As Christians, the resurrection can sometimes seem like something we only focus on at Easter, but the resurrection of Jesus has implications that reach far beyond an Easter Sunday church service. Join Vera Schmitz and Natalie Abbott, co-founders of Dwell Differently, as they talk about why the resurrection matters and makes a difference in our everyday lives. Don’t miss Vera’s book recommendations and the question about the resurrection she has for Natalie—maybe you’ve wondered about it before t...
Apr 19, 2023•20 min
This month, we are memorizing beautiful words about a promise fulfilled—words on the lips of an angel. Words spoken to women who were desperate and mourning the loss not only of their friend, but of the man whom they had believed was the Messiah. The truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith, but it can sometimes be hard to wrap our minds around its implications—not just for the past, but also for our present and future. Join Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell ...
Apr 12, 2023•16 min
How can we talk with unbelievers about the truth of the resurrection in a way that makes sense? We all know it can be difficult—and sometimes intimidating—to talk about, but Jesus’s resurrection from the dead is central to the Christian faith. Join Natalie Abbott and Rebecca McLaughlin as they talk about how they connect with unbelievers when initiating conversations about the resurrection of Jesus, how the resurrection offers us great hope, what Jesus accomplished for us in his death and resurr...
Apr 05, 2023•47 min
Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, wants to read God’s Word over you today. As we prepare to celebrate Easter, hear the truth about why the resurrection matters; slow down to remember that this good news is for us today; and meditate on the promise, power, and hope we have because Jesus is alive! If you want to follow along, open your Bible to 1 Corinthians 15:1–8, 12–28, 50–58; Romans 6:1–14; and Ephesians 1:18–23. This month’s memory verse: “Do not merely listen to the word, and ...
Mar 29, 2023•12 min
April Harper, CEO of Dwell Differently, is today’s podcast host! Listen in as April reflects on what she’s learned from this month’s verse, James 1:22. She shares a great quote from Paul Tripp’s book Do You Believe? , talks about how this verse intersects with what the Lord taught her this year at IF:Gathering, and prays over us all, that we would know what God wants us to know and do what he wants us to do. You won’t want to miss it! This month’s memory verse: “Do not merely listen to the word,...
Mar 22, 2023•7 min
Our verse this month is not a call to just pull up our “good Christian bootstraps.” And that is good news! Join Natalie Abbott and Vera Schmitz, co-founders of Dwell Differently, as they share their real struggles with living this out, talk through practical questions we all have, and discuss real-life application for James 1:22. Are our good works what save us? What do we do when we find ourselves struggling with the same thing again and again? What does it mean to live in the Spirit and rely o...
Mar 15, 2023•20 min
If you took inventory of your day-to-day choices, would they reveal you're following after Jesus? Or are you merely listening to the Bible but not believing it enough to live out what it says? Those can be hard questions to sit with (for us, too!), but they’re important. We all know the struggle to live out what we know to be true, but there is hope for us! In this episode, Tara Sun joins Dwell Differently co-founder Natalie Abbott to dig into what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, how to prio...
Mar 08, 2023•44 min
What is God’s Word supposed to do in our lives? And is my obedience really that important? We’re so glad you’re here today as Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, unpacks James 1:22 for us, answering important questions, digging into the context, and helping us avoid 2 common dangers when reading this verse. Our prayer is that you would see James 1:22—which can feel a little bit like a kick in the pants—as a kindness from God, convicting us where we need it, and inviting us to live l...
Mar 01, 2023•21 min
“It’s not about me, it’s not about what I say. It’s about what God says about you and about himself. He loves you with an everlasting love.” — Vera Schmitz This month’s memory verse: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” — Jeremiah 31:3b Today’s podcast: If you’re a human being listening today, you’re going to resonate with the 3 things Vera shares that can be roadblocks to feeling like we can receive God’s everlasting love for us. Listen in as sh...
Feb 22, 2023•8 min
“Sometimes I think we think this promise is something that we earn, or that we get when we're good enough, or when we’re doing all the right things. But the beauty of this promise is the context of the promise: when we fail, when we are faithless, God is still faithful. God still loves us. He draws us with unfailing kindness—the kind of kindness that doesn’t fail. That’s who our God is.” — Natalie Abbott This month’s memory verse: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with...
Feb 15, 2023•22 min
“It was then, in the midst of my mess, that I encountered Jesus. And I kept thinking, ‘How come no one ever told me? How come no one ever told me about God and his unbelievable love—even for a messed up woman like me?’” — Cindy Bultema This month’s memory verse: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” — Jeremiah 31:3b Today’s podcast: It’s February, and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! In this month where we celebrate love, we wanted to s...
Feb 08, 2023•42 min
“This is a verse not spoken in a place of perfection and goodness and righteousness…but a place of mess and of need and even of God’s rebuke. In this midst of their sin, God says this to [his people]: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'” — Natalie Abbott This month’s memory verse: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” — Jeremiah 31:3b Today’s podcast: What should we do when we feel unlovable? Join...
Feb 01, 2023•18 min
“For each of us—no matter who you are, no matter how mentally tough you are—there are things in our lives we are believing that are not true. Or maybe we need guidance in our life. And God’s Word is saying here in this verse, in Psalm 119:105, that his Word is the light and the lamp for our path.” — Vera Schmitz This month’s memory verse: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105 Today’s podcast: We all know what darkness is—we know what it feels like and how we try ...
Jan 26, 2023•8 min
“God’s Word is this lamp, it’s a light. It makes a way in the darkness. It shows you the path where you should be going.” — Vera Schmitz This month’s memory verse: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105 Today’s podcast: As we celebrate the 5 year anniversary of Dwell Differently, Vera Schmitz, co-founder of Dwell, talks with her good friend Kelsie Holahan about how Dwell came to be. Listen in as they share about their days of training together for the Olympic tria...
Jan 19, 2023•33 min
“To be able to look to Scripture in the dark times, and look to Christ in those dark seasons of my life, gave me hope that brought light into the darkness and really was just a foundation for me when it felt like the earth beneath me was shaken and shattering.” — Lauren McAfee This month’s memory verse: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105 Today’s podcast: Have you ever walked through a season of darkness and longed for light? Today’s episode is a special one as...
Jan 12, 2023•52 min
“We walk in a dark place. This is inherently saying that we need God’s Word to light the way. We are not the light—we need God to be the light, to shine a light on our path and to illuminate where it is we are supposed to go. We need God’s Word.” — Natalie Abbott This month’s memory verse: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105 Today’s podcast: When you hear the word “law,” does it make you bristle a bit, or do you want to start composing a love poem? Join Natalie...
Jan 05, 2023•18 min
“We’re not just putting verses on stuff to put verses on stuff. If it’s not going to bring life and push forward the Word for the good of God’s people, then we’re not going to do it.” — Vera Schmitz This month’s memory verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1 Today’s podcast: Here’s your chance to hear a behind-the-scenes conversation with Vera Schmitz and Natalie Abbott, co-founders of Dwell Differently! Hear about their favorite de...
Dec 29, 2022•28 min
“You can read the whole Bible in a year in about 12 minutes a day…it’s 1% of your day that’s going to change the whole other 99%.” — Tara-Leigh Cobble We are so excited to share this special bonus episode with you today! Have you ever started reading through the Bible and then stopped soon after starting because it felt hard or you were confused? Here at Dwell, while we focus in on memorizing and meditating on one verse a month together , we also have a passion for knowing the whole counsel of S...
Dec 26, 2022•10 min
“So often we get so caught up in our own individual lives that our heads are down and we’re doing all the things and we forget that we have God’s light in us and that we can shine—that we are called to be a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, and we are to point other people to Jesus.” — Vera Schmitz This month’s memory verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1 Today’s podcast: What if Jesus came back today? What would you want your...
Dec 22, 2022•8 min
“This should be our heartbeat…when we feel the pain and the darkness in our lives, that we would look at that eternal restoration of all things and long for it—we would long for this light, the glory of the Lord, to shine on us.” — Natalie Abbott This month’s memory verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1 Today’s podcast: Curious why we picked Isaiah 60:1 for December? Listen in as Natalie and Vera talk about the layers to this vers...
Dec 15, 2022•21 min
“The darkness is being dispelled—the light is coming. Sin is being dispelled—righteousness is coming. Death is being dispelled—life is coming.” — Jason Abbott This month’s memory verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1 Today’s podcast: What does “glory” mean? Chances are you’ve heard that word a lot already this Christmas season, but how should we understand and explain what it means for the glory of the Lord to rise upon his people...
Dec 08, 2022•48 min
“I really hope that as you memorize and mediate on this verse this month, it would really guide you in the process of reflection on who Jesus is, and the beauty of who he is, and what he has done for us, and that it would compel you to share that good news with others throughout the month.” — Natalie Abbott This month’s memory verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1 Today’s podcast: Happy December! Join Natalie Abbott, co-founder of...
Dec 01, 2022•19 min
“My challenge to you is to find somebody…who is further along in the faith than you and I want you to ask them this question: 'What is the most wonderful thing God has done in your life?’ and just treasure their answer.” — Vera Schmitz This month’s memory verse: “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” — Psalm 107:8 Today’s podcast: In our final episode for Psalm 107:8, Vera Schmitz, co-founder of Dwell Differently, brings us a super practica...
Nov 24, 2022•6 min
“This is why this verse says let them give thanks—because when we share in the triumphs of God with others, our faith grows.” — Vera Schmitz This month’s memory verse: “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” — Psalm 107:8 Today’s podcast: How have you experienced the goodness of God? Psalm 107:2, just a few verses before our memory verse this month, says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story,” and that is exactly what we are doing ...
Nov 17, 2022•27 min
“There’s something about the practice of [thankfulness] in community that completes it. And that’s God’s design, that’s not a crutch. It’s not more holy if I’m just praying to Jesus alone in my thankfulness—it is in fact the bigger vision of what God’s redemption is that he creates a people that is marked by thankfulness.” — Rachel Gilson This month’s memory verse: “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” — Psalm 107:8 Today’s podcast: Have y...
Nov 10, 2022•39 min
“[Psalm 107] is just such a beautiful picture of the gospel, isn’t it? That Jesus came not to save those who were good and righteous and the best, but he came to seek and save the lost. He came for those of us who were his enemies, who were thumbing our nose at him. And that is who our God is, and his love is unfailing, and his deeds are wonderful. Even to people like me who, in so many ways, am undeserving of the kindness of the Lord.” — Natalie Abbott This month’s memory verse: “Let them give ...
Nov 03, 2022•25 min
“Don’t be afraid to share your heart, to share God’s truth, and to share his promise, because it’s true that we can live full lives following Jesus—it is the only way to be full in a real and lasting way.” — Vera Schmitz This month’s memory verse: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” — John 10:10 Today’s podcast: You won’t want to miss today’s episode where Dwell Differently co-founder Vera Schmitz shares how this mon...
Oct 27, 2022•8 min
“This is the promise that we have in Jesus: not to be taken from but to be given. Even when we don’t deserve the kinds of gifts, the fullness that he gives us, he does it—willingly, fully, beautifully for us.” — Natalie Abbott This month’s memory verse: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” — John 10:10 Today’s podcast: If somebody were going to look in on your life today and make a list of how you spent your time, wha...
Oct 20, 2022•22 min
“I know what it is to grow up with my identity rooted in something that is temporary, and something that actually does come to steal, kill, and destroy rather than he who gives abundant life. And so it is with some urgency and compassion and drive that I want others to know that as well.” — Jen Oshman This month’s memory verse: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” — John 10:10 Today’s podcast: Have you ever thought yo...
Oct 13, 2022•51 min
“Are we going to entrust ourselves and believe in those things that are taking from us, or are we going to entrust ourselves and believe in Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who has laid down his life for us, and promises us abundant life?” —Natalie Abbott This month’s memory verse: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” — John 10:10 Today’s podcast: Spoiler alert: in today’s episode, Natalie Abbott shares how she misunderstood...
Oct 06, 2022•17 min
