Arise and Abide

In this episode, Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 122, a song of ascents that invites worshipers to joyfully enter the house of the Lord. They explore the spiritual significance of pilgrimage, gathering with God's people, and praying for peace. Together, they highlight how this Psalm points forward to Jesus—the true gate, the Prince of Peace, and the fulfillment of God's promises to David. As the...

In this episode of Arise and Abide , Sally and Curtis reflect on Isaiah 9:8–21, a sobering passage that contrasts the hope of the Messiah with the harsh consequences of pride and rebellion. As Israel responds to ruin with arrogance and self-reliance, God allows them to face the fallout of their choices. Sally and Curtis explore how the wildfire of sin spreads when hearts resist repentance, and how...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 121, a song of ascent that reminds us of God's constant care and protection. They explore the powerful imagery of looking to the mountains—not for false sources of help, but as a prompt to trust in the Creator of heaven and earth. Drawing from personal experiences and biblical connections, including the story of Jonah and the pro...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on the powerful hope found in Isaiah 9:1–7. After the bleak warnings of chapter 8, Isaiah 9 opens with a promise: light will shine in the darkness. The hosts explore how this prophecy points to the coming Messiah—Jesus—who brings joy, breaks the yoke of oppression, and reigns with justice and peace. They highlight the significance of God'...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Sally and Curtis reflect on Psalm 120, the first of the Psalms of Ascent. They explore how this cry for rescue from lies and conflict becomes a model of trust in God's faithfulness. As the psalmist laments the struggle to live among those who hate peace, Sally and Curtis share personal insights on surrendering burdens to God, trusting Him to handle deceit and inj...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally explore Isaiah 8:11–22, a powerful passage calling God's people to resist fear and trust wholly in the Lord. In a time of national panic and looming invasion, Isaiah is instructed not to think like the fearful crowd but to honor the Lord as holy and sovereign. Curtis and Sally reflect on the relevance of this message today, urging listeners to re...

In this final stanza of Psalm 119 (verses 169–176), Curtis and Sally reflect on the psalmist's heartfelt plea for God's help, discernment, and rescue. They explore the tension between waiting on God's promises and the reality of suffering, highlighting how prayer and praise can emerge even in the hardest circumstances. Drawing parallels to Job's endurance and Jesus' parable of the lost sheep, they...

In this episode, Curtis and Sally explore Isaiah 8:1-10, where God commands Isaiah to name his son Maher-shalal-hash-baz—a prophetic sign of the swift Assyrian invasion. They discuss how Judah's rejection of God's gentle provision in favor of Assyrian protection leads to devastating consequences. Yet even amid judgment, God's presence remains. Through imagery of floods and promises of divine vindi...

In this episode, Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 119:161–168, the "Shin" section, which highlights the peace and stability found in loving and obeying God's Word. Despite facing harassment and chaos in a broken world, the psalmist rejoices in the truth and justice of God's commands. Curtis and Sally explore themes of trust, obedience, and love, drawing connections to Jesus' call to die to self a...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Sally and Curtis reflect on Isaiah 7 and God's message to King Ahaz during a time of crisis. Despite Ahaz's idolatry and alliance with Assyria, God extends grace, urging him to stand firm in faith and even offering a sign of His deliverance. But Ahaz refuses, prompting Isaiah to deliver the prophetic sign of Immanuel—"God with us." Through this passage, Sally and...

In this episode of Arise+Abide, Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 119:153-160, a heartfelt plea for God's rescue grounded in love for His Word. As the psalmist cries out for help amidst suffering and betrayal, Curtis and Sally explore how obedience to God's commandments prepares us to turn to Him in our most desperate moments. The discussion draws connections to Jesus as our ultimate advocate and...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Sally and Curtis dive into 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28, exploring the reign of King Ahaz and Judah's deepening spiritual decline. Unlike his father Jotham, Ahaz chooses political strategy over faithful dependence on God—offering temple treasures to Assyria for protection and sacrificing his own sons in pagan rituals. As Judah suffers military defeat and moral...

In this episode of Rise and Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on the deeply personal and vulnerable cries found in Psalm 119:145–152. The psalmist's desperate plea for rescue is not just a call for relief, but a heartfelt expression of devotion and trust in God's enduring truth. Curtis explores how adversity still finds us even in faithful obedience, while Sally shares how sleepless nights have bec...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on the transitional moment between kings in Judah and the powerful beginning of the prophet Micah's ministry. As King Jotham ascends the throne and seeks to walk in obedience, the underlying corruption and idolatry of the people remain unaddressed. The episode explores God's call to repentance through Micah's vivid and haunting vision of...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Sally and Curtis reflect on Psalm 119:137–143, a passage that highlights the enduring righteousness and trustworthiness of God's Word. As they explore themes of pressure, indignation, and feeling insignificant, they point to the joy and peace that come from anchoring our lives in God's thoroughly tested promises. With connections to Isaiah 55 and 2 Corinthians 1,...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally explore Isaiah 6 alongside brief readings from 2 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 26, reflecting on the momentous beginning of Isaiah's ministry. As Isaiah encounters the holy presence of God, he is undone by the contrast between divine purity and human sin. Yet, with a burning coal, God cleanses Isaiah—transforming impurity into purity and calling him...

In this episode, Sally and Curtis reflect on Psalm 119:129-136, a passage filled with awe for God's word and sorrow over the world's disobedience. They explore the psalmist's deep longing for God's commands, the peace that comes from waiting on the Lord, and the tension between divine truth and the brokenness of the world. With references to John 14, James 1, and 1 John 4, the conversation draws o...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on 2 Kings 14:28–29 and 15:8–29, examining a turbulent period in Israel's history marked by assassinations, short reigns, and a refusal to turn from sin. As king after king follows the destructive example of Jeroboam, the nation spirals toward exile despite God's long-suffering patience and repeated warnings through prophets like Amos. Th...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 119:121-128, the stanza labeled Ayin . The psalmist's plea—"My eyes strain to see your rescue"—resonates deeply with anyone who has waited on God's promises in hard times. The conversation explores the tension between crying out for justice and submitting to God's loving discipline. They discuss the importance of discernment, the...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally dive into Amos chapter 9, where the prophet receives a vision of the Lord standing beside the altar, declaring that judgment is inevitable and inescapable. As Curtis and Sally discuss, God's justice is thorough—reaching every hidden place—but His heart is ultimately set on restoration. They reflect on the humility needed to walk with God and the...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 119:113–120 (Samekh), a passage that contrasts divided loyalties with wholehearted devotion to God's Word. They explore the psalmist's call to reject evil influences and cling to God's sustaining truth, emphasizing the need for spiritual discernment and unwavering faith. Through honest discussion, Curtis and Sally connect the psa...

In this episode of Arise+Abide, Sally and Curtis reflect on Psalm 119:105-112, the section marked Nun , exploring how God's Word serves as both light and lifeline in life's darkest and most uncertain moments. They discuss the imagery of walking through darkness and the necessity of divine guidance to avoid the traps set by the enemy. With insights from Deuteronomy and the Gospel of John, the conve...

In this episode of Arise and Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Amos 8 and the vision of a basket of ripe fruit, symbolizing that Israel is ripe for judgment. They explore God's patience through previous visions and the shift to final warning as Israel's injustices and spiritual apathy reach a breaking point. The discussion highlights how God sees the hidden sins of dishonest gain and empty relig...

In this episode of Arise + Abide , Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 119:97–104, a passage rich with the psalmist's love for God's Word. They explore the benefits of meditating on Scripture—gaining wisdom beyond enemies, teachers, and elders—and the joy of walking in obedience. Curtis highlights the continuity between Old and New Covenants, pointing to Jesus' teachings as the fulfillment and embod...

In this episode, Sally and Curtis explore Amos chapter 7, where God reveals three visions to the prophet Amos—locusts, fire, and a plumb line. These visions reflect the tension between God's mercy and justice, with Amos interceding for Israel and God twice relenting. But the third vision, the plumb line, signals that the time for judgment has come. The hosts discuss the significance of these visio...