Small acts, big impact: gentle hospitality | with Liz Bell Young
Stephanie and Liz Bell Young invite you to join them for another deep, heart-to-heart conversation about Liz's book, "Let There Be Havens." Truly, it’s more about Liz’ heart and how we too can open up our homes in simple ways to welcome everyone in the name of Christ.
Liz shared her childhood memory of her mom getting a blade of grass back for her, which became a beautiful symbol of self-sacrificial love and care. They also chatted about the importance of starting small, creating little havens for others, and how it's all about making people feel loved and cherished.
They discussed how readers can engage with the book as a sort of companion in their daily lives, using it bit by bit and making it a part of their routine. It's all about fostering comfort and gentleness in everyday life, which is so important, right?
And then they delved into some deep stuff about self-worth and grace. Liz shared her personal experience of burnout and the struggle of embracing brokenness, and Stephanie totally got where she was coming from. They talked about how finding grace in Christ and from the faith community is such a game-changer. The way Liz illustrated her habit of always taking the worst eggs for herself was just so relatable. It became this symbol of self-acceptance and vulnerability, which I found really powerful.
To wrap it up, they ended with a lovely prayer and some seriously inspiring words. The whole conversation was a beautiful reminder of the transformative power of love, the journey of embracing brokenness, and the profound resonance of Liz Bell Young's message in her book. It's definitely a must-listen!
ABOUT “LET THERE BE HAVENS”
Discover the gentle lifestyle and deep satisfaction of practicing hospitality with what you have.
We all need people, places, and experiences that bring us home, feed our hope, rock us to sleep, then wish us well in the morning when we go back into the world and find others who need what we were just given. We long for these warm welcomes—and the ability to offer them to others without pretension or stress.
In this exquisite tapestry of stories, beautiful photography, and both practical and creative resources, writer and designer Liz Bell Young gives us a new vision for hospitality—one where we can both create space and give space at the same time. In Let There Be Havens, she shows us how anyone and any space can be part of this gentle and hospitable way of life.
Threading her life experiences in Italy, California, and Ohio—including camping events in fields and hosting friends in a van parked in the driveway—Young reveals the secrets of cultivating havens right where we are. She’ll inspire you through stories to open the heart; easy-to-follow guides for creating haven-like spaces; creative how to’s for everyday generosity and contentment; and beautiful recipes and simple menu ideas.
Page by page, this powerful manifesto will give what you need to build meaningful moments, draw people in, and offer more beauty to the world—piece by piece, life by life.
In Let There Be Havens, Liz Bell Young shares stories that will inspire readers to show love to their neighbors; offers encouragement for those who want to live a creative and generous life; and discusses how to replace fear and anxiety with calmness and kindness.
What is a haven?
A door held open.
A lamp turned on.
A place prepared.
This is haven: gentle hospitality.
When one person reaches for another, makes an offering, and believes we all hold such worth. No matter what we have in our pockets or where we’ve been up until now, we take care of each other―whether we’re strangers on a sidewalk or families around a table. Each day, we create trails of beauty and connection. One open door opens the next. And then it happens: our streets fill with lamplight, our lives lift with spirit, and our homes become circles of gold.
Let there be havens.
CONNECT WITH LIZ BELL YOUNG
Liz Bell Young is a writer, experience designer and collaborator in the Midwest. Her work appears in Magnolia Journal on the shelves, Artifact Uprising and Darling on the sites, Procter & Gamble in the studios, and Woman Camp in the woods. A grad of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago + University of Cincinnati, LBY takes a multidisciplinary approach to her work and home. Favorite pairings: words on index cards, words next to rolling film, words covering real paper inside real books. She also adores rocks, oyster shells, the smell of hay and gasoline, old Austrian boots, coffee in small cups. But above all: her life with Ryan and their children.
We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.
Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog
Identity in the battle | Ephesians
https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/
Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience
https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/
Shades of Red | Against human oppression
https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/
God's glory, our delight
https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/
You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer
There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.
But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?
As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.
If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!
A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER
To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.
We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.
So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.
There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.
Let’s begin.
THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE
Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.
So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.
Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!
So, let’s get started.
Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!