Dwell Differently

Would you like to know how to overcome fear in your life? Join Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, as she shows us what God’s Word says about how we can conquer our fear. In Psalm 27:1, King David gives us 3 images of who God is as a way to battle against the fear that is threatening to overwhelm him, and we can do the same thing today! As we understand and remember who our God is, our fears fall into the proper place, losing the power to overwhelm us. In whatever battle you find yourself in today, take heart remembering that God defends his children. He is our light, our salvation, and our place of safety. This month’s memory verse: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” — Psalm 27:1 Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Dwell Differently Monthly MembershipDwell Differently Scripture Memory Journal Support the show

You won't want to miss hearing the story of Jonathan Almonte’s life—born in poverty in the Dominican Republic, unable to attend school, burdened with medical challenges, and contemplated becoming part of a gang—all interrupted in the best way by God caring for him through a local church, Compassion International, and his sponsor. Not only was Jonathan’s life changed, but his family came to know Christ as well. And all this came about because of the way God used a woman from Michigan named Jamie, who chose to sponsor a child in her 20s instead of getting a new car. How can you share what God has given you to bless others and point them to Jesus? We’d love to challenge you to consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International as a way to practically love others. Sign up here and receive a bonus Dwell Differently kit! This month’s memory verse: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 Today's Dwell guest: Jonathan Almonte, manager of Supporter Engagement of Compassion Dominican Republic, is passionate about empowering the next generation, bringing hope to the hopeless, and mobilizing the Church into action. He is also the founder of Doulos Liderazgo, Servicio, y Amor, a ministry which provides leadership training to local churches and cares for people’s spiritual and emotional needs through mentorship programs and camps. Jonathan lives in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with his wife, Kary, and son, JD. Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Use this link to sign up, and receive a bonus Dwell Differently kit!Why Sponsor a Child?Free Dwell Differently Devotional ResourcesSupport the show

Today on the podcast, Dwell Differently co-founder Vera Schmitz is asking one question: Are your control issues keeping others from using their gifts to serve God and serve others? It can be hard at times to take a step back and invite others to use the gifts and abilities God has given them, and Vera walks us through what this has looked like in her own life. We pray this episode will spark a renewed excitement for the ways God has uniquely gifted all believers and calls us to work together for his glory and our good! This month’s memory verse: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Dwell Differently Scripture Memory JournalDwell Differently Monthly MembershipFree Devotional ResourcesSupport the show

Have you ever felt afraid to use the gifts God has given you? Have you ever thought you were inadequate, or maybe even that the ways God has given you to serve others feel mundane and insignificant? We can relate! Join Vera Schmitz and Natalie Abbott, co-founders of Dwell Differently, as they remind us that in God’s economy, there’s no small thing. As stewards (not owners) of these gifts, we can trust him as the gift giver to equip us with all we need to serve where he’s called us. It’s all from him and for him! This month’s memory verse: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Dwell Differently Monthly MembershipFree Devotional Resources Support the show

Have you ever felt unsure of how God has gifted you? As Heather MacFadyen says, we’ve all been called to make disciples, but the where and how will look different in everyone’s lives—and that is freeing! Join author and podcaster Heather MacFadyen as she talks with Natalie Abbott about how to identify what God has uniquely equipped you to do, why God gives gifts to his people, and how to not miss out on the goodness that God has for you. This month’s memory verse: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 Today's Dwell guest: Heather MacFadyen is the host of the popular parenting podcast Don't Mom Alone, with more than 20 million downloads from around the globe, as well as the author of the books Right Where You Belong and Don't Mom Alone. She finds great joy in connecting other women to mentors and experts through her podcast and in speaking at live events with women across the country. She and her husband and their four sons live in Dallas, Texas. Learn more at www.heathermacfadyen.com. Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Heather MacFadyen's websiteRight Where You BelongDon't Mom AloneCRU Spiritual Gifts AssessmentCliftonStrengths AssessmentMade for ThisDwell Differently Official Facebook Group Support the show

This month on the podcast, we’re talking all about gifts. God tells us in his Word that he has given all of us gifts, but in a world where we are bombarded with messages to live our best lives, focus on our own happiness, and put ourselves first, we can easily miss the why behind the gifts God has given. Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, walks us through the context of 1 Peter 4:10, helping us understand what this verse is saying and what it means for how we live our lives. If you’re stuck living with a scarcity mindset or just need a bit of encouragement to rediscover the joy of using your gifts to serve others, you’re in the right place! This month’s memory verse: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Dwell Differently Monthly MembershipFree Devotional Resources Support the show

We know that Jesus raised from the dead, defeating sin and Satan and death. And we know that if we are in Christ, Jesus’s victory is true of us too. But all too often, we don’t live like Jesus has already won—we slip into being stressed and fearful and discouraged as our situations loom large in our minds. Join Vera Schmitz, co-founder of Dwell Differently, as she shares a story from her own life about this and points us again to the reality of the gospel and the real difference Jesus’s victory makes in our day-to-day struggles and stressors. We are a forgetful bunch of humans, but there is hope! This month’s memory verse: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” — Matthew 28:6a Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Dwell Differently Monthly MembershipFree Devotional ResourcesSupport the show

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 too! This month’s memory verse: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” — Matthew 28:6a Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Little Pilgrim's ProgressThe Reason for GodDwell Differently Monthly MembershipFree Devotional Resources Support the show

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 Differently, as she unpacks this incredible truth and explores 4 things that we can learn from the resurrection. This month’s memory verse: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” — Matthew 28:6a Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Dwell Differently Monthly MembershipFree Devotional Resources Support the show

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 resurrection, and an important question Jesus asks in the Gospel of John that we should all be asking. The truth of our verse this month makes all the difference, and we know this episode will be an encouragement to you as you prepare to celebrate the reality of Easter and have conversations with others about the true hope offered in Christ! This month’s memory verse: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” — Matthew 28:6a Today's Dwell guest: Rebecca McLaughlin holds a Ph.D. in Renaissance Literature from Cambridge University and a theology degree from Oak Hill College in London. She is the author of Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion (2019), which was named book of the year by Christianity Today, and of 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity (2021), The Secular Creed: Engaging 5 Contemporary Claims (2021), and Is Christmas Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the World's Most Famous Story (2021). She lives in Cambridge Massachusetts with her husband, Bryan, and their three children. Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about ChristianityConfronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest ReligionDwell Differently Monthly MembershipFree Devotional Resources Support the show

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 so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” — James 1:22 Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Dwell Differently Monthly MembershipFree Devotional ResourcesSupport the show

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, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” — James 1:22 Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Dwell Differently Monthly MembershipIF:GatheringDo You Believe? by Paul David Tripp Support the show

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 on God to help us? If you ever wondered those things, you won’t want to miss out on this honest conversation! This month’s memory verse: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” — James 1:22 Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Dwell Differently Monthly MembershipDwell Differently Official Facebook GroupWeekly Dwell Differently DevotionalGet Out of Your Head Support the show

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 prioritize the right things in our busy lives, how we tend to get tripped up when we read this verse, and the good news about where our justification from God really comes from. As Tara says, may you know God’s Word, love God’s Word, and live God’s Word. We’re here alongside you for the journey! This month’s memory verse: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” — James 1:22 Today's Dwell guest: Through the Truth Talks with Tara podcast, her Instagram community, her book Surrender Your Story, and other resources, Tara Sun passionately teaches women of all ages how to know, love, and live God’s Word for themselves. She shows how to break down God’s Word into understandable pieces, while also adding an artistic flare through her digital art. Tara is married to her high school sweetheart, Michael, and is a mom to their newest addition, Hunter. You’ll find them living and serving the Lord in Oregon. Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: Dwell Differently Monthly MembershipDwell Differently Official Facebook GroupTruth Talks with TaraSurrender Your StoryTara Sun MinistriesTara Sun on Instagram (@misstarasun) Support the show

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 life in community as we seek to follow Jesus in our everyday lives. As Natalie says, “I hope that it brings us to a place of repentance and restoration, which is God’s heart for us as his people.” This month’s memory verse: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” — James 1:22 Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear why! Leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show. Links from today's show: Dwell Differently websiteCheck out this post Support the show

“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 she not only helps us to understand what those things are, but shares verses from Scripture to help us combat those lies and root our minds in the truth of God’s Word. And don’t miss the inside scoop at the end about why we created a new necklace featuring Jeremiah 31:3b with our friends at Starfish Project. We even have a special discount code exclusively for our podcast listeners all month long! Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show. Link from today's show: PODCASTtake 25% off of one or both of the new necklaces on our websiteStarfish Project Support the show

“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 unfailing kindness.” — Jeremiah 31:3b Today’s podcast: We’re so glad you’re joining Natalie Abbott and Vera Schmitz, sisters and co-founders of Dwell Differently, as they talk about Jeremiah 31:3b today. Listen in to hear their ideal podcast walk out song, what happens when we look to people for the love that only God can give, and the truly good news about how God’s love is different—and far better—than the love we experience anywhere else. What would your life look like today if you really believed that God’s love is everlasting and his kindness is unfailing? God loves you even in the midst of your mess, and we pray that your understanding of his love for you would grow as we memorize the Bible together! Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show. Links from today's show: Starfish Projectinterview with their founder, Jenny McGee.PODCASTtake 25% off of one or both of the new necklaces on our websiteStarfish Project Support the show

“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 stop and look at God’s everlasting love. Join Natalie Abbott as she talks with Cindy Bultema, Executive Director of GEMS Girls’ Clubs, about this month’s verse: Jeremiah 31:3b. You won’t want to miss Cindy’s testimony of how God rescued her, what to do when we find ourselves looking for love in people and places that are not God, and why this verse was so significant not only for the original hearers in Jeremiah’s day but for our lives today as well. May you be encouraged as you hear these stories of God’s everlasting love and unfailing kindness! Today's Dwell guest: Cindy Bultema is a wife, mom of four, author, and Executive Director of GEMS Girls’ Clubs. She loves traveling the world sharing with women of all ages and stages about the fullness and freedom available through Christ. Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show? Links from today's show: GEMS websiteJeremiah 31:3b necklaceDwell Differently Official Facebook groupinterview with their founder, Jenny McGee. Support the show

“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 Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, as she digs into the context of the book of Jeremiah, helping us to see the richness of God’s unfailing love for people like us who just keep messing up. In the midst of the drumbeat of impending judgement throughout Jeremiah, there is also the heartbeat of God’s love for his people—calling them to return to him, showing his faithfulness in the face of their faithlessness. And this is still our God today, calling out to us in the middle of our wandering and wavering and offering us instead a secure, safe place with him in his steadfast love. Who can you share this love with this month? Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show. Links from today's show: Dwell Differently websiteStarfish Projectpodcast episode with their founder, Jenny McGeeDwell Differently necklaces Support the show

“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 to avoid it. The good news in our verse this month is that God’s Word is a lamp and a light, breaking through the darkness around us and in us, illuminating our path. In today’s episode, Vera shares about her struggle with anxiety and how the practice of “breathing Scripture” has helped her to memorize and meditate on truth to help her remember what God has said when her mind is spinning. He is faithful to bring light to our darkness through the truth of his Word, and we pray that as you memorize the Bible along with us, you will experience the light his Word brings as well! Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God’s Word. Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month’s verse. Did you love today’s episode?: We’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show. Support the show