The Spacious Place, with Kari Levang

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.