

Dwell Differently
Natalie Abbott & Vera Schmitz
If you were our friend, and if we could look you in the eyes and see your struggles and know you fully, and if we could only give you ONE thing—we'd give you God’s Word. There is more power and love and truth in one verse than in a thousand other words. So, let us help you memorize God's words in a simple, easy way. We hope you'll love listening in while we chat about what our verse means, why it matters, and how it intersects with our daily lives.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 19, 2023 • 33min
Training for the Olympics, Training for Life // Kelsie Holahan
“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 SchmitzThis month’s memory verse: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105Today’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 trials as pole vaulters, why Vera started writing Bible verses on her arm, and how the mental fortitude they developed in training has helped them replace lies with truth in their everyday lives.Today's Dwell guest: Kelsie Holahan is a 2016 Rio Olympian, nurse, wife, mom, and good friend of Vera's. We're so glad to have her on the show today!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:Get Out of Your Head by Jennie AllenWant a physical kit to show up in your mailbox every month with helpful tools to help you memorize and meditate on one Bible verse each month? Check out our Dwell Membership today!Support the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

Jan 12, 2023 • 52min
How God’s Word Brought Light into the Darkest Season of My Life // Lauren McAfee
“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 McAfeeThis month’s memory verse: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105Today’s podcast: Have you ever walked through a season of darkness and longed for light? Today’s episode is a special one as we welcome back Dwell’s very first podcast guest, Lauren McAfee. She shares about how God’s Word has brought light in seasons of significant grief. We know you’ll be encouraged as you hear her passion for knowing God through his Word, what spending time in the Bible practically looks like for her, and how to discern which path to take when there is more than one good choice. We have one prayer for you (and us) this year: that we would be people who are in God’s Word—reading it, studying it, memorizing it, applying it, and letting it shape us—because it is from God himself and is for our flourishing as we come to know and love him more. Today's Dwell guest: Lauren McAfee is a wife and mom who works at the Hobby Lobby corporate office and is currently pursuing a PhD in ethics. She is a speaker and an author, and is passionate about knowing and loving the Bible. 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:Context podcast episode for Psalm 119:105Lauren McAfee’s websiteMuseum of the BibleLumina Women’s ConferenceAre you looking for a place to connect with other people who are memorizing this month’s verse? We’ve got you covered! We have a Dwell Differently Official Facebook group—come check it out!Support the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

Jan 5, 2023 • 18min
Lessons from a Rule Lover // Natalie Abbott
“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 AbbottThis 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 Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, as she walks us through 3 important questions as we memorize and and meditate on Psalm 119:105 this month. This important verse, and important chapter, in God’s Word helps set the tone for us as we think about the Bible and how we interact with and respond to it in our daily lives. We know you’ll be encouraged as you see afresh the benefits and beauty of the Word of God!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:ESV Scripture JournalsJoin us on our weekly blog! Follow along this month, and go back to read more about past verses as well.Check out the Dwell Differently website and the free resources we have waiting for you there!If you’ve enjoyed the show, would you take a minute to leave us a rating or review? It helps other people find the show!Support the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

Dec 29, 2022 • 28min
Behind the Scenes with Dwell in 2022 // Vera & Natalie
“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 SchmitzThis month’s memory verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1Today’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 designs and verses from this past year, what they’ve learned and what’s stuck with them, and find out about the “Dwell Vault” for members. You won’t want to miss the special sneak peak at what’s coming in 2023!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: There’s no better way to start the new year than in the Word—join us as we memorize Scripture with over 9,000 people each month! Check out our membership options here!Anxious No More necklacePsalm 23 Children’s SeriesDwell Official Facebook groupSupport the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

Dec 26, 2022 • 10min
BONUS EPISODE: How to Read the Whole Bible in One Year // Tara-Leigh Cobble
“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 CobbleWe 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 Scripture. We can’t wait for you to hear today’s episode with Tara-Leigh Cobble, Bible teacher, podcast host, and author of The Bible Recap. Our prayer is that we would all grow in our knowledge of and love for God through his Word, and we’d love to invite you to join The Bible Recap to read through the whole Bible in 2023! Links from today's show:Want to read through the Bible in 2023? Get started at The Bible Recap website!There’s no better way to start the new year than in the Word. If you’re not yet a Dwell Differently member, we’d love to have you join us this year! Learn more here!Support the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

Dec 22, 2022 • 8min
Anticipation and Awe // Vera Schmitz
“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 SchmitzThis 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 life to look like on the day he returns? Vera Schmitz, co-founder of Dwell Differently, is bringing us 3 reflections on Isaiah 60:1 today—and telling us why Isaiah 60 is one of her favorite chapters in the whole Bible. May your awe of the King of the universe grow today as we anticipate the return of 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! Leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show. Link from today's show: Still looking for a meaningful gift for someone who “has it all”? Check out our Dwell Gift Memberships to give the gift of memorizing God’s Word in an easy, beautiful way!Support the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

Dec 15, 2022 • 21min
Arise and Shine // Vera & Natalie
“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 AbbottThis month’s memory verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1Today’s podcast: Curious why we picked Isaiah 60:1 for December? Listen in as Natalie and Vera talk about the layers to this verse, our longing for the glory of the Lord to shine upon us, and how it all applies to our lives today. 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: Missed Natalie's teaching episode on Isaiah 60:1? Listen here! Still looking for a meaningful gift for someone who “has it all”? Check out our Dwell Gift Memberships to give the gift of memorizing God’s Word in an easy, beautiful way!Support the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

Dec 8, 2022 • 48min
What Is the Glory of God? // Jason Abbott
“The darkness is being dispelled—the light is coming. Sin is being dispelled—righteousness is coming. Death is being dispelled—life is coming.” — Jason AbbottThis month’s memory verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1Today’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? We’re so excited to have a special guest on the podcast today as we dig into Isaiah 60:1: Natalie’s husband, Jason Abbott! We know you’ll be encouraged as you learn more about how to understand Old Testament prophecy, hear a helpful conversation about what the glory of the Lord is, and walk away with practical ways we can shine forth the glory of God as we await his second coming.Our December Dwell guest: Dr. Jason Abbott is married to Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell. They have a big family of seven and spend a lot of time running around Jefferson City, Missouri, together. Jason has been in pastoral ministry for the past 20 years in the Evangelical Free Church of America. He’s currently the Senior Pastor at Central Church of Jefferson City, Missouri.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:Are you looking for a place to connect with other people who are memorizing this month’s verse? We’ve got you covered! We have a Dwell Differently Official Facebook group—come check it out!Want to give the gift of Scripture to a friend or family member this Christmas? Check out our Dwell Gift Memberships!Support the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

Dec 1, 2022 • 19min
Light for the Helpless and Hopeless // Natalie Abbott
“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 AbbottThis month’s memory verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1Today’s podcast: Happy December! Join Natalie Abbott, co-founder of Dwell Differently, as she digs into the book of Isaiah today, exploring our verse for the month in its context to help us understand it at an even deeper level. See anew the hope that Israel had as they awaited a Savior, the hope that we have today, and the sure hope that is still yet to come when the Lord comes again and we will be with him. May you arise and shine the light of Jesus today, and invite people into his light 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. Links from today's show:Starfish Project + Dwell Differently necklaces are a wonderful gift, not only for the recipient but also for the women making these beautiful pieces of jewelry. Learn more here!Want to give the gift of Scripture to a friend or family member? Check out our Dwell Gift Memberships!Support the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

Nov 24, 2022 • 6min
What's the Most Wonderful Thing God Has Done in Your Life? // Vera Schmitz
“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 SchmitzThis 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 practical way to live out our verse: remembering and giving thanks to God. Hear how this practice has helped Vera in seasons of anxiety, and join us in committing to ask someone this week: “What is the most wonderful thing God has done in your life?” We pray it will give an opportunity to together thank God for who he is and what he’s done! 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: Looking for meaningful gift ideas for Christmas? We’ve got you covered! Head over to our Black Friday Sale today!Want a physical kit to show up in your mailbox every month with helpful tools to help you memorize and meditate on one Bible verse each month? Check out our Dwell Membership today!Support the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.


