Dwell Differently

“He came to serve us because we are actually incapable of doing the thing that we most desperately need, which is to be made right before God.” — Natalie Abbott

How would you answer the question Jesus asks twice in Mark 10: “What do you want me to do for you?”? If you’re anything like us, you may wrestle with what you think that answer should be and what it really is. Join Natalie Abbott to learn more about the context of this month’s memory verse, Mark 10:45, and to see what these three interactions Jesus has in Mark 10 reveal about what people wanted Jesus to do for them and what he really came to do for them—and for us. May you be in awe again today of our God who loves us and gave up his own life for our sake.

This month’s memory verse: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." — Mark 10:45

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell Differently’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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:

• Free Devotional Resources
• Sign up for our email list!

When it comes to control, we often tend to fell like we have it all under control or like everything is spinning out of control. Our verse this month tells us neither is true. Jesus is the one who is in control. On todays episode our guest, Joanna Kimbrel, shares just how easy it is for us to live under the illusion of our self control, asking Natalie if she's been reading her journal. And she also shares specific times when she felt like everything feels out of control. Joanna tells us why we would want to give Jesus the reigns of our lives and she gives us practical advice for how we can make that happen. 

This month’s memory verse: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together" — Colossians 1:17

Today's Dwell guest: Joanna Kimbrel is a Bible teacher, a writer, and the coordinator of women’s initiatives for The Gospel Coalition. She is coauthor of Behold and Believe: A Bible Study on the “I Am” Statements of Jesus and author of The Greatest Hero: The Book of Romans. She is a student at Westminster Theological Seminary pursuing her Master of Arts in Theological Studies. Joanna and her husband, Chad, have three daughters and are members of Sojourn Community Church in Woodstock, Georgia.

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or vinyl stickers, 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:

• Behold and Believe: A Bible Study on the “I Am” Statements of Jesus 
• The Greatest Hero: The Book of Romans.
• Join us at the Gospel Coalition Women's Conference!
• Become a Dwell Differently member today!

“He sees everything, and there is a peace that comes when you remind yourself of how big and capable he is to hold all things together.” — Vera Schmitz

What do you do when peace feels elusive and all the plates that are spinning feel like they’re about to crash? Join Dwell Differently co-founders and sisters, Vera Schmitz and Natalie Abbott, as they talk about times they’ve felt a lack of control in their lives, share how praying the Lord’s Prayer has been so formative, and invite us to give the things that weigh heavy on us to a God who is fully capable of holding all things. Bonus: Vera and Natalie share a mini teaser about a big project Dwell Differently has been working on—you won’t want to miss it!

This month’s memory verse: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." — Colossians 1:17

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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:

• Free Devotional Resources
• Sign up for our email list!

“But the Lord, I believe, in his mercy brought me to the end of myself and just said, ‘Actually, Jen, you can’t do it all. You are not self made. You are not self-sufficient. I made you—and I made you for me. And that’s where you’re going to find peace.’” — Jen Oshman

What do you do when overwhelm strikes? Or when you find yourself in a place of relying only on your own efforts and self-sufficiency? Join Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, and Jen Oshman as they talk about what to do when we come to the end of ourselves, what this verse means for us in our suffering, and how remembering who Jesus is truly changes everything.

This month’s memory verse: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." — Colossians 1:17

Today's Dwell guest: Jen Oshman has been in women’s ministry for over two decades on three continents. She’s the author of Enough about Me and Cultural Counterfeits, she hosts a weekly podcast about cultural events and trends called All Things, and she is the mother of four daughters. Jen's family currently resides in Colorado, where they planted Redemption Parker.

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell Differently’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or vinyl stickers, 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:

• Jen Oshman's website
• "Jen Oshman: The Good News about Failure" on the Dwell Differently Podcast
• All Things Podcast
• Free Devotional Resources from Dwell Differently

If you've ever felt like everything depends on you (maybe you even feel that way right now), like you're the one holding it all together, then today's message is for you! Here is the good news: everything does not depend on you, you are not the one holding it all together. Jesus is.  He made, sustains, and will redeems all things. And this is exactly the reminder our weary souls need. On today's episode, Natalie Abbott takes us to God's Word to help us see the beautiful truth of who Jesus is and why our response to that truth makes all the difference. 

This month’s memory verse: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." — Colossians 1:17

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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:

• Free Devotional Resources
• Sign up for our email list!

Have you ever struggled with fear, control, or busyness? Who doesn't?! We wanted to revisit this topic today by sharing one of our all-time most helpful episodes (first released in August 2022). Dwell Differently co-founder Vera Schmitz shares how memorizing specific truths from God's Word has helped set her free from these struggles in her own life. She relates how the truth about God's transcendent peace in Philippians 4:6–7 has helped her in anxious moments. She shares how Exodus 14:14 has reminded her to rely on God to fight for her.  And she testifies about how the words of rest in Psalm 116:7 have come to mind in seasons of busyness. We hope that Vera's stories of freedom will be an encouragement to you as you consider how God's words have bolstered you when you've needed them. 

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:

• Check out the Dwell Differently website and the free resources we have waiting for you!
• Join our Dwell Differently Community on Facebook—we’d love to see you there!

What is God's purpose for us in our pain and suffering? How do we walk through our trials in faithful prayer and even joy? In this episode, Kristen Wetherell answers these questions with vulnerable honesty. Kristen is a pastor's wife, busy mom of three, author, speaker, and she also suffers from chronic pain.  In our conversation today, she helps us see how knowing God in his Word is absolutely essential—it's the lens through which all of life makes sense, especially in our suffering.

This month’s memory verse: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer " — Romans 12:12

Today's Dwell guest: Kristen Wetherell is a wife, mother, writer, and speaker. She is the author of several books, including Help for the Hungry Soul, and coauthor of the award-winning book Hope When It Hurts. Kristen is a member of the Orchard and lives in Chicagoland with her husband and three children.

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or vinyl stickers, 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:

• More about Kristen
• Kristen's books
• Two-year Bible reading plan
• Become a Dwell Differently member today!

Our verse this month is Romans 12:12: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." How in the world do we live like this? How do we have joy in our unrealized hopes? How do we patiently endure hardship? How do we faithfully pray in all of it? On today's episode, Natalie Abbott and Vera Schmitz wrestle through how they try (and often fail) to live like this, pointing us to the foundation and source of our joy, patience, and faithfulness: Jesus. 

This month’s memory verse: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" — Romans 12:12

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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 Membership
• Free Devotional Resources

Have you ever wanted to pray but couldn't find the words? In today's episode, Natalie talks with Andrew Peterson and Doug McKelvey about prayer—how we find time to pray in the midst of our lives, how we find words to pray when words are elusive, and how God wants to meet us in all of our emotions and situations with himself. 

This month’s memory verse: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer " — Romans 12:12

Today's Dwell guests:
Andrew Peterson is a recording artist, songwriter, producer, filmmaker, publisher and award-winning author of The Wingfeather Saga, Andrew Peterson is also founder and president of The Rabbit Room, which has published thirty books to date and fosters community and spiritual formation through music, story and art.
Doug McKelvey is an author, scriptwriter, church sexton, video director, and song lyricist—penning more than 350 lyrics recorded by a variety of artists including Switchfoot, Kenny Rogers, Ella Mine, and Jason Gray. 

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or vinyl stickers, 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:

• Every Moment Holy
• The Rabbit Room
• Andrew Peterson
• The Wingfeather Saga
• Become a Dwell Differently member today!

Are you good at waiting? Do you want to be? Our verse this month is all about waiting well. In it, we're encouraged to be joyful and patient and faithful in the unrealized and even difficult parts of our lives. But how do we do that? Tune in as Natalie Abbott walks us through the book of Romans, looking at the themes we see in Romans 12:12, and pointing us to the God in whom we can have confidence while we wait.

This month’s memory verse: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." — Romans 12:12

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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:

• Free Devotional Resources
• Sign up for our email list!

Join Vera and Natalie, sisters and Dwell Differently co-founders, as they look back at 2023 and take a sneak peak into some exciting updates for Dwell Differently in 2024. They talk about which verses impacted them the most, their favorite podcast guests of the year, and what they're looking forward to in the new year!

This month’s memory verse: "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." — Titus 3:4–5a

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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:

• Psalm 23 Children's Series
• Dwell Differently Monthly Membership
• Free Devotional Resources

Tara-Leigh Cobble is convinced that everything we long for in life is found in knowing God and reading his Word—but she didn't always feel that way. In today's episode, she shares with Natalie Abbot her own story of how God moved her from a place of not wanting to read the Bible to actually loving it. She talks about being surprised and encouraged by some totally weird parts of the Bible, and shares about her passionate commitment to helping people understand the Bible on The Bible Recap podcast and other resources. Tara-Leigh also shares some practical advice for people on the fence about reading through the whole Bible. It is such a great episode, you won't want to miss it!

This month’s memory verse: "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. " — Titus 3:4–5a

Today's Dwell guest: Tara-Leigh Cobble is a speaker, author, Bible teacher, and podcast host. Tara-Leigh is the Bible reader's trusted friend and guide, leading thousands of people through the Bible chapter by chapter every year, helping them understand the Bible and engage with God. She hosts The Bible Recap podcast and has numerous other resources available on her website.

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or vinyl stickers, 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:

• Tara-Leigh Cobble's website
• The Bible Recap podcast
• Helpful Bible study tools: The Faith Life Study Bible, Bible Gateway
• Sign up for Dwell Differently's free weekly devotionals.
• Become a Dwell Differently member today!
• Need meaningful last-minute gifts? We’ve got you covered with printable gift cards—no shipping required!

Do you feel like you have to get everything right all of the time? On today's episode, Natalie Abbott and Vera Schmitz talk about the freedom Jesus offers us when we trust in his perfection instead of relying on our own performance. Vera shares honestly about her regular struggle of trying to prove her worth and how verses like Titus 3:4–5a help her refocus on the truth of Christ throughout her day. There's so much encouragement and practical advice in this episode not just for perfectionists, but for us all. 

This month’s memory verse: "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." — Titus 3:4–5a

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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:

• Natalie's School Picture!
• Dwell Differently Monthly Membership
• Free Devotional Resources

Randall Goodgame of Slugs and Bugs joins Natalie Abbott to talk about how memorizing Scripture has impacted his life. They dig into how he found freedom in pointing his kids to Jesus as a dad, the mercy and kindness of God in Titus 3:4–5a, and the ministry the Lord has given him to help families have fun and learn Scripture together!

This month’s memory verse: "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. " — Titus 3:4–5a

Today's Dwell guest: Randall Goodgame is a singer/songwriter and the creative force behind Slugs & Bugs. He is passionate about helping kids and families know God’s Word—and have fun. He and his family live in Nashville, TN.

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or vinyl stickers, 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:

• Slugs and Bugs
• Become a Dwell Differently member today!
• Need meaningful last-minute gifts? We’ve got you covered with printable gift cards and gift memberships—no shipping required!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the Christmas things, this episode is for YOU today! Listen in as Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, walks us through the context of this month’s memory verses, highlighting 3 things from the book of Titus: who we were, who we are, and being who we are. Jesus came—and he came for us. This is the kindness and love of God our Savior. This is "good tidings of great joy" for all people!

This month’s memory verse: "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. " — Titus 3:4–5a

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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:

• Free Devotional Resources
• Sign up for our email list to receive a downloadable Christmas prayer, sent later this month to our email subscribers!
• We have last-minute Christmas gifts—no shipping required! Help your friends and family memorize God’s Word in 2024!
  
  

Tune into this raw conversation between Jarred Lopes of Dad Tired and Matt Schmitz (husband of Dwell Differently co-founder Vera Schmitz) as they offer real encouragement and hope for dads who want to find their identity in Jesus, be spiritual leaders in their homes, and walk in the freedom of the gospel. And for any men who long to live like this, but don’t (and for the women who love them), don’t miss the end of the episode where Jarred shares the miraculous story of how God rescued him out of the darkest time in his life and marriage, giving him hope and putting his feet on the right path.

This month’s memory verse: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." — Matthew 6:21

Today's Dwell guest: Jerrad Lopes is a Christian author, speaker, and the founder of Dad Tired. As a father of four, he knows first-hand that living as a leader in your home is a weighty calling. He is passionate about equipping men and fostering community where, together, men can live out the gospel. He and his wife, Leila, live in South Carolina with their four children.

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or vinyl stickers, 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:

• Learn more about Jerrad Lopes
• The Dad Tired Podcast
• Free Devotional Resources

Vera Schmitz brings us a heart check-up today: If we truly take inventory, are we just wanting the blessings of God, or are we wanting God himself? Tune in to hear a powerful quote from John Piper, the story of Vera’s battle with anxiety and what she learned in that season, and some helpful questions to evaluate what your heart is truly treasuring today.

This month’s memory verse: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." — Matthew 6:21

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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:

• "When God Became Heaven for Me" by Marshall Segal
• Dwell Differently Monthly Membership
• Free Devotional Resources

Do you find yourself more afraid of losing earthly treasure than your spiritual health? Ouch. If we’re honest, we all find ourselves there sometimes, and today Natalie Abbott and Vera Schmitz want to help us reorient our hearts toward our greatest treasure: Jesus Christ. Tune in to hear them talk about the story behind this month’s verse design, an antidote to worry, and an encouragement to ask God to help us all treasure him first.

This month’s memory verse: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." — Matthew 6:21

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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 Membership
• Free Devotional Resources

What comes to mind when you think of “treasure”? More importantly, what does Jesus say about it? Join Jerrad Lopes, founder of Dad Tired, and Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently as they dig into our memory verse for the month: Matthew 6:21. They take a look at the context of our verse, dig into what the Bible has to say about treasure and blessing, and share honestly about ways they are convicted by God’s call to treasure him more than any earthly thing. We hope you’ll be heartened by the beautiful truth that delighting in Jesus will offer far more treasure than all the other things we are chasing after—true and lasting treasure that can never be lost!

This month’s memory verse: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." — Matthew 6:21

Today's Dwell guest: Jerrad Lopes is a Christian author, speaker, and the founder of Dad Tired. As a father of four, he knows first-hand that living as a leader in your home is a weighty calling. He is passionate about equipping men and fostering community where, together, men can live out the gospel. He and his wife, Leila, live in South Carolina with their four children.

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or vinyl stickers, 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:

• Learn more about Jerrad Lopes
• The Dad Tired Podcast
• Free Devotional Resources

“Is your heart wrapped up in something right now that it cannot lose? Something that's lasting, something that's dependable, something that won't break it. Is your heart confident, rested, and secure? Is your heart set on the incorruptible, unfading, forever treasures of heaven? Or, is your heart filled with something that it dreads losing?” — Natalie Abbott

Join Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, as she walks us through the context of Matthew 6:21, helping us see the contrast between earthly and heavenly treasures, evaluate what our hearts are really treasuring, and see Christ as the ultimate safe treasure for our hearts.

This month’s memory verse: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." — Matthew 6:21

Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell’s monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, 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 Membership
• Free Devotional Resources