"So these became for me my rule of life: I'm going to do Scripture before phone. I'm going to do at least one communal meal a day. I'm going to turn my phone off for at least one hour each evening. And these were counter-liturgies to the habits I already had."

Today's Episode: Listen in as Natalie talks all things "habits" with author and expert, Justin Whitlmel Earley. He tells us that we don't stop bad habits, but replace them with better habits. He calls our attention to all of the bells and dings we respond to throughout our days and asks us to create our own intentional "counter-habits" of bells and dings. He speaks with practicality and compassion about our calling as believers to live out the faith we say we believe by creating habits that will keep us on the right path. It's a compelling, super-helpful conversation—one that will have you putting Justin's books on your reading list this year.

This month's memory verse: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” — Phil 3:14

Today's guest: Justin Whitmel Earley is a lawyer, author and speaker from Richmond, VA. Most of all, he is a husband to Lauren and a father to his four sons – Whit, Asher, Coulter and Shep. But he also graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in English Literature before spending four years in Shanghai, China, teaching and writing. Justin got his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and he now runs his own business law practice under the Earley Business Legal (www.earleybusinesslegal.com). His books include, The Common Rule – Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction, Habits of the Household – Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms, and Made for People – Why We Drift into Loneliness and How to Fight for a Life of Friendship.

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Links from today's show:

• Learn more about Justin at www.justinwhitmelearley.com.
• Memorize and meditate on God's Word in 2025 with a Dwell Differently membership. Sign up by the end of January and still get January's verse kit sent to you.
• Dig even deeper into God's Word (and memorize it!) in Natalie and Vera's new Bible study, Dwell on These Things and book, Dwell Differently.

Support the show

Follow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

"All the gains—gaining Christ, being found in him, eternity with him—all of that, even suffering is on one side of the balance and all of our earthly, temporal gains are on the other side of the balance. Which one is the better deal? Would you make that trade?"
— Natalie Abbott

Today's episode: Have you ever made a trade where you were the big winner? In today's teaching episode, Natalie Abbott helps us see how in Christ we gain everything. The questions she asks again and again is whether we're rightly seeing our earthly gains as losses and seeing Christ as our greatest gain. She encourages us, just like our verse does, to press on to win the prize, which is Jesus himself.

This month's memory verse: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” — Phil 3:14

Memorize with us: Find out more about the easy button for Scripture memory and memorize this month's verse with the Dwell Differently monthly membership!

Support Our Show: Leaving us a review is the best way to encourage us and help other people find our show.

Links from today's show:

• Memorize verses with us in 2025 with the Dwell Differently Membership.
• Check out our beautiful new bracelets.
• Dig even deeper into God's Word (and memorize it!) in Natalie and Vera's Bible study and book: Dwell on These Things and Dwell Differently.

Support the show

Follow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

"It was my instinctive reaction to run back into the darkness...Whereas the more I know Jesus—the more I am in the Word, the more I am running towards the light—the more this life that God has given me just makes sense."
— Felicity Carswell

Today's Episode: Today we're talking about the light and life of Jesus with Felicity Carswell. Felicity talks about the scary reality of being exposed by the light of Jesus and yet the forgiveness that we always find there. She shares about her own first experience of Jesus and coming into the light. But she also shares about the good, daily practice of exposing our hearts to the light and fighting the sin in our lives. She encourages us not only to live in the light but to invite others to step out into the light with the compassion that comes from allowing it to work in our own lives.

This month's memory verse: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” — John 1:4

Today's guest: Felicity is from England, but currently lives near Chicago, Illinois with her book-selling husband, Jonathan, and two young sons, Rufus and Billy. She loves to teach the Bible in her local church, and disciple women on a one to one basis. She hosts a podcast with her sister called Two Sisters and a Cup of Tea that seeks to chat through the Bible and drive it to the heart.

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Links from today's show:

• Find out more about Felicity here.
• Struggling with anger? Here's the book Felicity recommended: A Small Book about a Big Problem: Meditations on Anger, Patience, and Peace.
• Looking for a last minute Christmas gift? A Dwell Differently membership starts in January and helps your loved one learn God's Word for months to come (available in 4, 8, and 12 month memberships).
• Dig even deeper into God's Word (and memorize it!) in Natalie and Vera's new Bible study, Dwell on These Things and book, Dwell Differently.

Support the show

Follow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.