In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 139, a deeply personal prayer that invites God to search, know, and lead the human heart. Together, they walk through David's words that proclaim God's complete knowledge of us, His constant presence, and His intimate role as Creator—knitting us together even in the hidden darkness of the womb.

The conversation explores the tension within the psalm: the impossibility of hiding from God, paired with the profound comfort of knowing we are never lost or abandoned by Him. Curtis frames Psalm 139 as a prayer of discipleship—an ongoing posture of surrender where God examines, corrects, and shapes us into who we were created to be. Sally highlights the imagery of darkness and seclusion, showing how places we often fear or avoid are revealed as spaces where God is already at work, guiding and sustaining us.

The episode also wrestles honestly with the psalm's challenging verses about enemies and hatred, noting how David ultimately turns his anxious and conflicted thoughts back over to God. Rather than resolving tension through human strength or intellect, Psalm 139 models bringing fear, anger, and uncertainty before the Lord and trusting Him to lead the way forward.

As the episode closes, Curtis and Sally emphasize that spiritual growth is a continuous process—one marked by testing, failure, and grace—and that true resolution and peace come not from endlessly replaying our worries, but from submitting them to God in prayer. This episode invites listeners to make David's closing words their own: "Search me, O God… and lead me along the path of everlasting life."

In this episode of Arise + Abide, Sally and Curtis explore Hosea 13, a powerful chapter that highlights the culmination of Israel's long pattern of unfaithfulness. Building on chapter 12's warnings, Hosea 13 opens with a sobering reminder that Ephraim—once a tribe whose words carried weight and inspired fear—has now fallen into idolatry and self-reliance, sealing its own destruction. Through vivid imagery of mist, chaff, and smoke, God reveals how fleeting the nation's strength has become apart from Him.

Sally and Curtis reflect on the themes of misplaced trust, forgotten dependence, and misused influence. They discuss how Israel's prosperity led them to pride, causing them to forget the Lord who provided for them in the wilderness. Curtis draws attention to the responsibility that comes with influence, while Sally highlights the warning embedded in Israel's story: when comfort replaces devotion, hearts drift.

Even as the chapter describes fierce judgment, the conversation emphasizes God's patience, His desire for His people to return, and the hope that ultimately finds its fulfillment in Christ. The episode closes by pointing forward to the restoration promised in Hosea 14 and with Paul's triumphant reminder from 1 Corinthians that through Jesus, God brings victory over sin and death.

In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally reflect on David's heartfelt praise in Psalm 138, a song filled with gratitude, trust, and confidence in God's unfailing love. Together they explore how David's worship—offered "with all his heart"—reminds us that God's promises are backed by the full honor of His name, giving us assurance even when circumstances remain unchanged.

The conversation highlights the comfort of God's immediate encouragement when we pray, the strength He provides in troubling times, and the promise that He faithfully works out His plans for our lives. Curtis and Sally also discuss the psalm's forward-looking hope: a future in which all people recognize God's glory, and how our own testimony becomes a way of praising God before others.

Grounded in David's example and supported by New Testament encouragements, this episode invites listeners to trust deeply, pray continuously, and live as gentle, confident witnesses to God's goodness.

In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 137, a passage that captures the experience of the Israelites living in exile. The psalm describes their sorrow, their memories of Jerusalem, and the difficulty of singing joyful songs in a place that feels far from home.

The conversation explores how the psalmist's longing for Jerusalem reveals a renewed appreciation for what was lost, as well as the honest emotions that come with hardship—grief, frustration, and the desire for justice. Curtis and Sally discuss the historical context of the Psalm, the role of perspective during challenging seasons, and how these ancient experiences invite us to consider our own responses when life feels unsettled or uncertain.

They also reflect on how followers of Christ today can continue to honor God in difficult circumstances, drawing attention to themes of hope, forgiveness, and trusting God's timing. Even in moments that feel like "exile," the episode highlights the steady truth that God remains present, just, and faithful.

A thoughtful, grounded conversation about remembering where our joy comes from and how to stay connected to God in every season.

In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally explore Hosea chapters 10 and 11—two striking passages that reveal both the severity of God's judgment and the depth of His enduring love. Hosea paints Israel as a once-fruitful vine whose prosperity led them away from the Lord and deeper into idolatry. Their misplaced trust in altars, idols, and military strength exposes a hardened spiritual landscape in need of breaking up and renewal.

Yet woven through the warnings is a tender reminder of God's fatherly compassion. As Hosea recounts, God taught Israel to walk, lifted the yoke from their neck, and cared for them with kindness—even as they drifted further from Him. In chapter 11, we hear God's heart break as He refuses to abandon His people completely: "How can I give you up, Israel?" Instead, He promises a future restoration, a gathering of His people when He roars like a lion calling them home.

Curtis and Sally reflect on the themes of spiritual sowing and reaping, the danger of misplaced trust, and the hope found in God's persistent love. Drawing connections to Galatians and the teachings of Jesus, they invite listeners to consider the call to surrender, to cultivate righteousness, and to trust the One who leads with both justice and compassion.

Hello everyone, Curtis here, thanks for listening! We had been trying to publish episodes twice a week but now that I am back in school full time we have had to scale back to once a week. We will continue to alternate episodes with psalms until we finish the book and continue with the Old Testament timeline. This episode is on Psalm 136, and we will explore the call to remember God's faithfulness and the promise of God!

In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally read Hosea chapter 9 and reflect on the painful consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness to God. As Hosea announces the nation's coming punishment, the chapter reveals both the grief and justice of God—how His love has been betrayed by those who turned to idols and false gods. Israel's worship has become distorted, their festivals corrupted, and their trust misplaced in fertility gods that cannot bless or sustain them.

Curtis and Sally discuss how God's judgment in this passage is not arbitrary but the natural result of Israel's choices. When they reject His covenant, He allows them to experience the emptiness of what they have chosen. Yet even in these harsh words, the story reminds listeners that God's discipline flows from love—a desire to bring His people back to truth and life.

Drawing parallels to today, the hosts explore how humanity still resists God's correction and dismisses His messengers as "fools." Following Jesus means humbly listening, turning back when corrected, and surrendering self-made paths to walk in His way. Though Hosea 9 speaks of rejection, it ultimately points toward restoration—when "not loved" will once again become "the ones I love."

In this episode of Arise + Abide, Sally and Curtis read Hosea chapter 8, where the prophet declares that Israel has "planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind." Through Hosea's message, God warns His people that their idolatry, self-appointed kings, and misplaced alliances will lead to destruction. Israel has built altars meant to remove sin, yet those very altars have become places of sin. They've forgotten their Maker and trusted in their own strength, seeking security in palaces, fortified cities, and foreign powers instead of the Lord.

As Sally and Curtis reflect, this passage reveals the danger of turning to anything other than God for hope and stability. Like Israel, we may strive to secure life through our own works or alliances, but these efforts are fruitless apart from the Lord. Curtis draws a parallel to modern faith, noting how our attempts at righteousness can drift into legalism when we depend on our own strength rather than Christ's finished work. Sally reminds us that life and fruitfulness come only from seeking God first—echoing Matthew 6:33: "Seek the kingdom of God above all else…"

Even amid judgment, there is grace. God still sends warnings—signs of His steadfast love calling us back to Him. As the hosts conclude, the true hope of this chapter is not in avoiding discipline but in trusting the Maker who loves, warns, and redeems His people.