing what it’s looked like for me, what freedom is and what it isn’t, and hopefully I’ll leave you with hope as you navigate your own journey with Jesus and others.
Life is messy and God is patient. Can I get an amen?!!!
God’s fundamental interest in us is relationship…That’s the good news. God says, “I love you and let’s get that settled.”
But then God says, “Now I’m going to mess with you because there are things you need to get straightened out.”’
Oh boy are there ever! Have mercy! —-William Pannell
Join me today as I talk about the messy business of navigating our emotions, when we try to do it alone and the road out of the dark as we move towards connection with others and with Jesus. I’ll share my own messy and vulnerable bits and I’m hoping there may be some of you who can relate.
Taking note of the good, the true, the just, the miracles hidden at every turn, is like a deliberate act of defiance against the darkness.
—From, Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
In this episode we’re talking about what intentional connection might look like this year. I’m sharing a few of the practical shifts I plan to enter into, as I intentionally pursue connection with God, connection with His beautiful creation and connection with those most important to me. Join me today and see if there’s anything that resonates with you at the beginning of this new year.
The true doctrine of omnipresence is, that God reappears with all his parts in every moss and cobweb.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Christmas is the celebration of our God that is with us, Emmanuel. But what if I told you he’s not just with you in the good, but also in the hard...the frustrating...the discouraging and fearful places. In today’s episode I’ll share some of the things that are happening in my life that are hard and why knowing Emmanuel matters!
Happy Christmas season!
In today’s episode we are going to talk traditions. I’m gonna share some of the things that were important in our family as we were raising our kids, as well as how that has changed and morphed over the years. I’ll also share some of the lessons God has taught me along the way as my kids have moved from full time, living in our home, to having families of their own. There are a couple that are absolute game changers that you're not gonna want to miss!
Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
He leads me, “God isn’t behind me yelling, “Go!” He is ahead of me bidding “Come!”
He leads us. He tells us what we need to know when we need to know it.
Safe in the Shepherds Arms by Max Lucado
HAPPY ALMOST THANKSGIVING!!!
I don’t know about you, but life can be pretty challenging at times—-even in the circumstances that you least expect it to be. In this episode, I’m getting real honest about some of the hard parts of my season and then I’ll share which name of God has been most meaningful for me. I’ll also talk about larvae, so there’s that:)
Phillip Yancey, “Grace, like water, flows to the lowest places.”
(Taken from my friend Jeff Peabody’s book “Perfectly Suited”)
Unless we know and understand and begin to put into practice who God says He is and who He says we are, we will languish. The flourishing life we’ve been promised is rooted in relationship with the One who doesn’t change.
Today marks the beginning of our conversation in the spacious place around the messy middle—-the place between our knowing and living it out in our one ordinary life.
Come join me as we keep practicing believing!
The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident. Max Lucado
We all find ourselves afraid at times, right? The problem isn’t that we experience fear, it’s more about what we do when it comes. The story I’m talking through today shows us what Jehoshaphat did when he experienced fear and gives us some insight on how to navigate our own circumstances by admitting our powerlessness and entrusting ourselves to His care. Come with me today as we take a look at this story and see what God has for us.
Also, Happy birthday to my Paige!!!
“Hard doesn’t mean bad, it simply means, not easy.”
Kari Levang
Are you in a transition of sorts? Maybe a new job, a new babe, a move, or something else? Join me today as I share about my 3 1/2 month break from podcasting, while I navigated some big transitions. I’m sharing a little bit about what the break was like for me (spoiler alert: hard and good:)—-as well as giving a little peek into where we’re headed as a Spacious Place community. Come with me as I talk about how curiosity helped so incredibly much as I navigated this season of transition, and how I continue to choose it as this season continues.
“When we show up differently at home, it changes how we show up outside of there” Rebekah Lyons
This week on the Spacious Place I’m sharing what the last 6 months of 22 have shown me as well as where He is leading me for the next couple of months. I’m super stoked for Mike and I to begin the next leg of our adventure together and can’t wait to let you in on what’s next for us, and for the Spacious Place!
We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son.
Pope John Paul II
Join me today as I share some helpful ways of being that give us power rather than leave us in the space of the sum of our fears and weaknesses. I’ll let you in on some practical ways to enter into joy that a few of my friends have shared, when the weight of the world presses in and threatens to rob us of the joy we’ve been promised. As well as some of the specific ways I've been hijacked in the last few weeks!
I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.
Albert Einstein
Is change hard for you? I’m a person who loves change, but when there are lots of changes happening at the same time, it can feel overwhelming. Today on the Spacious Place, I’m talking about how some major changes in my life has given me more opportunity to enter into compassionate curiosity with myself and how this way of being is shaping me to be a good friend to others as they navigate change as well.
This is anniversary week! I’ve been married to my man Mike for 33 years so I decided to have a sit down with him and share with you some of the places we’ve been, where we are now, as well as where we are headed together. We share some of the ways that speaking our expectations has been helpful for us on the front side of purposeful times together as opposed to making the assumption that the other person is a mind reader.
“When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we conquered long ago.”
Friedrich (Nee-cha) Nietzsche
Join me today as I share some of the personal lessons I’m experiencing as I navigate a season of major life change. I’ll share with you a couple of ways that I’m learning to live in a more spacious place in my own heart and mind, rather than allowing old ideas to live in new places during this transitional season.
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley, he will lead
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome!
Yet, not I but through Christ in me.
-Unknown
In this last episode, I wrap up the conversation with my Sherry. We talk about grief around empty nesting, and if you are a person who has, or is, experiencing an especially hard season in life (which is basically anyone on the planet:), she shares about crisis in her family that was super scary and painful that I think will be an encouragement to you as well. Also, be prepared for more tears!
Get into the habit of saying, ‘Speak Lord’, and life will become a romance. Oswald Chambers
This conversation was so good it took two episodes to get through it! Sherry is the first person who I ever hear refer to Jesus as a Love Force. So, in this first episode, we talk a little bit about how that came to be for her and we continue to talk formation around the early seasons of Sherry’s life…what it was like for her as she was raising 3 little boys. She shares some of the creative and practical ways that she stayed close to Jesus and entered into formative practices in bite sized nuggets, during this busy season of her life.
“Whatever is mentionable is manageable.” Fred Rogers
Today I’m sharing a few of the places I found myself in my own alone time with Jesus and sharing how they relate to this process of formation we’ve been talking about. I’ll share some of the ways that I’m engaging with Jesus with the things that I find myself fearful about today, as well as a couple of my failures that I have to entrust to Jesus and allow him to comfort me and shape me into his confident girl.
“No soul on this road is such a giant that it doesn’t not often need to become a child at the breast again…For there is no state of prayer, however sublime, in which it is not necessary often to go back to the beginning.” Teresa of Avila
In this episode I’m sharing a story about Peter, from the book of Matthew and how it relates to us! How we can find ourselves in the places that God has led us, and still experience fear and uncertainty. And, how there is a pathway and provision for us to name it and stay curious with God about how He’ll meet us right in the middle of it. I’ll get real honest about some of my own fears and invite you into how I’m navigating them in real time.
“To have Faith in Christ means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
We live in this middle space of knowing Jesus, but not seeing him face to face yet. The place that requires us to press in by faith, especially with our weaknesses. Today I’ll share a couple of devotionals that were helpful for me in the process of trusting God with my own weak places and asking Him for more!
This is the only time in history when I get to fight for God. This is the only part of my eternal story when I am actually in the battle. Once I die, I’ll be in celebration mode in a glorified body in a whole different set of circumstances. But this is my limited window of opportunity, and I’m going to fight the good fight for all I’m worth.
Joni Eareckson Tada
Simply put, formation will not, cannot happen without the Spirit of God….that’s why it’s called Spiritual formation! Haha In this episode we’ll talk about what it looks like to live in motion and allow the spirit to shape us in all the places of our lives. You are loved by God and he wants an invitation into all the parts of your life. Join me as we continue talking all about being formed into disciples of Jesus.
I have learned now that while those who speak about one’s miseries usually hurt, those who keep silence hurt more. C.S. Lewis
Today as we continue in our journey through spiritual formation, we’ll look at the practice of surrender and how it involves an empowering rhythm of ‘naming’. I’ll share my own experience with this way of being, this naming some things that had happened to me, in the company of Jesus and others, and hopefully you’ll find that it will give you some handles as you navigate the places in your story that need to be seen and acknowledged, so that they can begin to walk the healing path.
When you argue against Him you are drawing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all: it’s like cutting off the branch you’re sitting on. C.S. Lewis
In today’s episode I’ll walk you through my own time alone with God. We’ll look at Job’s life and how God met him right in the middle of his pain and showed him the best thing he could——His very own grandeur and the reminder that He is worthy of his trust/worship. This message was challenging and empowering all at the same time for me. Join me in this journey!
Read with a vulnerable heart. Expect to be blessed in the reading. Read as one awake, one waiting for the beloved. Read with reverence. Macrina Wiederkehr
God loves you! And He is delighted when you walk by faith and entrust yourself into the mysterious place of His written word. The place where you find Jesus—-in the pages of Scripture, waiting to meet you right in the midst of all you’re facing.
Today I’ve got a fresh word of encouragement, that will hopefully wet your appetite to choose to enter in with your genuine self, with expectancy and hope for what God will do….regardless of how you’re feeling.
God’s presence is not the same as the feeling of God’s presence, and He may be doing most for us when we think He is doing least. C.S. Lewis
Is life hard for you when it gets messy? When you can’t seem to create order out of any of the areas of your life? Join me today as I talk about the messiness of life and how it transfers to how we relate to God when our hidden lives also feel messy.
“Maybe the journey isn’t so much about Becoming anything. Maybe it’s aboutUn-becoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be all you were meant to be in the first place.” Unknown
God has given us the disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving his grace. The disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that He can transform us.
Richard Foster
Beth Moore has been a pillar in the community of faith in Jesus. I have learned so much from her over the years and am so so grateful for her obedience and love for Jesus, and this week I heard a quote from her that felt like it was vital to the health of believers. So, this week I start this episode with her quote and then unpack it in terms of the monumental difference between legalism and spiritual disciplines. Why they matter, and some questions we may want to ask ourselves as we process whatever bubbles up in us against them.
She goes into the unknown willingly and confidently, because she knows the Protector of the Universe is right behind her. Unknown
In today’s episode I’ll share what formation has looked like in me, for this first week of living in a new space. How it’s been being alone (mostly) and what the process has looked like. Join me in the conversation as I also share about an invitation that ended up blessing my socks off!!
O, begin! Fix some part of every day for private exercises…Whether you like it or not, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way: else you will be a trifler all your days. …Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself any longer. John Wesley
Today’s episode is a conversation with my friend Laurine, who has been courageous with Jesus and others and is experiencing deep freedom. She talks about how relationship with Jesus being about our own personal obedience, and she poses the question, “What does HE want you to do today?”.
Join me as Laurine shares what the process has been like for her, and some of the fun ways she’s walking out obedience——-it may even involve TikTok!
In this episode my guy, Mike and I chat a little bit about our big move! The idea was to share the move, but once we starting chatting we ended up talking about so much more! Things like marriage, mistakes, forgiveness, desires, dreams and so much more. If you don’t know Mike it’s a great way to get a peek into what he’s like—-and if you do know him….well, you’ll just love hearing his heart in this conversation.
Explore with delight, as though you and God are learning together how to make the day special for both of you. Ruth Haley Barton
We can choose to make a careful exploration of our lives (formation), no matter what we’re doing. That’s the coolest part about being one that God delights in—it doesn’t happen only when we are doing something “spiritual”. Last week as I was packing, I found myself being challenged by some questions that were rolling through my mind so I thought I’d share them with you! Join me today as we take a closer look at how we’re living our days.
The most helpful thing any of us can say about spiritual transformation is: I cannot transform myself, or anyone else for that matter. What I can do is create the conditions in which spiritual transformation can take place by developing and maintaining a rhythm of Spiritual practices that keep me open and available to God.
Ruth Haley Barton
I might be biased but the guest on today’s episode is actually really great-—and she happens to be my daughter, Paige! We’re talking all things, 'formation, practices, becoming'——whatever you feel most comfortable calling them. Simply put, ‘what does it look like to stay in relationship with Jesus through different seasons of life?’ Paige will give you an up close look at a few different seasons in her own life and how messy it got with her and Jesus. Pretty sure many of you will find a place to engage today’s conversation with my beautiful, courageous, kind, wonderfully honest Paige.
“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” CS Lewis
We talked a little about why formation matters last week and I want to continue in that vein of conversation today, but with a twist. What next??? What does it look like to even begin this process? I want to talk about a simple process that Paul has laid out in a letter to the church of Colosse. He gives a very simple way of looking at how we are to live, and uses an everyday image to capture our attention. Join me as we unpack this passage a little bit together and I share some of my own process with you, hopefully giving you hope to move in a little more closely with Jesus and others.
Spiritual people are not those who engage in certain spiritual practices; they are those who draw their life from God. Dallas Willard
Last week we talked about spiritual formation and a little bit about what it is—-this week we’ll explore together why it matters. What it is that would move us to engage with God in His formation processes. I think you might be surprised to hear some of the things that I’ve discovered along the way as to why we might consider formation.
“The most important discover you will ever make is the love the Father has for you. Your power in prayer will flow from the certainty the the one who made you likes you, he is not scowling at you, he is on your side. Unless our mission and our acts of mercy, our intercession, petition, confession, and spiritual warfare begin and end in the knowledge of the Father’s love, we will act and pray out of desperation, determination, and duty instead of revelation, expectation, and joy.” -Pete Grieg
Today is the beginning of a new series together, as we begin to explore what’s shaping us. If we are spiritual beings who belong to God, then what does it mean to allow Him to shape our ways of being. Hopefully you’ll discover afresh today that God is totally in love with you and is delighted every time you choose to come to Him!
Join me as we begin the conversation around Spiritual Formation!
I think all of us can relate to feeling like we’ve been in a long season of lots of change.—-some more than others, of course. In today’s episode I’ll talk through a few of the things that I’m clinging to as I get ready to enter into a major change for Mike and I. Join me as I share how I’m planning to navigate this next season with God, myself and with others.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8
I think it’s safe to say that the last couple of years have been anything but easy. In this first episode of 2022, I will share some of the intentions that I plan to carry with me into this new year, things that will better equip me to live well. And, I’m also going to let you in on a few of the things that I’m asking God and others to help me to leave behind…things that haven't served me well and aren't worth the trouble of dragging into 2022. We’ll take a look together at how we can welcome the new year, without making happiness alone our goal.
“You can learn new things at any time in your life if you're willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you.”
― Barbara Sher
In this episode, my 100th episode I’ll share a few of the things I’ve learned along the way as I’ve stayed in this process of trying something new, trusting God with the obedience of what He’s invited me into, with Him and others. I am so grateful for all of you who have listened and supported this journey I’ve been on and today is a BIG thank you to all of you and a prayer of encouragement as we enter into 2022 with expectancy and hope!
Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will. James Stevens
In this episode I wanted to take a look at the Christmas story through the lense of Mary and share a couple of the things that stood out to me. This middle age woman has so much to learn from the faith of a teenager who lived a couple of thousand years ago and I think you may just find some things you’ve got to receive as well. Join me as we take a walk through the story together just before we celebrate the birth of Jesus!
Proverbs 18:24
“Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.”
The Message: True friends will be with you through life’s most soul-shaking changes.
Well friends, this episode is a little longer than normal because I sat down with my dear friend Karin Peabody. I’ve shared before that God gave me a team of 4 amazing people as He led me through the wonderful, painful process of working through the trauma in my story. Karin was a vital friend along the way and today we are talking all things friendship and coming alongside one another, as we navigate story together. Not only will she share some tools that might be helpful if you’re walking alongside another, but you’ll also get a peek into what some of our times together were like along the way.
It is in the context of relational intimacy that real life change takes place. Ruth Haley Barton
It seems simple, but in this episode I’ll share how I’ve found that practicing this with others, makes this not only possible, but delightful at the same time. As I’ve invited others to come along over and over again, I’m finding that two really are better than one! Today we talk about how realizing that God’s mercies are new every morning as I blow it and come back again and again, not only gives tremendous hope to begin again, but it’s also an enormous relief that we don’t have to do it alone!
To pray with soul and body means praying with all of who we are: our physicality, our emotions, our intuitions, our imaginations, our minds, and all of our experiences. Therefore, when we pray with body and soul, or love with body and soul, we are believing, responding, surrendering with all of who we are. Jan Vennard
In this episode, we’ll talk about the next two rhythms that I’ve found to help me flourish in my desire say yes to clinging to what is good. Working at actually bringing our whole selves to the table has had major implications for me and my relationships as I pursue this practice. Presence, bringing our real self, can sometimes be hard, but is almost always, worth the effort! And prayer, really is an extension of this presence, just with Jesus. Join me as we talk more about it together in this episode!
Today’s episode is all about preparing our own hearts as we prepare to go and be with those we will celebrate with over the holiday season. There are a few practices that I have been using that I’ve found helpful, so I thought I’d share them with you! Some simple ways to pay compassionate attention to yourself, as you get ready to step into a room with people who it may, for some reason, be hard, or ignite fear, or frustration or a whole span of other potentially difficult emotions.
God is forming us into new people. And the place of that formation is in the small moments of today. Tish Harrison Warren
Today we’re going to start with the first two things that I have found to be vital pieces in the process of clinging to what is good in my own life. Paying attention, (which I believe is a cultivated art), is the first one and as we work at it, we get better and better, and before you know it, there is more of us to enter into the situations we find ourselves a part of. And discipline, although to many it sounds like a negative word, has been an extraordinarily helpful piece in my journey into clinging to what is good. Today we talk a lot about the importance of identifying your season, in order to set yourself up well!
Paul never forgets that we are embodied creatures. Everything we think, say or do, we do in a body. Presenting our bodies means staying aware each day that our body is the primary location in which we actually express our heart, soul, strength and mind.
Frank Crouch
In this episode I’ll lay the foundation for our conversation around the invitation to Cling to what is good in Romans 12. We’ll go back to the top of the chapter and find out how it gets practiced in our lives (in our actual bodies), and I will share some insights into how it’s been a helpful rhythm for me to go back to over and over again.
Intimacy can be hard. Especially when we haven’t even figured out how to be ourselves with ourselves yet. But we don’t need to dodge ourselves. We can do the slow work of paying attention and when we’re ready, we’ll can let others into the process with us. Psalm 139 is a great pathway to practice this kind of intimacy with the One who formed us. I’ll share today a little about what this process has been like for me and maybe it’ll give one of you courage to do enter in with Jesus and others in a new way.
The danger of coming to stay with me in our home in Central Oregon is that I will talk you into coming on the podcast and sharing things about your life:)
This week I’m chatting with three of my sweet friends around Romans 12:9—-Love must be sincere; hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Each of us have had some big challenges in life that have allowed for us to exercise these directives and their insights from their own lives is so good! I think you'll be able to find places to enter in as you listen to each of them share their experiences.
You guys!—today as I talk with Meg about the passage in Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good, we find ourselves swimming in the delight of God’s love. But more than that, we talk all about what the process has been— and continues to be like for both of us as we wrestle with the truth that we are totally loved and delighted in, simply because God cannot be anything other than a lover. Today you get in on our own beautiful mess of belief and doubt, sometimes right in the middle of our worship.
Christ's invitation to the weary and heavy-laden is a call to begin life over again upon a new principle--upon His own principle. "Watch My way of doing things," He says. "Follow Me. Take life as I take it. Be meek and lowly, and you will find Rest.” - Henry Drummond
Today we’ll finish up our conversation around the Matthew 11 passage. We’ll land on rest and spend some time talking about what the invitation to get away with God actually means for us, as the beloved of God. I just know that by the end of the podcast you’ll be eager to turn it off and get away with Jesus for the rest that he offers.
Back in the middle of August we talked about the invitation to Come, to Jesus with our weary and burdened selves.(Matthew 11:28-30) Join me this week as we unpack some thoughts around the next step of this invitation--- and we’ll start with yokes. Not jokes, but yokes:) We're gonna talk not only about what they are but what makes them helpful.
Solitude is the place of purification and transformation, the place of the great struggle and the great encounter. Henri Nouwen
It’s easy for us to romanticize what getting alone with God in solitude will be like. In this episode I’ll share with you the discomfort and messiness of my time alone with Jesus and how it ultimately led me somewhere other than what I was hoping and expecting.
Today is me sharing with you spontaneously about what it was like to cling to what was good in my own discomfort. Hopefully me sharing how terrible I felt and what the struggle was like, to choose a different way, will lead you to some encouragement. If nothing else, you’ll know you’re not alone in have an occasional hard day.
When we are in touch with God’s joy and peace in us (clinging to what is good), then we become whole and holy persons. Like living torches we radiate the light and heat of God’s compassionate love. Mark Yaconelli
This week we’ll continue our conversation about clinging to what is good, but we’ll fast forward to what that looks like for me today. I’ll share some of the ways that I have continued this practice and hopefully give you some handles for your own lives in three important areas. Join me, as we keep showing up and living out our identity as God’s beloved.
Holding onto hope when everything is dark is the greatest test of faith.
Yasmin Mogahed
In todays’ episode I share what it looked like for me to cling to what was good while I was hanging on for dear life through my season of counseling. Wherever you find yourself today, this conversation will give you insights and ideas around what it looks like to take up the call to hang onto hope! Grab your favorite drink, get comfy and have a listen!
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. Martin Luther King Jr
This year, like every other year of my life, has been full of wonderful things and heartbreaking situations. That’s what life is like, right? Both. In this episode we’ll talk about following Jesus right in the middle of our disappointments. I often think we put God on hold or think we can place him somewhere outside of our circumstances, rather than realize He’s right there with us, in the middle of all of it. When we realize we aren’t alone, that’s where we begin to find transcendent peace!
In this episode I’ll share a journal entry that I came across from July of 2016. This entry was a day after I had experienced deep hopelessness and it documents how personally God met me right in the middle of it. I’ll share what the day looked like for me, as well as all the ways God showed Himself to me. You may not relate to the subject matter I’ll share, but unfortunately you may be able to relate to feeling hopeless. My desire is that today’s episode will give you courage and hope for whatever you’re facing!
Believing takes practice. —-Madeline L’Engle
Why is it that Jesus simple invitation to come gets lost on us? Do you find yourself letting busyness get in the way, or fear of what He’ll think of you or your situation? In this episode we’ll talk about not only Jesus invitation for us to be with Him, but we’ll take a glimpse at what He’s like. Hopefully, this will impart some courage into you as you follow Christ.
God promises to make the vale of trouble a door of hope. Jill Briscoe
Life has a way of allowing hard things to come into our lives. Things that also usher in a myriad of emotions that feel huge! In this episode I’ll share some of the things that have been hard this year for me as well as a practical way that I managed my emotions that I found super helpful.
Today I talk with my friend Jennie, the kindest, whose story has piles of goodness and heaps of pain and she has entrusted herself to Jesus and me and so many others. Her’s is a story of real life, following Jesus, one step at a time and I think you’re really going to enjoy this chat together.
Wounds have a way of reminding us that they exist. They won't be overlooked. They poke and prod until we are willing to pay attention--to listen to them and honor them. In today's episode this is exactly what we'll be talking about. Join me in the conversation around my own wounds.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
In this episode I’m keeping it real. I’ll share with you an experience that I had that threw me into a tailspin. And how I pressed through with Jesus and others, entrusting myself again with those around me and continuing to learn how to stay present even when my body is full of anxiety.
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
Putting ourselves out there, inviting others to follow us feels risky. We’re afraid of inviting someone to do this because we know ourselves. We’ll talk in this episode about how Paul had the same struggle but didn’t let it hinder him from living out God’s truth that we have become fishers of men (Matthew 4:19).
Today I’m talking with a couple of friends who I’ve done a lot of life with….Janet Potter and Jessica Yost. Each of us are in very different seasons of life, but we’ve been able to find ways to continue to stay connected over the years. In this episode we talk about how we’ve had to work through places where we don’t agree, how our friendship has included all of our families, and how being willing to share our own struggles with one another has enriched our lives.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Theodor Roosevelt
In this episode we’ll talk about Peter and Jesus conversation on the beach. That day when Peter jumps out of the boat to get close to the risen Christ. We’ll talk about how this conversation wasn’t just for Peter, but has implications for our lives as well. How comparison robs me what God intends for me and how God longs for us to listen and believe him for the things He has planned for our own specific lives.
He deliberately chose to create me as the object of his own affection.
Phillip Keller
Following Jesus means there is One who is the Shepherd of our souls and it’s not us. The job of this Good Shepherd is to create opportunities for us to flourish in and become all He intends and longs for us to be. The job of the follower, (that’s us!), is to believe that we are the object of his affection and to say yes to all that He has done to create a pathway for me to abide in him.
Follow Me with your wounds
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
In today’s episode I’ll share how my father wounds inhibited me from following Jesus as my Father, up close and what the process to nearness looked like for me. If you have wounds from your own dad, my hope is that today’s episode would give you a deeper shade of Hope!
But the gospel is not just for one day of our little life with Jesus. It is for everyday that follows. We won’t survive if we replace our connection with Jesus with duty or morals.
Rachel Gilson
Join me today as we talk about how being a Christ follower is a posture of heart—a way of being on the inside that makes its way out of us, into the way we live. Today we’re going to talk about how important this is in terms of how we relate to one another in relationship…especially those that we might not see eye to eye. We’ll talk about how letting understanding lead the way is key to being followers of Jesus.
“Christianity does not begin with our pursuit of Christ, but with Christ’s pursuit of us. Christianity does not start with an invitation we offer to Jesus, but with an invitation Jesus offers to us.”
― David Platt, Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live.
One of the phrases that we see Jesus use as He’s beginning His ministry is, “Follow Me”. This phrase has been rolling over in my mind because it is the very essence of what it means to be a Christian and yet is this how we view ourselves? Do we see the word Christian and think it is a description of who we are alone, rather than what we are called into—a living, vibrant walk with a Person? In today’s episode we will begin a conversation about what this means for us and how it affects every area of our lives.
Proverbs 27:9
A sweet friendship refreshes the soul.
In this episode I’m chatting with my sweet friend Jessica. She grew up in the house up the street from the house where we raised our kiddos, and our lives have remained very connected. Jess is smart and super fun! She’s married now and I may or may not have had a part in finding her husband… and they have 4 kiddos of their own! In our conversation in this episode, we talk about marriage, family, friendship, Jesus and so much more!!
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
I believe that God has good things in mind for us! We are his workmanship (poem), the display of his splendor! Often times desires and dreams begin to bubble up in us and we shut them down. But what if we were willing to take the things that feel new and sometimes scary and way outside of our comfort zones, right to the One who put them in our hearts in the first place and allowed Him to prepare our hearts as He leads us.
And I will be with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20b
Practicing presence while parenting teens for any parent often seems like an oxymoron, but today I will share some things that I learned as we parented our 4 kids. I’ll share some personal stories from our family, letting you in on what I would do different today if I could go back and do it all over again, as well as give you some of the principles that I would’t change.
In this episode you will get a peek into a conversation with my own 4 adult kids, David, Andrew, Paige and Tate. We sit down and talk about all the things….memories from when they were kids, things they are being challenged by today and ways they are engaging in fun and so much more! You’ll get a peek into how they relate to one another as well as how we laugh at each other and love one another all at the same time!
It is only resting in God’s presence and grace that will make you a joyful and patient parent. Paul Tripp
I’m no expert, but I have raised 4 kids and they are pretty wonderful adults. In this episode I’ll share what some of the things were that hindered my parenting and give some input around the things that get in the way of parenting with freedom.
We’ll talk about how we were not made to do it alone and how letting others in on your journey as a family is often the very thing you need to experience abundance right in the middle of what feels like a mess at times.
Go where your prayers take you. Unclench the first of your spirit and take it easy. Breathe deep of the glad air and live one day at a time. Know that you are precious. Know that you can trust God. ----Fredrick Buechner
We are all in the process of being formed and fortunately we don’t have to wait for our circumstances to get right before we can experience presence and genuine connection with God, ourselves and others. In this episode I'll talk about what it's like to pursue presence when I feel empty and tired.
What does pursuing presence with our adult selves, when it feels like we’ve been taken over by our younger self look like? Today we’ll make some distinctions around the fact that we are one person made up of many parts. Adults walking around with younger selves who sometimes make themselves known in our every day lives. I’ll share an experience that I had years ago that was a beautiful picture of what our God is like with us and we’ll also talk about how Jesus feels about children, so that we can know that all of us are welcome!
Genesis 3:9 God called to the man, “Where are you?”
In this episode I’m sharing what it’s like for me when I find myself feeling fearful and what the process of letting go and grabbing on looks like as well as how one of God’s simple questions, gently leads me back to Him and reminds me that there’s another way of being that I was made for.
Help! Help! Help! ---Winslow James Hanaford
Today’s episode I’ll share some lessons from a 19month old, and her parents. I’m going to share how this simple practice has given me courage and helped me to see myself and God in a new, fresh light and allowed me to step into and trust in new ways. I’ll also take us to a story in one of the gospels that shows the Divine tenderness of our Jesus.
Your presence is the most precious gift you can give to another human being. Marshall Rosenberg
Today we will continue our conversation around what cultivating this rhythm of presence in my own marriage has been like and what some of the simple practices that Mike and I have implemented. I’ll also share how these simple tools are shaping who we are becoming. And, I'll let you in on one of our biggest fights ever!
To be deeply formed is to regularly come back to a different rhythm —- a rhythm marked by communion, deep reflection, and a life giving pace that enables us to offer our presence to the present moment. Rich Villodas
In this episode I will share what it has looked like for Mike and I to practice presence in our marriage. I share some of the ways that we have failed as well as some things that I’m learning right now. I’ll talk about the things that have kept from pursuing this rhythm with Mike and what is helping me lean into it in new ways!
Nothing bothers the devil more than a Christian delighting in God’s presence. AW Tozer
In this episode we continue our conversation around practicing presence and we’ll do so through the lense of Jesus interaction with a blind beggar on the side of the road. This short little passage has so much to tell us about God’s heart for all of his created people along with his longing to hear us articulate what it is we want. Join me as we enter in!
Attending to the present moment, watching it emerge and contributing to its creation is one of the premier skills of the spiritual life. Brennan Manning
This is part three of our series talking about practicing presence with Jesus, ourselves and others. In today’s episode we’ll talk about what it means to sharpen our skills as a follower of Jesus, (which feels kinda weird to say, doesn’t it?). But what, like all other relationships, walking with Jesus is a practice that we get better at the longer we are intentionally paying attention and creating space for growth? Come with me today as we enter into what it means to hone our skills together.
I want the presence of God Himself, or I don’t want anything at all to do with religion…I want all that God has or I don’t want any. AW Tozer
In this fourth episode on practicing presence with ourselves, with God and with others we’ll talk about some of the things that can inhibit us from entering into presence. I’ll share some of my own personal struggles around pursuing presence and hopefully give you a longing for more as you lean into what it means to be God’s chosen one.
Attending to the present moment, watching it emerge and contributing to its creation is one of the premier skills of the spiritual life. Brennan Manning
This is part three of our series talking about practicing presence with Jesus, ourselves and others. In today’s episode we’ll talk about what it means to sharpen our skills as a follower of Jesus, (which feels kinda weird to say, doesn’t it?). But what, like all other relationships, walking with Jesus is a practice that we get better at the longer we are intentionally paying attention and creating space for growth? Come with me today as we enter into what it means to hone our skills together.
Marriage, for sure, is another one of the places that we get the opportunity to press into presence. Today as we continue our conversation around practicing presence, you’ll get a peek in as I sit down with my man, Mike as we have a conversation together around what it’s been like to engage in this practice in our own marriage. Grab a cup of your favorite drink and join us for this chat together!
Wherever you are, be all there. Jim Elliot
In this episode I’ll give an overview of where we’re headed for this series on practicing presence with ourselves, Jesus and others. And I’ll share an experience that I had recently that helped me to see that I need to keep on practicing! You’ll get an up-close look at a situation in my marriage that required me to take some risks with Mike, entrusting myself to him in new ways.
To be deeply formed is to regularly come back to a different rhythm—a rhythm marked by communion, reflection, and a life giving pace that enables us to offer our presence to the present moment. Rick Villodas
This is the first of our series on practicing presence, so of course I would be thrown into a super hard situation that made practicing presence a little harder. So, I’ll share what that’s been like for me in this episode as we launch into the messiness of practicing presence. I’ll invite you on my own journey through a difficult week.
I will share with you what some of my go-to’s are when life gets hard and how pay attention and asking myself questions helps me to actually reorient myself into presence, rather than autopilot.
In this episode Matt and I will talk about all the things! He'll share some of the things he's learned about marriage and parenting as well as his perspective from the trauma of the delivery of their sweet baby Winslow.
He'll also share some of the things he loves to spend time doing when he's not home with his family.
Pull up a chair and have a listen to our conversation!
Celebration is a kind of food we all need in our lives, and each individual brings a special recipe or offering, so that together we will make a great feast. Celebration is a human need that we must not, and can not, deny. It is richer and fuller when many work and then celebrate together. —-Corita Kent
It’s hard to believe its been one year since we launched the Spacious Place podcast! In this episode we will make a feast of celebrating where we’ve been along with who it took to get us here. I’ll share some of the ideas and dreams of where we’re headed for our second year together and I’ll also talk about some of the things that helped get me through the year as things got challenging. Grab something your favorite snack or drink to enjoy as we celebrate all that God has done in and through this space.
Mentoring is a dynamic, intentional relationship of trust, in which one person (the mentor) enables another, (the mentee) by sharing their God-given experience and resources, to maximize the grace of God in their life, and in the service of God’s Kingdom purposes.
-Leighton Ford
In this episode you’ll get in on a conversation I had with my mentor, Sherry Haake. We talk about what her relationship with her own mentor was like, how our relationship began and has morphed over our 20 year relationship, as well as sharing some examples of people in the Bible who experienced mentoring relationships.
But more than any of that, hopefully, this episode will prepare your heart to seek a mentor or become one for someone else.
The dictionary describes a mentor as a trusted counselor or guide. A tutor or a coach. The Bible communicates it as a relationship that is honest, deeply connected and directed towards Jesus, with one another.
In this episode I’ll share how walking closely with another has not only enriched my life and made me better, in so many ways, but how this relationship was not intended to end with me. Its very purpose is to be given away. That’s what mentoring is all about—-giving of yourself, for the goodness of another’s benefit.… And in the process there’s blessing for both. It morphs into mutuality, when entered into by two people who are willing to learn and grow….be uncomfortable at times, and take massive risks. Join me as I share what mentoring is and what it isn’t.
“In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others.” Brennan Manning “Abba’s Child—The cry of the heart from intimate belonging”
In this episode I’ll chat with my son Andrew’s sweet wife Courtney. Court entrusted me with the gift of inviting me along on her healing journey, long before she was in relationship with my son. In today’s episode, you’ll get a peek into how we met and the story around her becoming family. She’ll also share some of her thoughts around relationships, community and what her own courageous journey, leaning into becoming more of what God has intended for her has been like. Courtney is a special girl to me and I can’t wait for you to hear from her!
Quote: You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. CS Lewis
In this last episode of 2020 you’re invited to come with me, as I take a look back at where I’ve been this year, take note of some of the things that have happened in my own life, honor them and then let them inform me as I move into 2021—-and I’m gonna let you in on it with me! I’ll take about how when we notice with kindness and curiosity, it leaves room for expectancy and hope to grow as we lean into the next season of life!
Grab your calendar or journal and get ready to take a look at your own lives, recognizing where you’ve been and dream about where you’re headed!
Merry Christmas friends!!
Today we’ll enter into the Christmas story together from the account in the Book of Luke and talk about the wonder of Emmanuel, God with us! We’re also going to talk about a couple of other places that will expand our picture of the Christ child!
God’s forgiveness and God’s mercy generates a joyful fear and wonder that empowers our lives. Timothy Keller
How hard is it for you to believe that the longings and desires that are bubbling up in you, may have been put there by God? What would it look like for you to surrender to the mystery of the Holy Spirit within you around these longings and dreams? What if, like Mary and Joseph, God had something bigger in mind for you? How could leaning into your dreams and longings WITH God, be a place of acceptance and fulfillment for you and a joy for others to enter into, with you? In this episode I’ll share some thoughts about how we’ve been saturated by God’s spirit and how God wants to use you for the display of his splendor!
“In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others.”
― Brennan Manning, Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging
If God’s very name, Emmanuel, means He is with us, does that mean that He’s with us, even in our painful places? I would say a strong, YES! His ‘with-ness’ is not determined by us being good or dependent on how we're feeling. And this, my friends is good news! Join me in this conversation around Him being with us, even in our painful places.
By the light of nature we see God as a God above us, by the light of the law we see Him as a God against us, but by the light of the gospel we see Him as Emmanuel, God with us. Matthew Henry
In this episode we’ll talk about the wonder that the God of Christmas is a ‘with’ God and what that means for us. How essentially, Christmas is the first page in the gospel story! We’ll walk through many of the places where God declared himself as our ‘with’ God before we even get to the birth of Christ.
Since Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, according to the writer of Hebrews, we can count on this being true for us as well! Come with me as we enter into the Christmas season with a deeper understanding of our Emmanuel, and we leave our time together with a song of joy!
I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. Gilbert K. Chesterton
Finding gratitude in every season is a hard won battle, but one that’s worth it!
On top of being super thankful for all who listen and enter into the Spacious Place with me, week after week, I will share in this week’s conversation some of the things that made the top of my thankful list this year! From people, places, experiences and everything in between, you’ll get a peek into many of the things that make my heart scream thank you!
Gratitude and Grief can sit at the same table. —Unknown
What does it look like when our hearts are overwhelmed with grief to enter into gratitude?
In today’s episode I sit down with my own sweet daughter, Paige, as she shares her most sacred space around the best day of he life that turned out to be one of her hardest days all at the same time. Paige courageously lets you in on what led her to this place of deep grief and how she's navigated through it with grace.
If you're curious, there is always something new to be discovered in the backdrop of your daily life.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
With this being the beginning of November, I found it fitting for us to talk around the idea of gratitude. In this episode we’ll talk about how practicing the rhythm of wonder in our daily lives in things like, the shape of clouds and the color of changing leaves, can lead us to the place of gratitude. And how staying in step with curiosity in the simple things in life, positions us for more and expands our hearts to lean towards “thank you”.
In this episode you’ll get a peek into a conversation that I had with another one of my daughter-in-laws. Hannah is our youngest son, Tate’s wife and she’s pretty special. You’ll get to hear about how our relationship as grown, what their first year of marriage was like, and so much more!
*Fun fact, Hannah and her mom designed the thumbnail image for The Spacious Place and she's also working on some other fun graphics for me too!
“Relying on God has to start all over everyday, as if nothing has yet been done.”-C.S. Lewis
This space was created with the intent purpose of being a place where there’s room for all of us. The parts where we’re doing well and the places where we’re struggling or not doing so well. In this episode I’ll show up with vulnerability as I share what one of my days was like this week in the middle of the struggle. I’ll talk about what it looked like for me to use the tools that were hard won and I’ll even share how tapping in to use them was a challenge for me, but so worth it.
There’s a saying in the south… “Be where your feet are”. Now as much as we like the sound of this, and it even sounds a bit redundant, I’m not sure many of us are great at doing it. We’re often thinking of where we’ve been or where we’re headed, rather than simple being present where we are.
In this episode we’ll talk about how we might learn how to be fully available in the company of God, ourselves and others. We’ll spend some time talking about our pace and how paying attention to it, can help us become more fully human as we get in step with our Creator’s design for us.
Have a listen and let me know how you’re entering into the practice of BEING!
There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. -John Green, Turtles All the Way Down
Ever feel like life is squeezing in on you? Like there’s less room to breathe and think or create? Me too!
In this episode we’ll talk about the spacious place vs the small, confining space. I’m not talking about real estate here, I’m talking about that place where we live in our heads. I’ll make some distinctions about each of them, in my own life, and I’ll share some questions that are helpful tools for me as I find myself there. We’ll end with what the spacious place looks like, for me specifically. How my thinking shifts and what kinds of things it creates room for.
This episode is a conversation with my lovely daughter in law Samantha. We spend time chatting about her relationship with our oldest son David, as well as what it’s like to parent their two kiddos while going to school full time in the middle of a major life change. She’ll also share some things that she learned from her own childhood that she wants to implement into her own parenting, and so much more! This conversation will give you a peek into our dear Samantha’s heart.
In this episode I’ll share a conversation with my friend Katy Krippaehne. She is one of my brave friends who has embarked on a creative venture, using her gifts and talents on her YouTube channel (Delight of the Bite), to share with the world her delightful concoctions of all manner of yummy food! We’ll talk all about what ‘delight’ has looked like for her, not only in creating delightful food, but experiencing it around her own story with Jesus and others.
“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.” ― George MacDonald
Life is hard, right—-especially in 2020. We’ve gone from global pandemic to murder hornets, to massively extreme weather patterns. And that’s just naming a few of the hard things that this year has held for us. And yet, somehow God still offers us delight. The ability to lean in and receive His delight over us and give it away to others. Today we will spend some time talking all things delight, so hit that play button and join me in the conversation!
In this episode I’ll talk with the youngest of the Levang crew, Tate. You’ll get to hear a little bit about what it was like growing up as the youngest of 4 kids. The things he loved about it and the things that were hard because of it. He also shares a little bit about what being married to Hannah has taught him, in this first year, as well as some of the passions he’s pursuing. I think you’re gonna enjoy a peek into our relationship as well!
You can also check out some of his amazing skills on his website @tatelevang.com.
In this final episode of the series on connection and community I have a conversation with Alyssa Bethke. And although she and her family live in paradise in Maui Hawaii, they have had to work, just like the rest of us mainlanders, for genuine connection. She shares some of the struggles around establishing community, as well as why its been worth the risk.
(Also, just a heads up, the sound quality is not good on this one, but content is so good, its worth fighting through it.)
Quote: “I know the psalm, but she knows The Shepherd.”
Join me today as we spend some time together in the often quoted Psalm 23 as it relates to connection with Jesus. We’re going to talk about what it means to be sheep, who belong to the Good Shepherd. I’ll also share some of the ways that connection got disrupted for me in the past, with Mike, and how I have been able to pay attention to some of the reasons for that and do the mending, soul work with Jesus and others.
Quote: You will never look into the eyes of someone God does not love…always be kind. -Unknown
You’ve heard it said that, ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’. Well, in this episode I’d like to propose a new way of thinking and relating to one another. What if we chose to stay present and engaged with one another, rather than opt out and disconnect.
Life is messy. Relationships are hard, even when we agree on most things. But what about when we disagree? How do we navigate loving one another well when our values don’t align? Or we disagree on issues that feel important. I sure don’t have all the answers but I’ll share what it has looked like in my own life and give some insight around how Jesus did it that I believe we can learn and grow from together.
In this Kari’s Krew episode I sit down with my oldest son, David who is not only a great guy but is also the creator of the music in the regular Spacious Place episodes! We talk about all kinds of things—-like, his deep love for superheroes, some of the ways that being a child of a blended family was painful for him, and he also shares some of his favorite memories.
We also talk about the things he learned from our marriage and parenting that he has chosen to implement in his own family. You’re not gonna want to miss this episode with another of my wonderful kiddos!
Quote: Human connections are deeply nurtured in the field of shared story. --Jean Houston
Grab your favorite drink and pull up a chair!
You’re invited to join in the conversation that I had about connection with my dear friend Laurine. She will share her own story around why connection was so hard for her as well as her journey through messy relationship with Jesus and others. You’ll get to hear some places where Laurine and I have blown it together, in our friendship with, and you can hear how God has done big work in each of our lives. Laurine fights for authentic in all of life and I think you’re gonna love hearing her heart today!
Quote: In a world of algorithms, hashtags and followers, know the true importance of human connection. -Unknown
Connecting with one another is not easy, but rarely not worth the risk. This week we will talk about barriers to connection——a few of the components that can kill connection with others. And we’ll also talk about a couple of ways to help you to cultivate connection with others. If you are someone who has had a hard time finding your people, this episode may give you some helpful handles to help you grab onto in your quest for building relationships with others that are life-giving.
Quote: In a world where everyone wears a mask, it’s a privilege to see a soul. -Author Unknown
Join me in the first episode in our summer series on Connection and Community! Today we will make some important distinctions between Community and Connection and I will share the seven “must-haves” for genuine connection with one another.
We’ll also celebrate the fact that Jesus is not calling us to perfection, in our relationship with Him and others, but presence! This is a truth that will set you free!
Kari's Krew episodes are an opportunity for you to get a glimpse into some of my relationships with my favorite people.
This week's episode is with one of my own boys, Andrew Levang. We have a conversation around relationships and all that he's learning at this season of his life, as well as some fun memories from his childhood. He'll also share one of the exciting, life-changing events that's happening in the not-so-distant future for him!
Isaiah 49:13 says,
Shout for joy, you heavens;
rejoice, you earth;
burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Joy in business??? Yep! That’s what we’re going to finish our series up talking about today. Nicole Huntsman is here to share with us some of her successes and some of the hard places in running your own business and how she has leans into the process of creating room for joy to grow. Jump on and have a listen as we finish up our series on joy together!
Quote:Marriage has the power to set the course of your life as a whole. If your marriage is strong, even if all the circumstances in your life around you are filled with trouble and weakness, it won’t matter. You will be able to move out into the world in strength. Tim Keller
Marriage is great, but it isn’t always easy. In this episode we’ll talk about how to cultivate joy in our marriages as well as partnering with God to develop the rhythm of joy in the lives of our kids, no matter what age they are! Have a listen and let me know what some of the ways you lean into developing joy with your own families.
In this episode, I sit down and chat with my niece, Nicole Huntsman, about what it looks like for us to cultivate joy in our own daily lives. How, we navigate life when it doesn’t feel joyful and some of the rhythms and practices that have been helpful along the way for each of us in the midst of hard circumstances. Hopefully, our experiences can help provide some handles for you to grab onto as you lean into joy.
"Joy is the serious business of Heaven" C.S. Lewis
What if joy isn’t really about just turning that frown upside down, but is bigger and better than that? Today we are going to talk about what joy really is and how we can partner with God in creating a space in our hearts and lives for it to take root and flourish.
Life can be hard....and good. Today Mike and I are going to give you a peek into our marriage, what parenting was like for us as we were running a ministry and I was in deep counseling. As well as some of the rhythms that have been timeless and irreplaceable in our 31 years of marriage together.
Quote: “My task in being the authentic me—being who I was created to be requires that I value the Word of God and what it says about me more than I value what I or others say about me.” ——Sandra C. Bibb
In this world we experience the mix of joy and sorrow and everything in between. Today we’re going to talk about how God’s word is not just words on a page, but a hand, extended in our direction, waiting for us to grab hold. I’ll share how it was a balm for me in the shameful, dark places of my soul and hopefully wet your appetite to dive in for yourself!
Quote:“When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability. To be alive is to be vulnerable. I love, therefore, I’m vulnerable.“ —-Madeline L’Engle
This week we’re going to shine a light on all the things we say to ourselves that no one else hears….our self talk. This quiet dialogue in our heads can wreak havoc in our minds and our souls, so today we’ll talk about some of the ways we can pay attention and take our thoughts captive. No longer giving them free reign of the place, but rather creating space to let Divine Love have a say in the matter. Come on in and join me in the conversation!
This week is something totally new for The Spacious Place! It’s the first week what we’re calling “Kari’s Krew”. A personal spotlight of some of the most important people in my life. And because we just celebrated Mother’s Day, I decided to start with my only daughter,Paige, who just experienced her first Mother’s Day this year as a mom of her own babe. We talk about all the things mother and daughter, some of our favorite memories together, and Paige’s dreams for the future for her own sweet family.
—Amy Poehler said, "It’s never overreacting to ask for what you want and need."
Every human was born with basic needs. Needs for our bodies, like food, water and rest. And needs that help our souls to flourish. And our needs actually can become the birthplace for desire. In this episode I’ll share how hard it was for me to identify needs and to choose to take the risk of letting others in on them. I’ll share what the process was like for me and hopefully help impart some courage for you as you practice vulnerability with your own safe people.
In this last episode of our anxiety series we will talk about how being courageous enough to let others into our anxious places, while we are in the middle, not only gives us what we need but empowers others to do the same. I’ll share how this kind of sharing within a group of my own friends has led to a deepening of not only our relationship, but our level of trust as well. We’ll also talk about how surrender doesn’t mean giving up, but giving in and what the difference is.
Anxiety often attempts to distort our view of our identity—tries to tell us we’re something that we’re not. Slowing down enough to pay attention to the messages in our heads that fuel or provoke anxiety, is the first step towards pulling the plug on our anxious thoughts. In this episode we’ll also talk about how taking up guard over our heart, is a high and holy invitation that leads us to live more freely in the spacious place.
This week we will talk about how paying attention to how anxiety shows up in our bodies is actually a kindness and what we can do with it, once we notice how it’s manifesting itself. I’ll share about a couple of simple rhythms that have been helpful for me as I’ve taken note of it’s presence in my own life, and hopefully give you some tools that you can easily implement into your own process around your anxious places.
Generally speaking, anxiety has a way of calling us into hiding, but what if it is an invitation for MORE engagement rather than less? Today we’ll talk about how anxiety shows up when the circumstances of our lives don’t turn out the way we’d thought or hoped. We’ll look into some of the people who had an up-close role in the Easter story and how this turn of events that felt like a horrible turn, were actually the makings of Good News.
This month marks the beginning of our series on Anxiety and Abiding. Although this might not necessarily sound like a fun topic, it’s one that each of us can relate to in one degree or another. So what is anxiety? How do we identify that we are anxious and what do we do when we find ourselves there? In this episode I’ll share some pieces of my own story around anxiety. I'll share how it played out in me and hopefully help give you some handles to grab hold of when you find yourself in the anxious place, rather than the spacious place.
What does it look like to practice presence? To lean into communing with God and with others? None of us has it nailed down perfectly, but in this episode I’ll share a few of the things that I have learned this year as I have intentionally pressed into practicing presence in a couple of new ways. And hopefully, you’ll come away with some fresh ideas for how you can experience what it means to be human and to practice connection over perfection.
In this episode we’ll talk about where courage comes from and how we get it. We’re gonna destroy the myth that it’s about something muster up on our own. I’ll talk about what courage looked like in some people from years ago in the Bible, as well as how it took shape in my own life. And hopefully my courageous acts will give you what you need to step into it in the places in your own life that feel overwhelming.
This is part two of our series around the passage in 2 Corinthians 10 that talks about using our God given tools to smash warped philosophies that try to erect themselves up in our minds…..those thoughts that attempt to hold us captive. We’ll talk about how we can pay attention to them and lead those that are no longer welcome in the home of our heart to the door, making them obedient to Jesus. I’ll give some tips about what has worked for me in this process and hopefully encourage you in your own thought life!