Does it seem to you like people are more stressed out lately? The further we move along the timeline of what the Bible calls “last days,” the more we are seeing people who are operating in a constant level of distress. But is this our lot in life? Do we have to live as if life is ganging up on us and we have no way to stop it?
It’s unreasonable to expect life to be free of trouble. Job recognized this when he spoke these words in Job 5:7: “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” We’re going to have things happen that weren’t in our planners, but if your life is one continuous stream of chaos, that’s like a check-engine light on the dash in your car. Something needs to be examined. Chaos happens, but it doesn't have to become our operating system.
Let's consider four questions to ask ourselves when life is more chaotic than calm.
EXCITING NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK! Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias
REPLAY THURSDAY: A friend of mine once said to me, "If you don't like my cooking, lie to me." She was just kidding, but it reminded me how easy it is for us to pick and choose when we're going to lie or tell the truth. Lying is habit forming, but it is also a breakable habit.
When we know better, we can do better. God can help us to remove this habit from our lives, but we will need to ask for His help and yield to His Word.
"Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously." (Psalm 119:29)
NEW IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART!
Apply: Living What We Learn--A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Welcome back to BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT, the popular audio Proverbs series. Chapter 29 opens with a warning about being stubborn:
"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." (Proverbs 29:1)
Stubbornness can fill our lives with unnecessary chaos and pain. This is another loaded chapter, and it will take you less than five minutes to read and listen!
Visit the shop links below at Keep the Heart for books by Francie Taylor and other authors, as well as a beautiful selection of Bibles.
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Welcome to REPLAY THURSDAY, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. This episode first aired on February 13, 2023, the day before Valentine's Day. Not exactly the kind of episode for a romantic holiday, but thousands of downloads later, it was one of the most played episodes of 2023.
It's devastating to hear about marriages and families exploding because of inappropriate relationships. This has become its own pandemic, with too many people walking into traps baited with flattery and excessive attention.
When all the lust is exhausted, two people are left with empty brokenness. It's not so exciting then. God never intended for the sacred beauty of the physical relationship to be treated like a fast-food restaurant meal. His boundaries are for the blessing and benefit of our lives. "Keep my commandments and live" is not a suggestion; it's an instruction for our wellbeing. Proverbs chapter seven details the anatomy of an inappropriate relationship. This is not an episode for children.
"Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye." (Proverbs 7:2)
Visit the shop links below at Keep the Heart for books by Francie Taylor and other authors, as well as a beautiful selection of Bibles.
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Call Upon Him: An Examination of Prayers Throughout Scripture by Kathy Ashley
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT with the daily Proverbs system.
You won't have to wrestle with yourself to develop and embrace this habit. Simply press play. In four minutes, you've covered one chapter of Proverbs. Repeat this daily, and you'll finish the entire book of Proverbs every month!
Gain wisdom, increase in understanding, and learn how to handle the issues of life while deepening your walk with God.
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
Visit the shop links below at Keep the Heart for books by Francie Taylor and other authors, as well as a beautiful selection of Bibles.
Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Call Upon Him: An Examination of Prayers Throughout Scripture by Kathy Ashley
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR KATHY ASHLEY
When Kathy Ashley heart about "AI," those letters brought two different words to her mind. Not "artificial intelligence," but Arrogance and Ignorance. This is the kind of AI that leads to an artificial inflation of self, and it's hazardous to our spiritual health.
Arrogance is pride on steroids. When you mix arrogance with ignorance, this creates a puffed up conceit that is deceptive. We can become our own worst enemies when we're infected with the dynamic duo of arrogance and ignorance. The antidote to this infection is God's Word. He has the prescription for healing and recovery.
"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." (Proverbs 8:13)
Visit the shop links below at Keep the Heart to find Kathy Ashley's trio of excellent books: Vitamins for the Soul, Minerals for the Mind, and Call Upon Him.
Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Call Upon Him: An Examination of Prayers Throughout Scripture by Kathy Ashley
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Like Keep the Heart on Facebook
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Build Your Bible Habit!
Do you struggle to get into Scripture daily? You're not alone, but this problem can be fixed and we'd like to help. For years, people have used the Proverb-a-Day system to build a daily Bible reading habit, and it has been very successful in helping people to develop a daily habit of reading and Bible study. If you've been repeating the same mistakes and falling in the same ditch, perhaps it's because you're spiritually underfed.
The daily Proverb system is simple: listen to these chapters in order by the date on the calendar (read Proverbs chapter one on the 1st of each month, chapter 2 on the 2nd and continue until chapter 31). Many of you have already done this, but for those who haven't, prepare for a deeper level of wisdom and a closer walk with God.
We know that you can get an audio Bible through any Bible app. This is just an extra service provided by a sister friend who cares. Daily Bible reading is essential to our spiritual health. As it says in Proverbs 8:34 "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." When you're in the Word daily, you're feasting on Soul Food!
Welcome to a REPLAY REFRESHER from Keep the Heart!
"Don't Be Fooled" first aired in January of 2023, and thousands of downloads later, people are still clicking this episode. These are confusing times, and we need more wisdom and discretion to be alert to the hazards of falling from the truth of God's Word.
Have you ever listened to someone who was trying to sound like they knew what they were talking about, but you could tell that they were just making things up? That’s what’s going on today as people have coined the phrase, “I am speaking my truth.” It's impossible to create our own truth, but we can be deceived into thinking that it's possible.
Jesus said this plain statement to His disciples in John 14:6: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Are we becoming confused because spiritually we're starving? Let’s look at three things you can do to protect yourself from deception.
ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions Leader Guide
ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions Participant Guide
The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
This Liberty of Yours: Unlocking Your Liberty in Christ
BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT with daily Proverbs
Are you still trying to develop a habit of daily Bible reading? Here's an easy way to begin: one daily Proverb. In less than five minutes per day, you'll be on your way to building a Bible habit that will lead you from reading to studying and more!
Here's another practical tip: quit putting it off. Enough with the delays and excuses. Grab your ear buds and your Bible. You can do this. You've done much harder things. Take five.
BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions by Francie Taylor (Leader Guide or Solo Study)
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Wouldn’t it be great if we could have advance instructions from God for the day? I mean, what if God could warn us in writing, guiding us to the right way to handle stressful situations that often catch us off guard? Wouldn’t that be grand?
God already does this. He gives us instructions in advance, but we don’t always read or heed them. Instead, we try to live the Christian life on our own terms, making up solutions as we go along. We will have greater struggles by trying to live the Christian life without the Bible.
Daily Bible reading provides us with instructions for daily living. This episode provides three examples of how God gives us instructions in advance. Why keep running into trouble or making unnecessary mistakes when we have better options? God can help us learn how to do life His way. His way is perfect.
"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him." (Psalm 18:30)
BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love by Marianne Barnett
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions by Francie Taylor (Leader Guide or Solo Study)
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT with daily Proverbs
The beginning of the year is a great time to build a habit of daily Bible reading. Listen while you read along, or take a walk and "ponder the path of your feet" as the Scripture feeds your soul.
"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." (Proverbs 4:26)
Join Francie a chapter at a time in this Audio Proverbs Library:
Audio Proverbs with Francie Taylor
Build Your Bible Habit is the popular audio Proverbs series, available in a complete library here: Build Your Bible Habit Audio Proverbs Library
By reading along or listening to a daily chapter of Proverbs, you will develop the habit of being in the Word daily. Soon, Proverbs won't be enough. You'll want more. The Bible is bottomless!
BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love by Marianne Barnett
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions by Francie Taylor (Leader Guide or Solo Study)
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Christmas Replay
This episode, "Minimizing Strife at Family Gatherings" is one of the most-replayed episodes in our podcast library. There's something about "the most wonderful time of the year" that tends to bring out the some of the least wonderful qualities in people. How can we have gatherings with loved ones who have strongly held opinions that differ from ours without things turning into a war of words?
Or what about the guests with the list of special requests? And how can we host when we're worn out from so many special events? Is a peaceful gathering even possible? Yes, but we need to be prepared.
This season-ending episode shares three guidelines that I quietly employ when we're having large groups of family and friends.
These three suggestions are not a guarantee that you won’t have any issues at your next gathering. These are just starter ideas to help you prepare for hosting with a greater chance of having a pleasant and peaceful outcome.
BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love by Marianne Barnett
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions by Francie Taylor (Leader Guide or Solo Study)
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
BONUS BIBLE SERIES REPLAYS: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 14 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter covers the wise, the foolish, the scorner, the backslider, the angry person and more! Once again, God has given us instructions on the right and wrong ways to live. It’s like being served a meal where there are things that we really like mixed with things that we’d rather not eat, even though they’re very good for us. We need both for balance. This chapter is a life buffet.
To build a Bible habit, we need to make a commitment that’s firm. We can’t be on and off about it. God has provided us with an abundant life through His Word. How many With as many Bibles as the average person owns, we could at least commit to reading one of them consistently. Make your Bible study an unbreakable appointment. Try pairing it with something else, like Bible and breakfast. Just commit and stay committed. As it says in Proverbs 14:27, "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." There is more value to building a Bible habit than we can imagine. It is so worth it!
How many of you love it when things go according to plan? Most of us do, but real life inserts some strange changes when we least expect it. In fact, that’s part of our problem: we expect things to go normally all the time.
Things may go way off script: The wedding wasn’t supposed to be called off, but suddenly it was. The doctor appointment was supposed to be just a routine check-up, not a frightening diagnosis. The car was running fine before you packed it for a road trip. You were supposed to be holding a newborn, not recovering from a miscarriage. And how could it be that a loved one has passed away when you just saw them? You were just talking with them…
Add your unplanned situation, and whether it’s better or worse, the outcome was the same: your plans changed. One thing that directly affects our responses to unplanned changes is the condition of our relationship with God. If we are close to the Lord before a crisis, we will tend to accept changes without becoming foul in our spirits. How close are you to the Lord in your life? It really makes a difference in how we respond to the events that we face.
What can we do when the change of plans makes life harder? This episode covers three reminders.
BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love by Marianne Barnett
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions by Francie Taylor (Leader Guide or Solo Study)
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we replay the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This episode, The Empty Chair and Other Firsts of Grief is approaching the 10,000 download mark, which tells us something we already knew: grief is an ongoing rotation in life. Some of us are in the roles of comforters, while others need comforting. When it's our turn to grieve, we experience how deeply life changes with the absence of a loved one.
If this is your experience, you have an empty chair and all the changes that come with the grieving process. Many people may try to be supportive and caring, but eventually they do have to leave us and return to their own lives. When no one else is around, God will not leave us alone. He is the Comforter Who abides with us forever.
Here's a verse that reminds us of this truth: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever..." (John 14:16)
BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love by Marianne Barnett
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions by Francie Taylor (Leader Guide or Solo Study)
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Are you in a disagreement with someone you love because you stand on opposite sides of an issue where God's Word is clear? This is becoming increasingly common. It is challenging to live biblically in an antagonistic society that questions God's existence, let alone His authority. Proverbs 29:27 reminds us that "An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked."
We could probably handle the strain if the division was coming from a stranger. But when the pressure is from someone we know and love, the differences of opinion can become painfully personal and superheated.
This episode is for anyone interested in walking wisely with those who are living in rebellion against God. After this episode, pause to spend time in earnest prayer for your loved ones.
BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias
Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love by Marianne Barnett
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions by Francie Taylor (Leader Guide or Solo Study)
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Do you feel pressured to convey a certain image because of what others expect of you? Are you afraid to disappoint others, so you hide your honest opinions and thoughts so that you can be accepted? Are you angry because you feel pushed around by others, but you haven’t been honest with others or even with God about it? You’re not alone. You’re in a huge club called “The People Pleasers.”
What is a people pleaser? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it’s "a person who has an emotional need to please others often at the expense of his or her own needs or desires."
We can’t get over our issues with people pleasing when we don’t understand why we’re doing what we’re doing. This is not a light matter, and while I can only scratch the surface in this brief episode, I encourage you to ask God to search your heart to uncover deeper things that may be going on. We have reasons for doing whatever we do, and when it comes to people pleasing, guilt, shame, fear, and a lack of trust in God are on the list. At the end of this episode, take some time to pray and ask the Lord to show you what’s going on in your heart and let Him help you. God’s way is perfect. Ours is flawed.
Let’s consider four signs that you may be a people pleaser, followed by suggestions on what to do about it.
Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Dr. Tim Zacharias
Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley
The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton
Olive Petal Snap-Flap KJV Bible-Imitation Leather
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
We're moving the podcast from Tuesdays to Thursdays. The episodes will upload overnight on Wednesdays and will be ready for you immediately if you are a subscriber. (We are based in the central time zone in the USA, so if you're oversees, this podcast will land two days later than previously.) Thanks for listening, and remember:
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This episode, “Be the First to Apologize” addresses a common but sometimes complicated matter. Leaving situations in an awkward holding pattern where you can tell there’s “funny air” between you and someone else is not a strategy for reconciliation.
When we’ve hurt someone, even if it was unintentional and even if we feel they were also in the wrong, our part is to apologize sincerely, and then wait humbly for their response. And if we’ll remember that not everyone forgives right away, that will help us to wait patiently.
Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Dr. Tim Zacharias
Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley
Olive Petal Snap-Flap KJV Bible-Imitation Leather
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
My daughter-in-love and I were rolling my luggage through the garage to load into her car. She was driving me to the airport for my flight. As we were leaving the garage, I saw that the “CatchMaster” sticky board was upside down, and there was a tail snapping back and forth out from underneath the sticky board. Oh oh. Time for some courage steps.
I made an executive decision to leave it there until I returned from my trip. That way, it would be done thrashing…or so I thought.
When I returned from the conference, I noticed that the board was moved a bit from where I first saw it. I knew that the creature moved it, but still couldn’t tell what was under there. The tail could have been a gecko or a skink, but I suspected from the patterns that it was more likely to be a snake. I share the rest of the story in this episode, along with how this experience reminded me that it’s often better to handle things that frighten or intimidate us in steps rather than trying to do everything at once. Let's examine three courage steps together.
Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Dr. Tim Zacharias
Olive Petal Snap-Flap KJV Bible-Imitation Leather
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we replay the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This week, we’re revisiting an episode that touched on a common yet complex topic: “Facing the Gray Area Decisions.” Whether you’re a new listener or you’ve been with us since the first episode, we hope that these suggestions will provide some insights for those who are facing decisions on matters not directly addressed in scripture. God’s Word is completely sufficient to aid us, and we can always be confident of this truth.
Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches-Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
This Liberty of Yours by Dr. Tim Zacharias
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Dr. Tim Zacharias
Olive Petal Snap-Flap KJV Bible-Imitation Leather
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Have you ever almost side-swiped a car because they were in your blind spot? According to the National Safety Council, "On average a car has two main blind spots. These are generally on the back left and the back right side of the car. These are the areas where the driver cannot see clearly by using their mirrors.”
When new cars added the Blind Spot Warning system to vehicles, it really helped drivers to know when someone was in that zone. The system detects vehicles in the blind spot while driving and notifies the driver to their presence. Some systems even provide an additional warning if the driver activates the turn signal when it is unsafe to merge or change lanes.
Too bad there’s not a Blind Spot Warning system for everyday life.
This episode covers three common blind spots, and what we can do to avoid side-swiping other people in our lives.
Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches-Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Encouragement for Women Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
Vitamins for the Soul-A Study on Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley
Rose Gold Leathertouch KJV Bible
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons. Have you ever wondered, “Why didn’t God answer my prayer? It’s not uncommon to think like this, but underneath this question is another question: Did God fail to answer your prayer, or did He answer it differently than you requested it?
We may be praying more than ever, but are we praying with a right spirit? A spirit of fear is not from God. He is never rattled and nothing surprises Him. How can we shift our thinking from fearful to trusting?
Let’s study five ways we can clear up our thinking about prayer, and improve our prayer lives in the process. Plan to spend some time in prayer after listening to this episode.
Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches-Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Encouragement for Women Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
Minerals for the Mind-A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Rose Gold Leathertouch KJV Bible
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons. What does it take for you to jump to the irritated default mode? Getting stuck in traffic when you’re already running late? New policies at work? A last-minute change in plans that you don’t like? Even those who are usually very tranquil have things that can push them beyond their emotionally calm boundaries.
Life can be stressful and pressures may pile up, but we don’t have to live with the heat turned on high all the time. There can be calm inserted into the daily pressures, because not all pressures are big deals. This episode covers three encouraging practices that we can begin applying right away. High-strung is not a life sentence; it's a changeable habit.
Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Calm in Christ ebook by Francie Taylor
Encouragement for Women Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
Minerals for the Mind-A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Seaside Treasures Shell Mini-bags
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
(Rebroadcast from January 2022)
Are you able to listen to someone sharing a problem without trying to fix it? In other words, can you just listen, or are you formulating a solution as you listen, waiting to blurt it out as soon as the other person stops talking?
Listening to someone tell you that they’re about to make an unwise decision is really hard. We may want to try to talk the person out of their plans, but we know that by inserting ourselves like this, we could end up creating tension in the relationship. By saying nothing, it may seem like we’re agreeing, but if we speak the truth in love, we may get slapped into submission by a verbal rejection. Unsolicited advice is a field of land mines.
We can usually sense when a conversation is taking a sharp turn, and this can easily happen if we swerve into giving advice without having been asked. Unsolicited advice is easy to give but hard to take. If you've ever had someone deliver an analysis about your life that you never requested, you know how this lands on the ears.
What happens if we say something that then things blow up and we get chewed out? How can we sit by and watch someone running straight for the edge of an unseen cliff that we have in full view? Giving advice is tricky terrain. Let’s consider three things to help us discern when to speak and when to be silent.
Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
Ponder the Path-31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind-A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Mirror Talk-A Journey from Hurt to Healing by Marianne Barnett
This Liberty of Yours by Tim Zacharias
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Rebroadcast from August 2021 (2023 Summer Season Rerun)
You’ve done or said something wrong and now your friend or family member is upset with you. It was an accident, but the outcome was the same as if you’d had done it on purpose. You felt really bad about it at first, until you started analyzing the situation. Was it really all your fault, or was this person just being thin-skinned?
Come to think of it, hasn’t she or he said a thing or two in the past that didn’t sit right with you, but you let it go? Where is the grace for you that you gave them when they were in the wrong? The more you replay these unhelpful thoughts, the less inclined you'll be to apologize. Developing a bad attitude won’t fix the situation. It will just delay the repairs.
Apologizing when we’ve done or said something offensive requires spiritual maturity and humility. This episode will focus on what we can do to make things right when we’ve been the offender.
Ponder the Path-31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind-A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Mirror Talk-A Journey from Hurt to Healing by Marianne Barnett
The Mirror of God's Word-A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Rebroadcast from November 2021 (2023 Summer Season Rerun)
Do you have friends who help you in ways that make life lighter and brighter? Today's guest host is that kind of friend in my life. Veteran radio host, Janice Wolfe from Faith Music Radio is covering for me while I'm out battling illness. Janice's inspiring show, eleven2one, airs on Faith Music Radio from 11am-1pm, Monday through Friday. You will be encouraged by Janice in this episode about "The Heavy Things We Carry."
It's so easy to listen to her deep and beautiful voice. It reminds me of butter melting on toast.
Do you realize we carry heavy things around every day? Heaviness is mentioned in both the Old and New Testament. Is there a way to lighten the load? The Bible gives us precise instructions on how to trade the weights that we carry for the much easier yoke of Christ. You'll want your journal to take notes during this encouraging episode.
Many thanks to Dan and Janice Wolfe, my podcast trainers, for their investment in the podcast at Keep the Heart. Follow Janice on Instagram and Facebook, and visit her show by clicking the link below.
eleven2one radio with Janice Wolfe
Ponder the Path-31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind-A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Mirror Talk-A Journey from Hurt to Healing by Marianne Barnett
The Mirror of God's Word-A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Rebroadcast from June 2021 (2023 Summer Season Rerun)
Have you ever prayed and asked the Lord to reveal any sin in your life, only to have Him point out something that you really didn’t think was wrong? We don't see things as clearly as God sees them. Our vision is imperfect.
There's a good chance that someone listening to this episode has a secret life and you’d probably prefer that it would never be revealed, but God already knows all about it. Whether it’s double-standard living, harboring envy, hiding something from your spouse, or some other sin, here is the reality: The secret life is not so secret.
A secret life of sin can stunt our growth, limit our service, and harm our reputations. This episode explores common areas where we tend to justify things that are unbiblical and displeasing to God, followed by suggested solutions. Ultimately, it is up to you to ask God to search and try you personally. He has the ability to cleanse us from "secret faults."
"Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults." (Psalm 19:12)
Ponder the Path-31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind-A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Mirror Talk-A Journey from Hurt to Healing by Marianne Barnett
The Mirror of God's Word-A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton
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You’ve probably known of people who used to be friends, but something went wrong and instead of repairing the problem, they turned against each other. Both friends felt like the other person caused the issue, so they were both waiting for the other to apologize. It was a very long wait. They went to the same church, had an overlapping friend group, and things were awkward for anyone who knew them. Are you the friend with the broken relationship?
Are you holding a grudge against someone right now? When you hear those words, does a face pop up onto the movie screen of your mind? Holding a grudge always hurts the holder more than anyone else.
In the devotional book, Ponder the Path by Francie Taylor, Day 22 addresses the connection between anger and bitterness. This episode addresses three reasons why holding a grudge is harmful to us and to others. (2023 Summer Season Rerun)
Ponder the Path-Devotional by Francie Taylor
Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
Vitamins for the Soul Bible Study by Kathy Ashley
Mirror Talk-A Journey from Hurt to Healing by Marianne Barnett
Encouragement for Women Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
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Have you ever faced a sudden event in your life that made you wonder, "What just happened here?"
Heartbreaking events create a pressure in life that is like an explosion. First, there is shock as a person processes information that knocks them off their feet, and then the pain begins. As pain transitions into a cold numbness, it leaves behind side-effects that take time to resolve. Explosions in families, marriages, ministry, and more are reminders of our perilous times.
What can we do after something has happened to cause the earth to feel like it is crumbling beneath our feet? How do we recover when tragedy strikes, leaving us dazed and wounded? There are some things that we can do, and we'll cover these suggestions in this episode. (2023 Summer Season Rerun)
Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
Vitamins for the Soul Bible Study by Kathy Ashley
Mirror Talk-A Journey from Hurt to Healing by Marianne Barnett
Rough Patches-Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Encouragement for Women Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Have you mastered the plaster smile? You know, the one that we wear when our insides are not smiling but we don’t want to reveal our true emotions. It’s easy to hide discouragement, but it’s not a solution to pretend to be fine when we’re not. This episode from the top ten in 2021 shares three biblical suggestions for handling discouragement wisely. (2023 Summer Season Rerun)
Ponder the Path Devotional by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind Bible Study by Kathy Ashley
Mirror Talk-A Journey from Hurt to Healing by Marianne Barnett
Rough Patches-Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Encouragement for Women Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Have you ever dragged your feet on forgiving someone because you thought they deserved to suffer? Or were you so hurt by their words or actions that you felt they deserved punishment? Human nature is painful like that. We don’t like people to hurt us, but we’ll cancel that rule when we’re hurting someone in revenge. We’re not the first to struggle with the issue of not wanting to forgive. Consider this passage from Matthew 18:21-22:
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."
This is not to make light of serious offenses, but trying to justify withholding forgiveness is asking for a battle with bitterness. This summer rerun shares four side effects of failing to grant forgiveness, and how we can avoid them. (2023 Summer Season Rerun)
Ponder the Path Devotional by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind Bible Study by Kathy Ashley
The Mirror of God's Word Bible Study by Robin Parton
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
ICU Heart Conditions Bible Application Study--Leader Guide by Francie Taylor
Proverbs Audio Library read by Francie Taylor
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BONUS MINI-EPISODE FOR WIVES: Let’s blame this bonus episode on the blueberries. They were in season and I was about to sit down with a bowl of these fresh beauties when I had a flashback to how much my husband loved blueberries. I didn’t even try to like them back then, but now I wish I had tried. We could have shared the joy of a fresh harvest together.
This is not an episode for couples with deep marital problems. It's a bonus mini-episode for those who may have accidentally drifted into taking a good marriage for granted.
Are there areas in your marriage where you’re treating your husband and his interests and desires as if they are second to yours? Do you adore your husband, or are you treating him like a college roommate? God has entrusted you with your husband, as he has entrusted your husband with you. What are you doing with that sacred trust?
If you do whatever you want with your marriage, then you’ll get whatever you get in your later years. What will that look like, and does it match your relationship goals? This brief episode is just a simple heart-to-heart from a sister who was married for 35 years and now widowed for barely five. Ask yourself this question: Is your husband's existence better because you're in his life? (2023 Summer Season Rerun)
Book mentioned in episode: Teachers of Good Things
FOR COUPLES: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
ICU Heart Conditions Bible Application Study--Leader Guide
ICU Heart Conditions Participant Guide
Welcome to Soundbites: Topics that are scripturally sound in bite-sized episodes. This week's topic: Anger. Are you angry with someone right now? The strong emotions and reactions that come with anger can get us into trouble. Being angry is not a sin by itself, but the way we express that anger can become sinful and harmful.
This brief study will give us biblical patterns to follow, helping us to improve in our responses. Anger makes a really poor parking spot for the soul. Don't stay there. Forgiveness is more than an option; it's living biblically. (2023 Summer Season Rerun)
Ponder the Path Devotional by Francie Taylor
The Mirror of God's Word -Bible Study by Robin Parton
Minerals for the Mind-Bible Study by Kathy Ashley
Visit the Shop at Keep the Heart
Proverbs Audio Library read by Francie Taylor
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Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week's episode, "We Don't Have to Be So Broken Down." is for anyone who feels like you're in a ditch and you don't know how you got there!
So much of what happens in our lives begins internally. The external things will happen daily, but our responses to the dailies are coming from our spirits. We all need God’s help recovering from brokenness to become spiritually healthy. God isn't interested in our self-help techniques or our work-harder drives. He has a better way.
How can we stop being so broken down? We'll consider four areas where we can cooperate with God as He trains us to increase and improve our strength.
Ponder the Path Devotional by Francie Taylor
The Mirror of God's Word -Bible Study by Robin Parton
Minerals for the Mind-Bible Study by Kathy Ashley
Visit the Shop at Keep the Heart
Proverbs Audio Library read by Francie Taylor
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week's episode, "Is It Toxic or Is It Us?" is a call to take a step back from slapping labels.
Is it possible that we've become infected with buzzwords and the misguided philosophies behind them? Yes, it is possible. This is not an attempt to be the word police. It's merely a call for biblical courtesy and discernment. Name-calling is not a way to influence the world for Christ. Time for a soul check.
Ponder the Path Devotional by Francie Taylor
The Mirror of God's Word -Bible Study by Robin Parton
Minerals for the Mind-Bible Study by Kathy Ashley
Visit the Shop at Keep the Heart
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Have you been wavering in your mind with a decision, having a monologue with yourself that alternates between lecturing and venting? You know what you should do, and then you change your mind. Back and forth the internal speech goes, until finally you realize that you are riding the fence on your decision. This is another way of saying, you’re double minded and it’s uncomfortable.
God gives us the bottom line about this issue in James 1:8: "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." Granted, this verse was referring to asking God for wisdom without wavering, but it applies to any area where we’re wavering.
Being double minded makes us unstable and fretful. Let’s consider four ways to stop this confusing habit. Share this episode with your friends, especially if they've been going back and forth in making decisions.
Ponder the Path Devotional by Francie Taylor
Unique Snap-flap Olive Bible-KJV
"Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" T-shirt in many sizes
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 12 on Build Your Bible Habit. There is a difference between Bible reading and Bible study. Reading provides information. Study increases our understanding. If we’ll take the time to study our Bibles in addition to reading them, God can reveal where we may have slipped into unhealthy spiritual conditions. After you've listened to this chapter, you’ll want to go back and do a deeper dive later.
As you’re building your Bible habit with a Proverb-a-day, pay close attention to areas in your life that God points out for change. The Word of God has the power to transform us, but sometimes we're clinging to things that are holding us back. Change for the better is always hard work because it’s valuable. The habit of daily Bible study will compel you to examine yourself, looking for philosophies and practices that may be hindering your spiritual growth. Without God’s Word, we'll just do whatever is right in our own eyes. As it says in Proverbs 12: 15, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." God gives us wisdom to improve our lives.
Great for Travel! Pink & Brown Compact KJV Bible
A Beautiful Gift! Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
Study tool: Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Lead a Small Group: ICU New Testament Leader Guide
ICU New Testament Participant Guide (for group study)
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Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week's episode, "Are You Overdosing on Bad News" was a timely question last year, and still qualifies today. Have you noticed how headlines are written sensationally to get you to click on an article? The agenda for these "clickbait" articles can often be summed up in three words:
Fear for sale.
Are you tired of the endless stream of bad reports? It makes a terrible mind diet, and can contribute to a downcast soul. We can’t control what the media is serving, but we can manage how many of their meals we’ll choose to eat. All that bad news makes the soul overweight with sorrow.
As we continue to be inundated with a continuous stream of negative news, we need to develop our own system to balance the load. Are you overdosing on bad news? Let’s look at three common symptoms, and then we’ll consider some suggestions for repairing the damage. Share this episode with loved ones who may be disturbing their own peace by overdosing on bad news!
Visit the Shop at Keep the Heart
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Book: The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton
Devotional Book: Call Upon Him by Kathy Ashley
Encouragement for Women: A 30-Day Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week's episode, "I Am Slap Wore Out" is in the group that received thousands of downloads in 2022. Maybe it's because so many people are fried and laid to the side?
Whether you have been believing the lie that we don't need rest, or whether you're afraid to ask for help because you are sure you can do things yourself if you just push harder, this episode is for you. We don't have to accept being "slap wore out" as normal. It should be occasional, not our only operating system.
Jesus told the disciples to rest a while. We need to copy that system.
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Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Have you ever shared something with a person in confidence, only to find out later that they told someone else, or maybe several people? You met a talebearer. They’re as old as the Old Testament, and they caused trouble then and they're still spreading trouble like weeds to this day. A talebearer has an overwhelming desire to share other people’s business.
"Talebearer" is a word that we don’t use in everyday language anymore. It sounds like we should be able to figure it out just by breaking down the word, but it’s more accurate to look it up. We want to know what it is so we can know how not to become one, because a talebearer is a troublemaker.
A basic definition of a talebearer as we would understand it today is a malicious gossip or someone who reveals confidential information such as secrets. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary provides an older picture of the word, defining a talebearer as “A person who officiously tells tales.”
In the Strong’s Concordance, you’ll find two numbers for the word talebearer: H1980 which means to walk about; to spread, to carry, and H5372, which means a whisperer, backbiter, or one who murmurs or slanders. In short, a talebearer is a harmful person. Let’s consider three warnings about the talebearer. We also need to examine our own lives to see if we're engaging in the deceptive behaviors of a talebearer.
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind--A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Vitamins for the Soul--A Study of 2 Peter by Kathy Ashley
Encouragement for Women: A 30-Day Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
Encouragement for Your Identity: A 30-Day Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
Welcome to Bonus Replays, where we play the most popular episodes from our bonus breakout sessions. Normally, our episodes are for general audiences, but this episode is for wives of any stage, or for women who are engaged to be married.
It's great to have a wonderful marriage, but most marriages are not wonderful all day, every day. In fact, a lot of us have experienced some rough waters along the way. People who used to observe "The Taylors" from afar could falsely assume that we were practically trouble-free. Not so. We've had to work hard at learning how to love each other and care for each other sacrificially, as God designed it. After all, marriage is really two selfish people saying "I do" without having a clue! Today I'm sharing some of the dumb things that I did as a newlywed. People may learn from success, but failure is educational, too. Grab a beverage and settle into a comfy chair before listening to this "NOT TO DO" list.
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Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week's episode, "Prayer is Not Like Same-Day Dry Cleaning, has been popular ever since it first aired in February of 2022. I wonder if that's because so many of us struggle with patience in prayer. After all, prayer and waiting are inseparable, but many of us aren't so great at waiting!
We are nearly ruined with our expectations for speed. If the computer won't load a screen in five seconds, it's so slow. If we're standing in line behind someone who is paying by cash, it seems like it's taking them forEVER to pull that old-school currency out of their wallet.
And so we carry the expectation for speed into our spiritual lives, imagining that if we've prayed, we should have our answer speedily. Prayer is not like same-day dry cleaning that goes in by 10am and out by 4pm.
Prayer is a our communication with God. It is a combination of relationship-building, making our requests known to God, and then trusting His timing as we wait for the answers. Prayer is also specific, as we'll hear in this episode based on the passage of Luke chapter 18. Great spiritual habits have great value, which is precisely why they are also harder to develop. At the end of this brief episode, take some time to pray...about your prayer habits.
Shop the "Mall of Keep the Heart"
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week's episode, "We Are Not Called to Be Argumentative," was downloaded thousands of times in 2022. Maybe this is because arguing, bursting into a rage, and other outbursts have become viral in their own right.
People are so confrontational today, and they feel emboldened because it’s popular to be against things that are good and for things that are destructive.
There are reasons why unbelievers don’t understand believers, and we make the division worse when we get into arguments just to score points. This Teachback Tuesday episode provides a few reasons why there is an ongoing communication gap, examining our roles to ensure that we’re not becoming repellant and annoyingly self-assertive. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, not to argue and push people deeper into darkness with prideful arguments.
Shop the "Mall of Keep the Heart"
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind-A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Encouragement for Motherhood--A 30-Day Devotional by Charity Berkey & Team
Have you ever gone through something so distressing that you’ve cried yourself to sleep? I mean, the kind of crying where you can barely breathe and your eyes are puffy and red? Those are the kinds of tears that lead to exhaustion, but falling asleep out of exhaustion doesn’t mean we’ll be rested. Crying that hard is a lot of labor! We need to put those tears to work. That's called "crying with purpose."
The Bible has a lot to say about crying, but it’s a different kind: it’s crying in prayer, not just shedding tears. There will be situations in life that disappoint, discourage, and maybe even shock us, but we can cry with purpose. This episode shares three examples from scripture that will help us to cry in prayer, which is crying with purpose.
Shop the "Mall of Keep the Heart"
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind-A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Encouragement for Motherhood--A 30-Day Devotional by Charity Berkey & Team
Elegant Pink & Brown Leaf Motif Compact Bible
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week's episode, "Lessons from an Unexpected Diagnosis," struck a chord with many listeners last year, and it's still being downloaded as one of the top ten episodes from 2022. Receiving an unexpected diagnosis is like being drafted into a club that you never wanted to join.
We make our plans and go on with our lives, never really expecting any dramatic changes. This is human nature, but we often imagine that our lives will be mostly smooth sailing. Proverbs 27:1 tells us otherwise: "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."
Here's a quote that gives us a dose of reality: "Smooth seas do not make skilled sailors."--Anonymous
If you've received a diagnosis that has you reeling, you will appreciate listening to someone who gets it. Share this episode with anyone going through the shock of an unexpected diagnosis. Valerie offers insights that are both helpful and hopeful.
Shop the "Mall of Keep the Heart"
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Minerals for the Mind-A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley
Encouragement for Motherhood--A 30-Day Devotional by Charity Berkey & Team
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week's episode, "Effective Problem Solving," received thousands of downloads over the year. This made me wonder if there are a lot of listeners out there just like me, who tried to solve a problem and ended up making it worse!
When things go wrong in our problem-solving, it's generally just a diagnosis that we need more wisdom from above. The Lord has a way of handling life's issues, and we benefit when we walk in His ways. This episode covers four biblical principles for effective problem solving, based on Proverbs chapter four. If you know someone who is wrestling with ineffective problem solving, share this episode with them.
Shop the "Mall of Keep the Heart"
Elegant Pink & Brown Leaf Motif Compact Bible
Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
Have you ever smiled at someone and pretended that all was well between you when it really wasn’t? Or have you ever “overshared” information about someone else, even though you were asked to keep it confidential? Or maybe you’ve said some really unkind things about someone behind their back, but in their presence, you never mention these things?
What do these questions have in common? They are simple examples of being a great pretender, also known as a person corrupted by guile.
Basically, "guile" is deceit or treachery. We need God's help living genuinely in a world that values pretense and a false front. This episode shares four things that we can do to become people without guile. It's not easy, but it is possible.
Visit the Shop at Keep the Heart
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Book: The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton
Devotional Book: Call Upon Him by Kathy Ashley
Encouragement for Women: A 30-Day Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Bonus Episode: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all have accounts of the life of Christ, including the final events leading to the cross. This episode covers Luke 22, with significant marks throughout the chapter. Did you remember that one of the reasons why the disciples fell asleep when they were supposed to be praying was because of sorrow?
Or do you remember reading about the blindfold? Yes, cruel men blindfolded Jesus for sport and then beat Him in the face while saying, "Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?" And this was only the beginning. Reading through the four gospels shows us glimpses of the real lives of those who walked closely with Jesus, even though at times it seems they took it for granted. So human. So like us.
Why did Jesus come to such a wicked place? "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
He was born to die, that we might live.
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Leader Guide
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Participant Guide
Visit the Shop at Keep the Heart
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. Wait until you hear the buttery voice of this seasoned radio host, Janice Wolfe. She was my sub last year during conference season, and her episode continues to bless listeners a year later. Janice walks us through Luke chapter 15, which is a declaration of God’s love for the lost.
This episode will remind us that we were among the lost that have been found, and it reveals our value to the Seeker. The undying love that our Savior has for lost souls compels us to have a heart for the lost as well. This lesson is part of “The Loser Bible Study Series.” Discover more about this series on the eleven2one blog at faithmusicradio.com.
During the busy conference season, I (Francie) live in airport waiting areas, airplanes and hotels while teaching around the country. It’s not always possible to record new podcast episodes when the schedule overflows, so we call in reinforcements to help us! There’s nothing like a friend who’s not afraid of microphones. Thanks, Janice Wolfe and team at Faith Music Radio and eleven2one!
Shop the "Mall of Keep the Heart"
Elegant Pink & Brown Leaf Motif Compact Bible
Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
Encouragement for Women--A 30-Day Devotional
Welcome to the seventh and final segment of Psalm 119 on Build Your Bible Habit. As you may already know, Psalm 119 has 176 verses divided into 22 sections called stanzas. The last four stanzas sound like prayers of a troubled heart, mingled with hope and praise.
This is also the end of the chapter. Now that you’ve finished the largest chapter of the Bible, you can go back to the beginning and replay these segments. If you’ve never tried listening to the Bible before bedtime, these segments would be a great place to start. Soon, you’ll find that God’s Word has embedded itself into your soul, providing guidance and peace. Here's a familiar closing verse about great peace from Psalm 119:165:
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Leader Guide
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Participant Guide
Book: The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty
Devotional Book: Call Upon Him by Kathy Ashley
Friendship Book: Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
Relationships have moments, don’t they? We shouldn’t be surprised by that because humans are included, but there are things we could do to prepare ourselves to have better responses and fewer overreactions. Not perfect, but better.
Imperfect people can’t have perfect relationships, but God left us with the wisdom of scripture to help us do a better job, if we’ll employ this wisdom. This episode shares three verses that are great for our interactions with each other. When we have better relationship habits, we'll have better relationships.
Visit the Shop at Keep the Heart
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study by Francie Taylor
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Encouragement for Women: A 30-Day Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Welcome to the sixth segment of Psalm 119 on Build Your Bible Habit. This passage is full of personal prayer requests. All of the requests are related to a transformed life. You’ll hear words such as, “Teach me, be merciful unto me, deliver me, and many others. This segment reads like a tutorial in how to pray.
God is personally interested in our lives, and we can speak with Him about all our concerns. We can also ask Him to help us in areas where we have weaknesses. It’s human to have weaknesses, and we don’t have to pretend to be perfect with God He knows us. Here’s a great prayer request from Psalm 119:133: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Leader Guide
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Participant Guide
Book: The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty
Devotional Book: Call Upon Him by Kathy Ashley
Friendship Book: Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
This time last year, we had the incredible surprise of being selected as one of the podcasts of the week at Podbean, the podcast hosing platform for Keep the Heart. This resulted in thousands of new listeners from all over the world! As part of the collaboration with Podbean, Keep the Heart wrote four mini-episodes that were bookended with a brief shout out to Podbean.
This week’s episode, “Co-Workers Can Work Your Nerves” provides three suggestions for ways that we can park our expectations at the curb and get along better with our perfectly imperfect co-laborers. Is someone getting on your nerves at work? You’re not alone, you’re too late to be the first, and hey, let’s all remember that sometimes WE’RE the coworker working the nerves!
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Marriage Book: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Devotional Book: Call Upon Him by Kathy Ashley
Friendship Book: Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
Welcome to the fifth segment of Psalm 119 on Build Your Bible Habit. This passage begins in verse 97 with the declaration, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." This is what happens when we’re in God’s Word. It becomes the focal point of our thoughts.
Build Your Bible Habit was launched as a special bonus segment Keep the Heart Podcast in 2022 with Proverbs, and now it includes Psalm 119. Have you ever wondered which way to turn in a situation? Psalm 119:105 reminds us that the Bible is the "lamp" and "light" that we need:
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Leader Guide
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Participant Guide
Book: The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty
Devotional Book: Call Upon Him by Kathy Ashley
Friendship Book: Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
(Note: This episode originally aired on Valentine's Day 2023, which was an "inappropriate day" to promote this hard topic! We're providing this rebroadcasted episode for those who missed it.)
Inappropriate relationships are common, but common does not equal normal. The Bible devotes an entire chapter of Proverbs to paint a picture of what this is and how it happens. At the root of any inappropriate relationship is a selfish desire to have our own way. This is so Old Testament: "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." (Proverbs 21:2)
Proverbs chapter seven is both cautionary and instructional. You may want to sit down with your Bible opened for this episode. God has provided us with a vivid example of how things can quickly slide from a seemingly innocent stroll through the field of temptation with an "I can handle it" attitude, to a life that has been destroyed.
Visit the Shop at Keep the Heart
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
It's conference season, and I’m also wrapping up a first draft of the next 31-day devotional, so we will need to tap into our podcast archives now and then, just to keep up until the end of conferences. New podcast episodes are in production and coming soon.
This week’s Teachback Tuesday episode has two Taylors on one podcast! My daughter-in-love, Jessica Taylor, co-hosted on the topic of "How Not to Become a Monster-in-Law" back in February 2022, and thousands of downloads later, it has landed in the top five most-downloaded episodes of the season! Even if you’re not an in-law, the suggestions in this episode are good for all relationships. This is a fun rerun!
Wait until you get to the part where Jessica-the-younger-Mrs. Taylor loses her train of thought. It's a funny blooper, so we left it in there...okay, well maybe it was Francie that left it in there, but Jessica will make you smile.
Whether you're a MIL, DIL, SIL, or just dealing with extended relationships of any kind, this episode will give you some ideas for getting along, remembering that our loved ones are in our lives as gifts from God.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Marriage Book: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Devotional Book: Call Upon Him by Kathy Ashley
Friendship Book: Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
Welcome to the fourth segment of Psalm 119 on Build Your Bible Habit. These verses sound like a prayer-filled and very personal conversation with God. In fact, we could pray these verses for our own lives.
Build Your Bible Habit was launched as a special bonus segment Keep the Heart Podcast in 2022 with Proverbs, and now it includes Psalm 119. During these unsettling times, it is so good to know that God's Word is settled forever and will never change. Psalm 119:89 is our reminder of this truth:
"For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Leader Guide
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Participant Guide
Book: The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty
Book: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
Book: This Liberty of Yours: Unlocking Your Liberty in Christ
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
This week’s episode, “Food Won’t Fix That Problem,” opens with a true story of a time when I was trying to eat my way through a storm of grief. Since the problem wasn’t hunger, food didn’t fix it. Do you find yourself alternating between healthy and unhealthy eating habits? To paraphrase a saying, “It’s not what you’re eating. It’s what’s eating you.” Let’s listen again to three suggestions that can help us handle this matter wisely.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Marriage Book: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Devotional Book: Call Upon Him by Kathy Ashley
Friendship Book: Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
Bible Study Book: This Liberty of Yours by Tim Zacharias
Devotional Book: Ponder the Path: 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Welcome to the third segment of Psalm 119 on Build Your Bible Habit. In this passage, we can tell that the Psalmist was going through hard times with various people, especially the proud-hearted. You'll also notice that these problems quickly became prayer requests. We can copy that!
Build Your Bible Habit was launched as a special bonus segment Keep the Heart Podcast in 2022 with Proverbs, and now it includes Psalm 119. A great verse for the week is in Psalm 119:71, which also provides an unusual way to view affliction. We don't normally see it as a good thing, but the Bible shows the benefit.
"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Leader Guide
Bible Study: ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Participant Guide
Book: The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty
Book: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
Book: This Liberty of Yours: Unlocking Your Liberty in Christ
Inappropriate relationships are common, but common does not equal normal. The Bible devotes an entire chapter of Proverbs to paint a picture of what this is and how it happens. At the root of any inappropriate relationship is a selfish desire to have our own way. This is so Old Testament: "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." (Proverbs 21:2)
Proverbs chapter seven is both cautionary and instructional. You may want to sit down with your Bible opened for this episode. God has provided us with a vivid example of how things can quickly slide from a seemingly innocent stroll through the field of temptation with an "I can handle it" attitude, to a life that has been destroyed.
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ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Welcome to the second segment of Psalm 119 on Build Your Bible Habit. The Psalmist makes statements that could easily come from the heart of anyone who has been going through a lengthy time of trial and adversity, but you'll also hear hope and trust within this passage.
Build Your Bible Habit was launched as a special bonus segment Keep the Heart Podcast in 2022 with Proverbs, and now we're expanding it to include Psalm 119. The Bible helps us to live the Christian life with passion and victory. Psalm 119:27 makes a great theme verse for the week, and also makes a great prayer request: "Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works."
ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Leader Guide
ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Participant Guide
NEW! The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty
It's BACK! Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
This Liberty of Yours: Unlocking Your Liberty in Christ
Have you ever told a “little white lie?” This phrase refers to "lies that are told about small or unimportant matters to avoid hurting a person.”
"White lies" are a manmade concept, and they sound like these examples:
Your friend comes out of the fitting room in an outfit that’s too tight. She asks you, “Does this fit alright?” You say yes, even though your mind is screaming, “That’s waaaaay too small.”
Or maybe you’ve been served something for dinner and you really hated it, but you didn’t want to hurt the feelings of the hostess, so you lied and said, “This is really good!” That earned you a second helping. Oh oh.
Or perhaps you’ve had a run-in with someone that’s still unresolved. The other person asked you, “Is everything okay between us now?” Your mouth said, “Yeah, we’re all good,” but your mind said, “Not even close.” You’re trying to avoid confrontation and conflict, but you’re not telling the truth.
Lying is a tough habit, but it’s a breakable one. Let’s consider three ways we can begin to get rid of this ugly habit.
Bible studies, Bibles, Books & More in the Shop at Keep the Heart!
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Welcome to SayItAgain Saturday, where we replay popular episodes from the previous season! This episode first aired in January 2022, and we can tell by the downloads that it hit a nerve. After all, giving advice can lead to unexpected drama.
Are you able to listen to someone sharing a problem without trying to fix it? In other words, can you just listen, or are you formulating a solution as you listen, waiting to blurt it out as soon as the other person stops talking?
Listening to someone tell you that they’re about to make an unwise decision is really hard. We may want to try to talk the person out of their plans, but we know that by inserting ourselves like this, we could end up creating tension in the relationship. By saying nothing, it may seem like we’re agreeing, but if we speak the truth in love, we may get slapped into submission by a verbal rejection. Unsolicited advice is a field of land mines.
We can usually sense when a conversation is taking a sharp turn, and this can easily happen if we swerve into giving advice without having been asked. Unsolicited advice is easy to give but hard to take. If you've ever had someone deliver an analysis about your life that you never requested, you know how this lands on the ears.
What happens if we say something that then things blow up and we get chewed out? How can we sit by and watch someone running straight for the edge of an unseen cliff that we have in full view? Giving advice is tricky terrain. Let’s consider three things to keep in mind when we’re trying to discern when to speak and when to be silent.
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ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 4 on the 4th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 4, reminding us that wisdom is the "principle thing," which is another way of saying, "first things first":
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 3 on the 3rd etc.). Here's a familiar passage from chapter 3, with instructions both to trust the Lord for direction and to avoid running ahead of God with our own agendas:
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Proverbs LibraryBuild Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 1 on the 1st etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 1, reminding us that following God's Word brings peace and quiet even in the midst of difficult times:
"But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." (Proverbs 1:33)
Welcome to the first segment of Psalm 119 on Build Your Bible Habit. This is the longest chapter in the Bible, so we’ll divide it into seven episodes. Psalm 119 is loaded with thoughts, instructions, and observations written to turn our hearts to a closeness with God. This chapter is written in twenty-two parts, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and each part consists of eight verses for a total of 176 verses. This episode begins with verses 1-24.
Build Your Bible Habit was launched as a special bonus segment Keep the Heart Podcast in 2022 with Proverbs, and now we're expanding it to include Psalm 119. The more we're in the Word, the greater we comprehend how to live. Psalm 119:18 makes a great theme verse for the week, and also makes a great prayer request: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."
ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Leader Guide
ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Old Testament Participant Guide
NEW! The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty
It's BACK! Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
This Liberty of Yours: Unlocking Your Liberty in Christ
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 30 on the 30th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 30, teaching us that God is a protector to those who trust Him.
"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." (Proverbs 30:5)
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 28 on the 28th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 28, teaching us that "following your heart" is an unwise practice:
"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." (Proverbs 28:26)
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 27 on the 27th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 27, instructing us that it is better to have someone else sing our praises than for us to boast about ourselves:
"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." (Proverbs 27:2)
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 25 on the 25th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 25, teaching us that we need to keep our debates and disagreements between us and the person directly involved:
"Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away." (Proverbs 25:9-10)
Have you ever listened to someone who was trying to sound like they knew what they were talking about, but you could tell that they were bluffing? That’s what’s going on today as people have coined the phrase, “I am speaking my truth.” When did it become possible to create new truth, as if we were just changing ingredients in a recipe?
Pretending to be an authority is as old as the Old Testament. What’s at the root of this is a desire to have our own way, hence, the creation of our own version of the truth. God’s Word is truth, but even the ruler Pilate in the New Testament didn’t recognize the truth. He was the one who asked Jesus, “What is truth?” And today, we can tell that many have the same question, and the answer is hiding in plain sight.
Jesus said this plain statement to His disciples in John 14:6: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Are we becoming confused because we’re overfed on cultural information and preferences but starving spiritually? Let’s look at three things you can do to protect yourself from deception.
ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions Leader Guide
ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions Participant Guide
NEW! The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty
It's BACK! Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
This Liberty of Yours: Unlocking Your Liberty in Christ
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 23 on the 23rd etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 23, reminding us that wisdom is priceless:
"Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." (Proverbs 23:23)
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 21 on the 21st etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 21, instructing us that it's often not a lack of money but a lack of money management that leads people to suffer from "too much month at the end of the money":
"There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up." (Proverbs 21:20)
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 20 on the 20th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 20, reminding us that we will have things happen in life that were not in our planners:
"Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?" (Proverbs 20:24)
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 18 on the 18th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 18, reminding us that it is important to ask questions and become good listeners before we attempt to give advice:
"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." (Proverbs 18:13)
Welcome to season 3 of Keep the Heart podcast. I’m your host, Francie Taylor from Keep the Heart, a ministry devoted to making Bible study meaningful through Bible application and personal study. We’ve been told by our listeners that these podcast episodes feel like sitting at the dining room table with our Bibles, having coffee while discussing the issues of life with a sister friend.
Each episode covers interpersonal issues of life from a biblical perspective, with a goal of helping us learn how to handle matters wisely. Proverbs 16:20 tells us that "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he." It’s a challenge to face so many issues, but wise handling is possible when we know the principles of scripture and apply them.
ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions Leader Guide
ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions Participant Guide
NEW! The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty
It's BACK! Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 16 on the 16th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 16, reminding us that God knows our motives:
"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits." (Proverbs 16:2)
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 14 on the 14th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 14, teaching us that having a short temper makes us repellant to others:
"He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated." (Proverbs 14:17)
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 13 on the 13th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 13, teaching us that failure to choose our words carefully could be destructive (yes, we need filters):
"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction." (Proverbs 13:3)
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 11 on the 11th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 11, reminding us that humility is a mark of wisdom:
"When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 9 on the 9th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 9, urging us not to correct those who are mockers (scorners):
"Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee." (Proverbs 9:8)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 6 on the 6th etc.). Here's a passage from chapter 6, teaching us that wasting time and talent is costly:
"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man." (Proverbs 6:10-11)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 4 on the 4th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 4, which is also the theme verse for the ministry of Keep the Heart:
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
Life surely does have issues. Thankfully, the Bible has the answers.
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 2 on the 2nd etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 2, reminding us that wisdom is a gift from God:
"For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 31 on the 31st etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 31, teaching us that the virtuous woman chooses her words carefully:
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." (Proverbs 31:26)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 29 on the 29th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 29, warning us that flattery could be a trap:
"A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet." (Proverbs 29:5)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 27 on the 27th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 27, reminding us that it is better to have an honest and godly friend speaking truth to us:
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (Proverbs 27:6)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 24 on the 24th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 24, teaching us that hard times test our strength:
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." (Proverbs 24:10)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 22 on the 22nd etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 22, emphasizing the importance of a having and maintaining a "good name" (reputation):
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold." (Proverbs 22:1)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Is social media your Bible?” The topic for this episode was born out the realization that the dramatic increase of biblical illiteracy is directly related to the dramatically addictive popularity of social media. It’s such a rabbit hole, isn’t it?
Now before you worry that I’m about to bash social media, relax. That would be insincere on my part, since Keep the Heart has a presence on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. With all technology, there is a positive use and a negative use. It’s not the technology that abuses us; we abuse technology.
We often get to choose the influencers in our lives, and while there’s nothing inherently wrong with admiring social media voices, we risk losing a balanced perspective when the diet of our minds is mostly made up of junk food. Let’s look at four indicators that you may have allowed yourself to drift into a zone where cultural influences have become time-consuming dictators of your life, and what you can do about it.
Ponder the Path by Francie Taylor
Stunning Olive Petal KJV Compact Bible
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 17 on the 17th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 17, reminding us that friendship is not an on-and-off relationship: "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 15 on the 15th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 15, reminding us that it is easier to receive a "soft answer" than a harsh one: "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
This week’s episode, “Minimizing Strife at Family Gatherings,” was a popular favorite in December 2021 when it first aired. The three suggestions in this episode are practical and based on the everyday things that tend to come up. Things like this: Someone wants to debate at the dinner table. Or maybe Mom tried to recreate a restaurant experience with a meal that left her exhausted from all the prep. Or perhaps you have guests that have special requests and you were caught off guard. Regardless of how the strife occurs, we can have a plan to diffuse it if we’re prepared.
Shop for Gifts at Keep the Heart!
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
This Liberty of Yours by Tim Zacharias
Ponder the Path: 31-Day Bible-Habit-Building Devotional by Francie Taylor
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 10 on the 10th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 10, teaching us that it's a good thing to put the tongue on a budget, using words wisely: "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." (Proverbs 10:19)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 8 on the 8th etc.). Here's a verse from chapter 8, proving that wisdom has matchless value: "For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." (Proverbs 8:11)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
This week’s episode, “What to Do About Self-Inflicted Trouble,” takes a compassionate look at what to do when we’ve blown it in life, either carelessly or accidentally. It's easy to create messes in life, but the cleanup can really cost us. We aren’t the first! The Bible is full of examples of people who made questionable decisions that were very costly. If you’re in a stressful situation that you have caused, this Teachback will provide some useful insights and suggestions.
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Heart Conditions--ICU" Bible Study Series by Francie Taylor
Secret Doubts by Tim Zacharias
Ponder the Path: 31-Day Bible-Habit-Building Devotional by Francie Taylor
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 3 on the 3rd, etc.). Here's a verse for the day, reminding us that wisdom blesses our lives: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." (Proverbs 3:13)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter one on the 1st, etc.). Here's a passage to ponder for the day, showing us that the end result of listening to God is a quiet and peaceable life: "For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." (Proverbs 1:32-33)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
I’ve been asked an unusual question more than once, and I know that it’s in part because I’m a widow. Here’s the question: Francie, aren’t you tired of being alone? My response is simple: First, God never leaves me alone, but my additional response is this: I don’t focus on what I don’t have.
Gratitude is underrated, but it’s priceless. A person who has mastered the “gratitude attitude” has discovered true appreciation for life in the current form. It’s a beautiful place to live, and it erases the struggle of always wishing we were somewhere else, or with someone else, or that we had something else. Getting to the place where our hearts are intentionally grateful requires at least three key elements: godliness with contentment, thankfulness, and a transformed mind. These elements help lead us to that peaceful place of gratitude.
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Call Upon Him: An Examination of Prayers Throughout Scripture by Kathy Ashley
Heart Conditions--from the Popular "ICU" Bible Study Series by Francie Taylor
Ponder the Path: 31-Day Bible-Habit-Building Devotional by Francie Taylor
Olive Petal Snap-flap KJV Compact Bible
Shop the Mall of Keep the Heart!
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 26 on the 26th, etc.). Here's the verse for the day, warning us that being contentious creates problems in our relationships: "As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife." (Proverbs 26:21)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 24 on the 24th, etc.). Here's a verse for the day, reminding us that wisdom from God's Word builds strength: "A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength." (Proverbs 24:5)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week’s episode, “The Empty Chair and Other Firsts of Grief,” has been downloaded by people all over the world. We are far more familiar with loved ones passing than we were prior to 2020, and it has changed the structure of many people’s lives.
As a person very familiar with the empty chair, it is my prayer that this episode will provide help to those who are in their season of firsts. Whether you’re listening again or for the first time, you are not alone. In fact, here's a comforting verse reminding us of this truth, found in John 14:18:
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
IT'S BACK: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
Call Upon Him: An Examination of Prayers Throughout Scripture by Kathy Ashley
Heart Conditions--from the Popular "ICU" Bible Study Series
Great Gift Idea: One-of-a-Kind Rose Gold Compact Bible
Ponder the Path: 31-Day Bible-Habit-Building Devotional
Shop the Mall of Keep the Heart!
Build Your Bible Habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 19 on the 19th, etc.). Here's a verse for the day, encouraging us to take care of our souls: "He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good." (Proverbs 19:8)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs is on the left sidebar on Podbean:
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 17 on the 17th, etc.). Here's a verse for the day, inspiring us to invest in our friendships: "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week’s episode, “Reducing Anxiety Through Spiritual Exercises,” is in the top ten most downloaded episodes to date.
My battle with anxiety began during my husband’s journey through cancer. The anxiety increased to hazardous levels within hours after my Norman’s passing, landing me in the emergency room with symptoms that mimicked a heart attack. Anxiety has been well-documented to cause both emotional and physical problems. Is there any good thing that can come from this affliction?
Here's one good outcome: people who go through the stressful journey of anxiety often become caring, compassionate resources for others.
I quietly wrestled with this beast for over a year, until the Lord heard my cries and taught me some pivotal truths from His Word. These lessons became exercises for me that I still practice today. I do realize that anxiety doesn't have quick fixes, but there are some practices that we can engage to bring our emotions back out of the danger zone. This episode covers four spiritual exercises that have proven to be helpful in reducing anxiety.
IT'S BACK: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
Heart Conditions--from the Popular "ICU" Bible Study Series
Great Gift Idea: One-of-a-Kind Rose Gold Compact Bible
Ponder the Path: 31-Day Bible-Habit-Building Devotional
NEW BOOK: Secret Doubts: Working Through Unspoken Unbelief by Tim Zacharias
Shop the Mall of Keep the Heart!
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 12 on the 12th, etc.). Here's a verse for the day, reminding us that the truly "best life" is defined by God: "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." (Proverbs 12:28)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 10 on the 10th, etc.). Here's a verse for the day, reminding us to keep our tongues on a budget (we don't need to say everything we're thinking): "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." (Proverbs 10:19)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Today’s episode is for anyone who has blown it accidentally with an “I didn’t mean it that way” statement. It happens, and when it does, there will be drama. The key is to make it a short drama. We already know that an apology is in order when we’ve said something that hurt another person, but there’s more that we can do. Listen in for three practices to employ when you’ve said something that has gotten you into trouble.
Heart Conditions--from the Popular "ICU" Bible Study Series
Great Gift Idea: One-of-a-Kind Rose Gold Compact Bible
Ponder the Path: 31-Day Bible-Habit-Building Devotional
NEW BOOK: Secret Doubts: Working Through Unspoken Unbelief by Tim Zacharias
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Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 5 on the 5th, etc.). Here's a verse for the day, reminding us that God sees our lives: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings." (Proverbs 5:21)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 3 on the 3rd, etc.). Here's a verse for the day: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." (Proverbs 3:13)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week’s episode, “Three Common Reasons Why People Reject God” only covers a few of the common, not the complete list. Many of us know someone who has decided to abandon their walk with God, but do we really understand how hard this decision must have been, let alone what led up to it? There are always reasons for life-altering decisions such as this. This is short list with a call for more compassion.
If you’ve been listening to Keep the Heart regularly, you know that we cover the “issues of life,” and rejecting God is a big issue. The reasons people reject God are so many that if I did an episode with three points every week for a year, we wouldn’t cover them all. We’ll consider three common reasons, encouraging a more careful and thoughtful approach to those who are trapped in unbelief. It is indeed a trap.
Heart Conditions--from the Popular "ICU" Bible Study Series
Great Gift Idea: One-of-a-Kind Rose Gold Compact Bible
Ponder the Path: 31-Day Bible-Habit-Building Devotional
Shop the Mall of Keep the Heart!
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 29 on the 29th, etc.). Here's a verse for the day: "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." (Proverbs 29:23)
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 27 on the 27th, etc.). You will notice the difference this makes in your daily living. Direction in life is always impacted by our decisions. God bless you with greater wisdom to handle life wisely.
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week’s episode, “Why Me? and Other Hard Questions” struck a chord with so many listeners, and it’s still being downloaded. Here’s a different yet related question: If we could schedule adversity, when would we want it on our calendars? The “day of adversity” doesn’t make appointments, as we can already tell. This episode provides examples of how we can reframe the hard questions into prayer requests based on Scripture.
Heart Conditions--from the Popular "ICU" Bible Study Series
Great Gift Idea: One-of-a-Kind Rose Gold Compact Bible
Ponder the Path: 31-Day Bible-Habit-Building Devotional
Shop the Mall of Keep the Heart!
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 22 on the 22nd, etc.). The longer you maintain this habit, the more it becomes woven into the fabric of your life. God bless you and keep you.
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 20 on the 20th, etc.). This is a habit that will pay incredible life dividends over time. You will notice a greater ability to make wise decisions as you live what you're learning. God bless you!
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
What comes to mind when you hear the word “tribulation”? Do you automatically think of something that would happen outside of your life, or do you realize that it could happen inside your very own family? Tribulation doesn’t have boundaries.
I am a fan of looking up definitions, because there are times where there’s more depth to a word than we’re storing in our minds. The word tribulation is one that has layers to it, including these meanings: affliction, trouble, anguish, and persecution. But here’s a short definition of the word: tribulation is pressure. It’s the kind of pressure that causes us distress and feels oppressive and even cruel.
This sounds like something that we would all love to avoid, but tribulation is one of the dark threads in the tapestry of life. We can’t remove it from our fabric, so how can we change the way we view it? By reminding ourselves that tribulation serves a purpose. The wrapping paper of tribulation is ugly, but the gifts inside are priceless. This episode shares three gifts that come from tribulation.
A Good Question: The Gospel in 8 Minutes
New Book in the Shop: "Secret Doubts" by Tim Zacharias
Book: "Call Upon Him" by Kathy Ashley
ICU: In Christ Unconditionally Bible Study by Francie Taylor
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 15 on the 15th, etc.). The Bible strengthens us and stabilizes our lives as we apply what we're learning. God bless your life with greater wisdom and understanding.
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 13 on the 13th, etc.). You'll find it fascinating how the Lord brings verses to mind for handling matters wisely in daily life. God bless you as this new habit grows!
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week's episode will help you analyze your own level of prudence. Prudence and caution are bonded together. You can't have one without the other, and a lack of caution in our actions or words indicates a need for more prudence. The quickest way to increase dramas in life is simply to be underweight on prudence and overweight on overreactions.
Included in the definitions of “prudent” you’ll find this gem of a statement: “Cautious not to act when the end is of doubtful utility.” In other words, a prudent person isn’t going to do something without considering the possible outcome of the actions. Prudence really enriches a person’s life. The wisdom of being a prudent person leads to less worry, a lot less drama, and less clean-up of self-made messes.
Let’s walk through four verses about the prudent person. We’ll see some identifying marks that can help us to make some personal improvements.
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New Book by Dr. Tim Zacharias: This Liberty of Yours
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 7 on the 7th, etc.). Life has issues. The Bible has the answers. Reading and applying the principles of Scripture will increase your wisdom and understanding. God bless your journey!
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 5 on the 5th, etc.). Wait until you see what a difference this makes in your ability to navigate the "issues of life"! God bless you.
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. When it comes to wrestling with the toddler in the adult body, the Apostle Paul really said it best: "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (Romans 7:19)
Habits can be friends or foes, but we get to choose.
Sometimes we try to wiggle out of facing our issues by claiming that they aren’t addressed in the Bible, but on closer examination we will find that habits are in the Bible. They show up in lists like the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22-23, and like the "add to our faith" qualities in 2 Peter 1:5-8.
Good habits help us to grow. Bad habits hinder growth and keep us stuck and spinning our wheels like a car stuck in a Minnesota snowbank. If you’ve never experienced having your car tires stuck in a snowbank, let me tell you from experience that you can rev the engine all you want but you’re not going anywhere.
Let’s study the habits of Paul, with a goal of developing our own supportive habit system. Hint: This requires a key "fruit of the Spirit": Temperance.
Books & Bibles in the Shop at Keep the Heart
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 2 on the 2nd, etc.). Your understanding of biblical application increases over time. Keep going!
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 29 on the 29th, etc.). After a few months, this will not only be a habit, it will be woven into the fabric of your life!
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Not long ago, I saw a little wall plaque that said this: “Hold on. I’ve gotta overthink about it.” That’s funny until it’s not.
Overthinking keeps us from doing things that could be beneficial while trapping us in a prison cell of doubt. Whether you’re doubting your abilities or doubting God, overthinking is a real vision killer, and it feeds on fears and what ifs. Is overthinking keeping you stuck? Don’t overthink that question. Just answer it honestly.
How can we stop paralyzing ourselves with overthinking? This episode covers four suggestions, and then we suggest that you take this issue to the Lord in prayer for greater insights. God has a way through any wilderness in this life.
Sister Friends: Supporting One Another In Grace and Godliness
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 24 on the 24th, etc.). This is a habit that you'll be happy to keep. God bless and keep you.
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 22 on the 22nd, etc.). Instead of trying to live the Christian life without the Bible, just press play and get growing!
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here on Podbean: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. Are you feeling spent? Bone weary and bone dry? The condition of spiritual dryness can happen for a variety of reasons, but most of those reasons are tied to events that have gone on for too long, or changes that we don't like. Sometimes the issues of life are like bad garments ordered on Amazon. You want to return them to the sender!
We can't send chapters of our life story back to God for rewrites, but we can trust Him to help us through our seasons of spiritual dryness. When we're dry, we're also thirsty. This episode, Recovering from Spiritual Dryness covers three indicators of thirst, along with suggestions for recovering. God can "pour water" on those who are thirsty. It's one of His many specialties.
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Books & Bibles in the Shop at Keep the Heart
"Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" t-shirt
Sister Friends: Supporting One Another In Grace and Godliness
Build Your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 17 on the 17th, etc.). God bless you and keep you in this journey of building your Bible habit.
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 15 on the 15th, etc.). God bless you as you build a habit that draws you closer to Him and makes you wiser.
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Have you ever read anything in Scripture and wondered how that could have been possible? Or have you ever thought that our outrageous situations are entirely too big for God to handle? Jeremiah the prophet spoke these words that remind us that the maker of Heaven and earth is never stumped or stuck:
"Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee..." (Jeremiah 32:17)
We are mistaken if we ever think that God can't do something. We fail to remember that God's will factors into everything He does. Our prayers come with expectations attached. Detach the expectations and replace them with faith. Believe that God can and will do what is best, even in the worst situations.
This episode examines a passage from Acts 12 about the apostle Peter, who was in a very impossible situation. Peter's "impossible possible" is relevant to our lives today as we face our own challenging situations. Challenges are just opportunities for God to show His unlimited strength and mighty power. Grab your Bible for this faith-increasing passage.
Books & Bibles in the Shop at Keep the Heart
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: New Testament Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: Old Testament Bible Study
Build your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 10 on the 10th, etc.). God bless you as you meet with Him in His Word daily!
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 8 on the 8th, etc.). God bless you with wisdom and understanding!
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of self-indulgence is “excessive or unrestrained gratification of one's own appetites, desires, or whims.” Here are some signs that you may be struggling with self-indulgence:
- You have an income but no money because of your spending habits
- You repeatedly complain about your weight but you keep eating things that are great for packing on the pounds
- Arriving late is your trademark for almost everything because of poor time management
- You allow yourself to be moody and expect people to just deal with it
- You’re taking poor care of your health but making excuses for it
Self-indulgence is self-inflicted bondage. You are in prison and holding the keys. Living like this makes life less enjoyable and more stressful. We don’t realize it at first, but the self-indulgent life seems like it would reward us, but it actually robs and enslaves us. We don't have to live like this. There is a way out.
God can put His finger on our particular weaknesses and help us to overcome them by His power and might, not by our own. This 3-point lesson provides helpful reminders on how we can turn our lives from the agony of repeated defeat to the joy of victories in Christ.
Books & Bibles in the Shop at Keep the Heart
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: New Testament Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: Old Testament Bible Study
Build your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 3 on the 3rd, etc.). God bless you with wisdom and understanding!
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Build your Bible habit with the popular daily Proverb system. Read one Proverb daily, corresponding with the day of the month (chapter 1 on the 1st, etc.). Make a goal of reading without missing a day for 90 days, and at the end of that time, you will have read the book of Proverbs three times. The wisdom and understanding gained will be noticeable, and your relationship with God and others will improve as you apply what you are learning. God bless your studies!
A convenient list of the Audio Proverbs chapters are listed in the left sidebar here: Keep the Heart Audio Proverbs Library
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. This episode, "Trusting God with Trust Issues" was a bit of a jab to the ribs. Teachers are also full-time learners, and I saw some new "trust issues" that had crept in since this episode first aired, and these issues needed exposure.
It's understandable when we have trust issues as a side effect of being wronged by someone, especially when it was someone we should have been able to count as reliable. The problem with trust issues is that they tend to spill over into our walk with God, causing us to worry and become filled with anxiety and doubt. Fear and fretfulness are merely signs that our trust in God needs opportunities to grow.
We have common wrestling matches in our spiritual lives, and trust is a big one. We're usually fine as long as things are going according to our plans, or as long as things stay within our comfort zones, but trust is built by testing. You may want your notebook or journal for the five points in this 10-minute episode.
Books & Bibles in the Shop at Keep the Heart
Uniquely Beautiful Olive Petal KJV Bible
"Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" t-shirt
Sister Friends: Supporting One Another In Grace and Godliness
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: This is the final chapter in the book of Proverbs. If you started at chapter one, you have now read the entire book. Bravo! I suggest you buy yourself a new Bible. Digital and audio are great, but you can mark and take notes in a printed Bible. We have a few in the shop at keeptheheart.com, if you need ideas.
Even though this chapter is often referred to as the pattern for the "Proverbs 31-Woman," it has valuable insights that anyone can apply. The chapter actually opens with a mother instructing her son, so we know that these instructions also apply to men. One verse that we could all memorize and put into practice in verse 26: "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." Improving how we communicate with each other makes relationships better.
Now that you’ve completed the entire book of Proverbs, it’s time to start over. Repeat this habit for another two months and this will become a part of your daily routine. You will want to spend time in the Word, because your relationship with God will be growing, along with the increased wisdom and understanding. Keep this Bible habit going! God will use it to transform you by the renewing of your mind.
Have you ever dragged your feet on forgiving someone because you thought they deserved to suffer? Or were you so hurt by their words or actions that you felt they deserved punishment? Human nature is painful like that. We don’t like people to hurt us, but we’ll cancel that rule when we’re hurting someone in revenge. We’re not the first to struggle with the issue of not wanting to forgive. Listen to this passage from Matthew 18:21-22:
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."
I love the realness of Peter. Obviously, someone had done him wrong enough times that Peter was starting to keep track! Oh no, this brother is up to number six. Let me go and ask Jesus if I have to go beyond seven because I’ve had enough of this. I sure am grateful that God doesn’t have a rule of “seven strikes and you’re out.” We’d all be disqualified before we graduate from kindergarten!
Has someone done or said something that offended you to a point where you don’t feel like forgiving them? This is a risky position. It’s human to want to delay a pardon, but it’s not biblical. It’s carnal.
Our human nature leans toward behaviors and solutions that are the opposite of God’s Word. We have to be on guard for this hazard, because we can deceive ourselves into believing that everyone else has issues but we’re the only clean ones. Failure to forgive someone is rooted in this type of mistaken thinking.
Let’s consider four things that are side effects of failing to grant forgiveness, and how we can avoid the consequences of choosing the wrong course.
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Sister Friends: Supporting One Another In Grace and Godliness
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 30 on Build Your Bible Habit. Chapter 30 is unique in that it begins with an introduction from a man named Agur. Strong’s concordance translates his name as “gathered,” but also calls it a “fanciful name for Solomon.” The chapter opens with notable humility, and closes with a warning not to “lift ourselves up.” Many important life observations are included.
We need to be careful about thinking too highly of ourselves. The scripture calls it the “churning of milk.” Churning the milk leads to butter, and forcing wrath brings strife. As soon as we get the attitude, “Who do they think THEY are,” we’re in trouble. Someone is going to do or say something that will irritate us, and this will be our pop quiz. Will we keep talking when we can tell that things are heating up, or will we do as Scripture says and cover our mouths? Forcing wrath leads to conflicts. The wise choice is to apply Scripture.
Don’t rush through these chapters. Treat them like slow cooking, not fast food.
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Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
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Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. Today’s episode, "When You Can't Talk About It," is still being downloaded at a rapid rate, even a year later. Going through things that seem unusually hard and uncommon doesn't mean that we're the first ones to walk the rough road. Tough problems and embarrassing circumstances are as old as the Old Testament. Remember David and Bathsheba?
Grab a notebook and pen to jot down four ways we can get the help we need, even when our situations are difficult to discuss. It's not true that we can't talk about hard things. It just means we'll need greater wisdom and discretion.
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
Books & Bibles in the Shop at Keep the Heart
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: New Testament Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: Old Testament Bible Study
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 29 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter reminds me of a class in character-building. When we are growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we grow in wisdom and understand, which improves our integrity, personality, and even our disposition. Without spiritual growth, we run the risk of developing destructive habits that make our lives harder, as well as affecting the lives of those we influence.
We are steps away from completing a month’s worth of Proverbs, and I hope you’ll keep this habit going. It takes humility to admit that we need God to guide us, especially since pride comes naturally to our human nature. As you’re continuing to study the book of Proverbs, pray and ask the Lord to reveal any areas to you where He would like to begin make changes. We know some of our weak spots, but God knows even the secrets of our hearts, so He is way better at transforming us. It helps if we are willing to allow God to work in our hearts.
As it says in Proverbs 29:23, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." Humility wins over pride every single time.
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"Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" t-shirt
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
Books & Bibles in the Shop at Keep the Heart
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. “Backsliding Looks Like This” received thousands of downloads over the year. I wonder if it's because backsliding is such a common temptation? It could happen to any of us.
Have you been making changes in your life that are weakening your faith and causing you to question biblical living? The process of backsliding is often slow but methodical. Skip a few church services, treat Bible study as optional, overindulge on popular movies and other media and before long, your Christian life is unrecognizable. Backsliding is the act of falling from our faith back into habits and behaviors that are selfish and biblically off-base. This episode covers three telltale signs of backsliding, along with suggestions on how to avoid this counterfeit lifestyle.
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"Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" t-shirt
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 28 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter shows the contrasts between the wicked and the righteous. The term “wicked” means someone who is “criminal” and “hostile to God,” but it also carries the meaning of someone who is guilty of sin against God or man. That could be any of us! It is possible to stray into a zone that is very hazardous for our spiritual health. God wants the best for us, so it pays for us to learn these contrasts so that we can aim for upright living.
Are you getting into a good routine with building your Bible habit? The longer you keep this up, the closer you’ll grow to God, developing a genuine bond. Part of building a real relationship is being honest. Keeping our sins confessed protects us from becoming hard-hearted, and keeps us open and honest with God. As it say in Proverbs 28:13, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." It doesn’t work to live a wicked life while pretending to be righteous. Be honest with yourself and with God. You’re not just building a Bible habit. You’re building a lifelong relationship with God.
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"Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" t-shirt
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. Today’s episode, “How to Give Wise Counsel” was meant to guide those of us who are not trained counselors. We never know when someone may come to us and say, “Can I talk to you about something?” In fact, maybe we’ve been the ones to approach a friend for guidance with a tough situation. Giving counsel is a very serious matter. After all, we surely don't want to make matters worse. Grab a notebook and pen for this five-point episode.
Call Upon Him: An Examination of Prayers Throughout Scripture
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
Books & Bibles in the Shop at Keep the Heart
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: New Testament Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: Old Testament Bible Study
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 27 on Build Your Bible Habit. This is one of my favorite chapters in the book of Proverbs. Did you know that the word “friend” occurs 53 times in 49 verses within the Old Testament, and 5 of those are in Proverbs 27? We could call this the friendship guide, but it also has additional instructions, including financial advice at the end of the chapter.
By now you’re hopefully beginning to see the relevance of Proverbs to daily living. When we read these verses with an intentional plan to apply them, we become better at every area of our lives, including in our relationships with God and others. By this point, you’ve also come a long way towards building your own personal Bible habit. The Bible improves us, making us better equipped to help others.
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Sister Friends: Supporting One Another In Grace and Godliness
T-SHIRT: "Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You"
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we replay the most popular episodes from the previous season. "Signs of a Controlling Person" was downloaded thousands of times over the past year. Could it have anything to do with the reality that this is a common struggle? The desire to control the outcomes and people in our lives truly is a frequent temptation. It’s a flawed thread that runs throughout the fabric of our lives, making us tense and anxious. Why would anyone want to be high-strung and controlling on purpose?
I don’t think we really want to be controlling. It’s a tendency that comes with our carnal nature, and it feeds off of imaginations that we think we know what’s best.
We can trick ourselves into believing that if we manipulate situations just right, things will turn out according to our desires. The problem with this plot is that we’re out of line. People with control issues also have major trust issues, and the lack of trust starts with God and then works its way down into other relationships.
How can we learn to let go of our controlling tendencies? Let’s just consider three signs of a controlling person, followed by suggestions on ways to abandon this draining habit.
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love
Encouragement for Women: 30-Day Devotional
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 26 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter is filled with commentary about the fool. The term “fool” seems harsh, but it’s more like a diagnosis than a label. One of the plagues of a fool is imagining that they are wise.
Did you know that the word “fool” also carries the meaning of an arrogant person? We tend to think of a fool as someone who is a simpleton or silly, but arrogance is woven into the word as well. This makes sense when we remember that beneath any foolish action is a root of pride. The absence of Scripture creates a void that is often filled with self-centered philosophies.
The less time we spend in Scripture, the more opportunities we have to make things up as we go along. Beware of our own human tendencies to think that we are wiser than God. This chapter is full of word pictures, and as usual, we’ll find additional instructions about other issues of life as well.
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PERFECT GIFT: Pink & Brown Compact Bible
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T-SHIRT: "Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You"
It’s becoming so common to live broken down spiritual lives that spiritually healthy people are often seen as unusual and maybe even slightly abnormal. We keep trying to fix the surface things in our lives, failing to see the connection to what’s going on inside our hearts and minds. The more we try our self-help techniques and experiments, the less money and time we have, but we’re still living broken down lives. This doesn't make sense.
So much of what happens in our lives begins internally, not just externally. The external things will happen daily, but our responses to the dailies are coming from our spirits. Having a meltdown is merely a symptom of the need for more spiritual health. Instead of looking at that negatively, why not tilt the head and consider another angle: we all need God’s help to become spiritually healthy. We weren’t born that way, so God has to teach us how to master this fine art of biblical living.
How can we stop being so broken down? We'll consider four areas where we can cooperate with God as He trains us to increase and improve our strength.
Books & Bibles in the Shop at Keep the Heart
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: New Testament Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: Old Testament Bible Study
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 25 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter reads like an instruction manual on how to interact with others, both in public and private situations. The key to benefiting from Proverbs is to put these verses into practice. Wisdom without application keeps people stuck, but when wisdom is applied to daily living, that’s when we see positive changes.
Are you beginning to crave more Bible study? If so, here’s a suggested system to add to your daily Proverb. Read five chapters of Psalms, 30 verses apart, with your Proverb of the day. For instance, if you’re reading Proverbs 25, you’ll add Psalm 25, 55, 85. 115, and wrap it up with Psalm 145. That’s five chapters from Psalms, 30 verses apart. Of course, you could simplify this and just put your book mark in Psalms and read five chapters in a row instead of using the 30-verse system, but either way, you will have finished both Psalms and Proverbs by the end of 31 days. You will notice a difference in your habits, thought processes, and relationships. Building a Bible habit enriches our lives.
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we replay the most popular episodes from the previous season. Proverbs 27:4 makes a statement and then asks a question: "Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?"
Who is able to stand before envy? No one. Compared to wrath and anger, envy comes up as the hardest of the list. It’s like a self-inflicted gunshot wound, causing pain that could have been avoided. There is nothing good about this consuming emotion. It’s such a spirit crusher.
One of the easiest ways to keep your life stuck in a dark place is to allow envy to creep in and color your world. Regardless of what caused the envy, exposing it to the light helps us to call it by name and face this foe. This episode shares three ways envy warps our world, and what we can do to escape the envy trap.
In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love
Encouragement for Women: 30-Day Devotional
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 24 on Build Your Bible Habit. The overall theme of Proverbs is wisdom, but this chapter in particular focuses on the how vital wisdom is to our lives. When we try to manage our lives in our own wisdom, we often create expensive messes that we wish we didn’t have to clean up; but when we choose biblical wisdom, we’re choosing strength.
We do need more than the book of Proverbs to fully understand the Bible. When you’re ready, add a chapter of reading from either the Old or New Testament to go with your audio Proverb. Before long, you will have read your entire Bible. Take your time, but flex your reading muscles beyond the pages of Proverbs. As it says in Proverbs 24:5, "A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength..."
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In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: New Testament Bible Study
In Christ Unconditionally: Old Testament Bible Study
It’s no accident that the book of Proverbs is right in the middle of the Bible, and it reads like a flawless roadmap and a recipe book combined for our benefit. Verse by verse, Proverbs addresses the issues of life and what to do about them. You’ll find that these verses speak to many areas, making it possible for us to read, study, and then apply what we’re learning right away.
God is able to give us direction in ways that we could never come up with on our own. This episode takes several verses from Proverbs chapter 16, demonstrating how to put Bible application into practice.
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Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 23 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter has a focus on temperance woven throughout the verses. Learning to control appetites and passions is a lifelong course. The key to mastery is practice through application. We aren’t merely building a Bible habit to store up information. We’re learning so that we can live it.
The more we develop excellence in our Christian lives, the more we wonder why we didn’t do it sooner. Many things that are healthy for us are not our favorites at first, but we wouldn’t trade the benefits. That’s how it is with Bible habits, too. When we apply biblical principles to daily living, we reap the benefits of wise choices and decisions. As it says in Proverbs 23:12, "Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.”
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Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we replay the most popular episodes from the previous season. Have you ever criticized yourself? Many of us have done this at some point. It’s a common part of what I call the NHS: "Noisy Head Syndrome.” The problem with habitually speaking to ourselves negatively is that we run the risk of making our lives worse, not better. The episode, “Stop Talking to Yourself Like That” helps us to examine a habit that needs changing. Would you speak to a dear friend the same way you talk to yourself? Let’s hit the replay button and catch this lesson again.
“When we make our lives performances rather than acts of service, it’s not surprising that we’ll suffer from stage fright.”—Francie Taylor, Teachback Tuesday: Stop Talking to Yourself Like That
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Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
BONUS MINI-EPISODE FOR WIVES: Let’s blame this bonus episode on the blueberries. They were in season and I was about to sit down with a bowl of these fresh beauties when I had a flashback to how much my husband loved blueberries. I didn’t even try to like them back then, but now I wish I had tried. We could have shared the joy of a fresh harvest together.
This is not an episode for couples with deep marital problems. It's a bonus mini-episode for those who may have accidentally drifted into taking a good marriage for granted.
Are there areas in your marriage where you’re treating your husband and his interests and desires as if they are second to yours? Do you adore your husband, or are you treating him like a college roommate? God has trusted you with your husband. What are you doing with that sacred trust?
If you do whatever you want with your marriage, then you’ll get whatever you get in your later years. What will that look like, and does it match your relationship goals? This brief episode is just a simple heart-to-heart from a sister who was married for 35 years and now widowed for barely five. Ask yourself this question: Is your husband's existence better because you're in his life?
Book mentioned in episode: Teachers of Good Things
NEW FOR COUPLES: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
ICU Heart Conditions Bible Application Study--Leader Guide
ICU Heart Conditions Participant Guide
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 22 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter begins with an emphasis on the importance of having a good reputation, and ends with a focus on the benefits of being diligent in business. These are related in the sense that both refer to a person who is responsible and reliable. Sandwiched in between verses one through 29 are a host of instructions for daily living. As usual, there is something for everyone in Proverbs.
Chapter 22 really helps us to focus on character development in areas that we may tend to ignore, such as the area of humility. We undervalue this great character quality, but it makes a difference in our lives and helps us to maintain a proper perspective of who we are in Christ. Proverbs 22:4 reminds us of the benefits of humility coupled with fear of the Lord: "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life."
Devotional Book: Vitamins for the Soul by Kathy Ashley
30-Day Devotional Book: Encouragement for Women
Great for Book Clubs: Sister Friends by Francie Taylor
“Why did this happen to me?”
Have you ever wondered the same thing? Why did God bring you into such a hard place? Why didn’t He keep the event from happening? If God is all-powerful, why does He allow us to suffer when He could easily stop it? Is God being unfair to us? Why is this happening?
While we can’t answer anything that God hasn’t answered in His Word, we can address and apply what He has given us. The truth is this: there is no simple answer to the “Why-would-God” questions. Instead of asking “Why would God,” we can look at this from another angle:
"What can God do with my suffering?"
It is a reality that life deals some hard blows, and our first reactions are often emotionally driven by the shock and stress of our circumstances. God knows us, and understands that our human nature often reacts as a first response. He also promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us, meaning we are not abandoned. (Heb. 13:5). This Teachback Tuesday episode describes four things that God can do in and through our suffering. Share this with family and friends, but take care with the timing. Everything is better in the right season.
NEW FOR COUPLES: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
ICU Heart Conditions Bible Application Study--Leader Guide
ICU Heart Conditions Participant Guide
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 21 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter discusses undesirable character traits, giving us something to consider carefully in our behavior with others. Would you want to live with a person who is always ready to argue, looking for things to fuss about? The Bible calls that contentious, and it's mentioned in this chapter. As usual, these topics and others are covered in ways to make us think.
God uses Proverbs to repeatedly fill our hearts and minds with the wisdom needed for this life. When we read these verses and apply them, we experience the good outcomes of following God’s Word, but when we hear the verses and disregard them, it’s easy to mishandle situations and find ourselves in hard places. Everything we do has a motive behind it, and God wants those motives to be biblical and pure. As it says in Proverbs 21:2, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts."
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions
Pink & Brown Compact KJV Bible
Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Leader Guide
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Participant Guide
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Have you ever watching something that left you feeling anxious, fearful, or distressed? That was the intended reaction. It is easier to influence people when they are fearful. Making people anxious by feeding them constant bad news often enslaves a viewer to stay tuned. Oddly, this is the very kind of habit that can hurt us.
We are seeing pandemic levels of anxiety and fear. Since these are basically inseparable, it’s not surprising to see a rise in both. The question is this: Why has there been such a dramatic increase?
We can’t blame everything on the pandemic, even though it contributed to historic levels of anguish and distress. But sometimes there are additional causes for a constant sense of doom and darkness, inflicted by unlikely suspects. We are the unlikely suspects.
We can’t control what the media is serving, but we can manage how many of their meals we’ll choose to eat. As we continue to be bombarded with a stream of negative news, we need to develop our own systems to balance the input. Are you overdosing on bad news? Let’s look at three common symptoms, and then we’ll consider some suggestions for repairing the damage.
ICU Heart Conditions Bible Application Study--Leader Guide
ICU Heart Conditions Participant Guide
Calm in Christ: Benefits of Daily Bible Study ebook
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 20 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter reminds me of going into a superstore and picking up everything you need in one trip. So many topics are covered, from the meddling fool to the person who can’t keep private matters private. Each verse moves to another issue of life. Since so many areas are covered in this chapter, it’s reasonable to say that whatever you’re walking through will probably be addressed.
How many times have you come to a place in your life where you were facing a situation and didn’t know how to handle it? The Proverbs are designed precisely for these situations. God instructs us line by line, leading us into wise and gracious handling of even the most complicated matters. It calms our souls when we’re led by God in what to do next. The anxiety and agitation are replaced with a confidence not in our own wisdom, but in the wisdom from God’s Word.
Proverbs 20:18 is a great reminder verse for those times when we may need extra guidance in our lives. It says this: "Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war." (Proverbs 20:18) It’s never a shame to need counsel. If you’re facing something right now and you don’t know what to do, ask a trusted counselor for some good advice. It’s wise and it’s biblical.
Pink & Brown Compact KJV Bible
Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Leader Guide
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Participant Guide
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we air the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week, we’re replaying an episode that created a lot of chatter. The popular phrase, “Follow your heart” is contrary advice, but it's thrown around like an old family recipe. If you’ve ever followed your heart and gotten burned, you know firsthand that this is inaccurate advice.
God is our guide, but when we ignore His clear principles and go with the demands of our desires, we end up in situations that cause anxiety, pain, and even despair. What is your true life purpose? Are you just here to feel good and jump from experience to experience until you’re old and worn out from a life that has left you emotionally and physically bankrupt?
This Teachback Tuesday episode will provide four reasons why following our hearts is misguided. Share this episode with loved ones, especially those who look like they're heading for a cliff with their eyes wide open.
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Vitamins for the Soul: A Study on Maintaining Spiritual Health
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 19 on Build Your Bible Habit. The theme of upright living is woven throughout this chapter, giving us principles to put into practice right away. If you haven’t started doing so, I suggest that you pray before listening to these Proverbs. Ask the Lord to show you what to work on from the chapter, and then watch for pop quizzes throughout your day. Remember, sometimes people are the "tests" in life.
You will find yourself applying the Bible more to your everyday living as you continue to build your Bible habit. Verses will pop up on the screen of your mind, prompting you to pause and edit yourself, putting you in a position to have better outcomes in your relationships.
Proverbs 19:11 is a perfect example of this, as it reminds us of this key relationship principle: "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression." The next time someone does or says something that provokes you and you’re tempted to have a short fuse, pause and P.O.A.T.: Pass over a transgression. We love it when people do that for us.
Pink & Brown Compact KJV Bible
Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Leader Guide
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Participant Guide
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
We live in the age of label-slapping. It’s common and very public, since we can now call people out on social media to let the whole world know how we feel. Things that are common are not always correct. Is it right to get the branding iron out to mark someone else when we hate having that done to us? Just because the culture loves creating and applying negative labels to people with whom they disagree doesn’t mean that this is a good practice. Are we becoming toxic ourselves?
By definition, something that is “toxic” means it’s “poisonous,” and was previously used only when referring to hazardous substances and dangerous chemicals. I get it that we’re trying to say that certain people and situations can be hazardous, but are we liberally using an overused word just because it’s the latest slang term for “someone or someplace that we don’t like”?
Is it possible that we’re confusing the word toxic with something else? This is just a brief examination, which I hope will cause us to carefully consider if we’re becoming too label-slap-happy.
NEW! Encouragement for Motherhood: A 30-Day Devotional
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Leader Guide
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Participant Guide
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 18 on Build Your Bible Habit. Chapter 18 takes us deeper into the issues of life, with an extra emphasis on behaviors of what the Bible calls “the fool,” along with instructions about how we use our words. The book of Proverbs is written on a level where we can take the learning to applying.”
By the time you get to the end of chapter 18, you’ve received a month’s worth of instructions for daily living in under five minutes. It’s not enough for us to simply read or listen to the Proverbs. Bible knowledge without Bible application is treating the Bible like an academic subject rather than the Words of life. God really wants to help us know how to live, but we need to read AND follow His directions.
Here’s our reminder verse for the day from Proverbs 18:12: "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility." There’s always more to learn, and that makes us permanent students of the Bible.
Pink & Brown Compact KJV Bible
Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Leader Guide
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Participant Guide
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we feature the most popular episodes from the previous season. In the intro, I shared the story of what happened when I ran into a group of attendees at an airport after a conference. These ladies were discussing things that had encouraged their hearts and we were enjoying our conversation.
Suddenly, one woman in the group went off-topic with this comment: “You should get your eyebrows done.” After a conference filled with Bible application lessons, that was her takeaway? And you know what I did when I got to a mirror: checked my eyebrows and added that to my personal list of image issues.
When this episode first aired, it was downloaded so frequently that we knew we had hit a raw nerve. Image issues are common potholes that roll many of us into the ditch. God can help us with our image issues, and even better than that, He can help us to see ourselves the way He sees us. This brief episode will give you some vital suggestions, like a starter list. You and God will take it from there.
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Gorgeous for Your Desk: Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
Build Your Bible Habit: Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Lead a Small Group: ICU New Testament Leader Guide
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 17 on Build Your Bible Habit. There are plenty of relationship instructions woven into this chapter. Verse nine reminds us not to go around telling others how someone else hurt us, while verse 14 clearly states that conflicts always have a telltale beginning, signaling us to avoid making matters worse. This chapter is like a combination of recipes and roadmaps.
You are in the process of developing a valuable life habit. Daily Bible reading leads to increased Bible study by design. God draws us deeper into His Word and before we know it, our relationship with God has grown and become so much more real. Personal relationships are bound to grow when we’re spending more time together. Time in God’s Word is the same as time spent with God, because He is the Word. Our reminder verse for this week is found in Proverbs 17:1, which says this: "Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife." This is God’s way of reminding us that if we have quiet and peaceable lives, we are wealthier than we think.
Pink & Brown Compact KJV Bible
Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Leader Guide
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Participant Guide
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Welcome to Soundbites: Topics that are scripturally sound in bite-sized episodes. This week's topic: Anger. Are you angry with someone right now? The strong emotions and reactions that come with anger can get us into trouble. Being angry is not a sin by itself, but the way we express that anger can easily become sinful and harmful.
This brief study will give us biblical patterns to follow, helping us to improve in our responses. Anger makes a really poor parking spot for the soul. Don't stay there. Forgiveness is more than an option; it's living biblically.
ICU: In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Calm in Christ eBook: Inspiring Reasons for Daily Bible Study
NEW! Vitamins for the Soul: A Study on Maintaining Spiritual Health
BONUS MOTHER'S DAY EPISODE: God gave this obvious motherhood instruction: love your children. Why did God have to tell us to do something that should have been automatic? Is it possible that we would have missed the obvious in the midst of a culture that is so focused on image and outcomes that it forgets about people? Or is it more personal? Do we love our children fully, or only when we're pleased with them.
This bonus episode is a brief glimpse at the instruction in Titus 2:4: "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children..." (emphasis added). Clearly, God saw a need to put this instruction in Scripture for reasons unknown, but we can guess that in part, He knew that we'd need to be reminded! Consider this a five-minute Mother's Day card, given with love from a sister friend in the motherhood journey right along with you.
Maestras del Bien (Teachers of Good Things-Spanish)
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 16 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter opens with the reality that God knows why we do what we do. Sometimes we’re not even completely clear or even honest about our motives, so God uses His Word to shine the light on any dark areas that need to change. God not only knows our motives, but He knows the best direction for our lives.
By this point, you are well on your way to building your Bible habit. Beware of the human nature tendency to want to quit. Things of value always require effort. You can help yourself by scheduling your Bible habit like an unbreakable appointment. Some like to have Bible and breakfast, while others like their Bible with bedtime. Regardless of when or where, keep this habit up and you’ll notice improvements in your decisions and a deepening of your relationship with God.
Proverbs 16:3 is a great reminder that all plans are worthy of prayer. It says this: "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." God can be trusted with our plans, and He knows which direction will lead to the best outcome for our lives. You are building a life-changing Bible habit!
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Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
Lead a Small Group: ICU New Testament Leader Guide
Study tool: Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
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The man in the sky club who asked me what I did for a living was so excited it was suspicious. I thought that maybe he wanted to hear more about the Bible. It turned out that he wanted a debate. I’m not into debates. I’d rather engage with a willing participant in a respectful dialogue than get into a lengthy dispute with someone who feels like they’ve finally found their sparring partner for the day. And when it’s a complete stranger, I really can’t inspire myself to quarrel. Why argue with someone I don’t know when I could do that with people I do know? Haha! But seriously, this was a gospel opportunity, as long as I didn’t mess it up by becoming argumentative.
People are so confrontational today, and they feel emboldened because it’s popular to be against things that are good and for things that are destructive. It didn’t take long for this stranger to identify himself as a proud unbeliever, which made me politely and carefully respond to him while gradually ending the conversation. I concluded with a string of Bible verses quoted from memory. His face changed as I quoted Scripture, and I knew that the Bible was doing what I could not do. There is a spirit in every human, and while it can’t be reached by arguments, it can be penetrated by the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
There are reasons why unbelievers don’t understand believers, and we make the division worse when we get into arguments just to score points. Let’s consider just a few reasons why there is this communication gap, considering our own roles and making sure that we’re not becoming repellant or annoyingly self-assertive.
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 15 on Build Your Bible Habit. Have you ever said something that got you into trouble, when you knew you should have kept your mouth shut? Many of us have been there, but we can learn how to do better the next time. Chapter 15 opens with verses about the tongue, and continues with more instructions for navigating the daily issues of life. Proverbs 15 is an excellent directional chapter.
You’ve reached the halfway point in building your Bible habit. By applying what we’re learning from these chapters, we're equipping ourselves to walk in wisdom. So many issues of life are related to a simple lack of wisdom, but when we know better, we can do better. Take a little extra time to select a verse of the day, applying it as often as possible. For example, Proverbs 15:1 tells us that "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." The next time you’re tempted to answer someone in a harsh tone, pause and edit your words. By employing the soft answer, you’re putting your learning into action while avoiding unnecessary drama. Building a Bible habit makes us wiser.
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Calm in Christ: Inspiring Reasons for Daily Bible Study (ebook)
Bible Study or Solo Study: ICU New Testament Leader Guide
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Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we feature the most popular episodes from the previous season. The topic of friendship is frequently misunderstood. If we’re looking at the relationship from the “what’s in it for me” perspective, we're missing the point that friendship is meant to benefit both sides.
Friendships can be a blessing or they may become a steady stream of draining drama. People come into friendships with the baggage of their backgrounds, and we show up with ours as well. Learning how to be the kind of friend that makes life better is a "work of heart." Ready for a review on how to be an “iron sharpeneth iron” friend? Gather with your sister friends and make this a small-group study. You'll discover practical ways to be more consistent in your friendships.
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Study tool: Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Lead a Small Group: ICU New Testament Leader Guide
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 14 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter covers the wise, the foolish, the scorner, the backslider, the angry person and more! Once again, God has given us instructions on the right and wrong ways to live. It’s like being served a meal where there are things that we really like mixed with things that we’d rather not eat, even though they’re very good for us. We need both for balance. This chapter is a life buffet.
To build a Bible habit, we need to make a commitment that’s firm. We can’t be on and off about it. God has provided us with an abundant life through His Word. How many With as many Bibles as the average person owns, we could at least commit to reading one of them consistently. Make your Bible study an unbreakable appointment. Try pairing it with something else, like Bible and breakfast. Just commit and stay committed. As it says in Proverbs 14:27, "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." There is more value to building a Bible habit than we can imagine. It is so worth it!
NEW! Vitamins for the Soul: A Study on Maintaining Spiritual Health
Study tool: Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
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Start Your Bible Study Group: ICU New Testament Leader Guide
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I can’t remember where I was when a young woman told me that she was "slap wore out," but it was somewhere in the south. It cracked me up because I’ve never heard that phrase before. I’m still learning how to speak southern. What does this have to do with today’s episode? Everything, because after over 30 flight segments in a few hectic months of conference travel, this teacher is slap wore out. Today’s episode will be more like a freelance coffee date with a sister.
Have you ever been so tired that you were afraid to drive your car? Or have you ever been so bone weary that you fell asleep fully dressed? Or maybe you’ve been so exhausted that you totally forgot about an important appointment and didn’t even realize it until someone told you? I am right there with you.
I was so overbooked a while ago that I forgot to disarm the security system on my way out the door. I accidentally tripped the alarm, but still got into my car and drove away. I didn’t even hear the 60 second warning chime because I shut the door behind me so quicky, the beep-beep of the warning didn’t register! It wasn’t until the security company called me to ask if everything was alright that I realized that I had created a false alarm.
When we’re worn out, we can activate lots of alarms.
Are you slap-wore out? This episode will share three things from Scripture that are points to ponder for the weary. Maybe you should listen while lying down. I'm only sort of kidding. Listen to this during break time.
NEW! Vitamins for the Soul: A Study on Maintaining Spiritual Health
Study tool: Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
A Perfect Gift: Pink & Brown Compact KJV Bible
It's Back in Stock! Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
Start Your Bible Study Group: ICU New Testament Leader Guide
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 13 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter is full of contrasts that can be summed up in a sentence: Live this way, not that way. This is an “everyday problems and solutions” chapter. We’ll read what happens when a person has a big mouth (Prov. 13:3). That’s an everyday problem. We’ll be warned about how pride causes friction (Prov. 13:10). That’s another everyday problem. We’ll even be reminded that the friends we choose are influential at any age (Prov. 13:20).
Building a Bible habit does require some effort. Consider this quote by author Richard Taylor (not a relative that I know of, but an excellent writer). He said this: “Emotions may not immediately obey the will, but actions must.” In other words, don’t wait until you feel like doing what is right. Do it and let the feelings catch up with your actions later. As we read Provers 13:19, "The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil." Building your Bible habit will prove to be one of your most valuable accomplishments, and it will be sweet to your soul.
NEW! Vitamins for the Soul: A Study on Maintaining Spiritual Health
Study tool: Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
A Perfect Gift: Pink & Brown Compact KJV Bible
Start Your Bible Study Group: ICU New Testament Leader Guide
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Welcome to TEACHBACK TUESDAY, featuring the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week’s episode, “Are We Anything Like Judas?” requires some soul-searching. We don’t like to think of ourselves as being deceptive, two-faced, or disloyal, but these undesirable character traits are possible in any human.
Did you know that we all come equipped with excellent OPI vision? OPI stands for "Other People’s Issues," and OPI vision means that we can easily spot OTHER PEOPLE’S ISSUES. This happens when we’re looking at someone else's life and magnifying their flaws while throwing a cover over our own. There was someone like that in the Bible, and his name was Judas.
In this Teachback Tuesday episode from April of Season One, we’ll be challenged to examine ourselves for Judas-like behaviors. Are we anything like Judas? Listen in for the traits that give us the answers. In reality, anyone could be like Judas.
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Have you ever tried to solve a problem and ended up making matters worse? That’s what happens when we try to operate in our own wisdom without doing things God’s way. He has a way, but it’s not usually what we would choose. God sees things differently than we see them. We have distorted vision. His vision is perfect.
If you’ve ever heard me teach at a conference, you know that I’m a huge fan of reading a Proverb a day. It’s just so life-changing! God wants to teach us how to live in this moment in history. We are here by design and on purpose. The problems we face are just part of the script of life in a fallen world.
Proverbs chapter four is great for learning how to solve problems. God left us with instructions that apply to anything that comes up in this life, because life is really just a rotation. Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us so: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."
We don’t have new problems. We have old problems in new wrapping paper. This episode covers four ways that we can prepare our hearts and minds to become more effective at problem solving.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 11 on Build Your Bible Habit. Chapter 11 could be summed up in one word: integrity. According to Webster’s dictionary, integrity includes moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. You’ll also notice stark contrasts in this chapter between those who walk with God and those who don’t.
Building your Bible habit through daily Proverbs will increase the soundness of your heart and mind. We are anxious and agitated when we’re spiritually starved, but by reading and studying God’s Word, we’re feeding our souls, which is one of the most important forms of health care. As it says it Proverbs 11:3, "The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them." Don’t try to live the Christian life without the Bible.
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Welcome to episode 4 of the four-part series: "For Real." These mini-episodes are in collaboration with Podbean, the podcast host for Keep the Heart. Podbean selected Keep the Heart as their Podcast of the Week for March 7-13, 2022! In exchange for this valuable exposure, Keep the Heart is giving Podbean a well-earned promo shout at the end of each segment in this four-part bonus episode series. If you'd like to try a free 30-day trial, visit Podbean and use our promo code: PODCAST21
Now let me tell you about my hair. It had turned into something like a cross between a wannabe afro and a frizzy football helmet. I was trying a new technique but it wasn’t working out, so now I was left with a very bad and very visible hair experiment. This sounds trivial, I know, but I’m going somewhere with purpose. You see, I knew that whoever was going to tame my hair that day was also going to be invited to have a Gospel conversation. I had it all planned out how to segue the conversation from hair repair to life transformation.
The hairstylist was so friendly, it was like sitting down in the chair of a sister friend. Instant bonds don’t always happen, but it did this time and I knew that it was not a coincidence; it was a GOD incidence. What I didn’t know was this: the hairstylist was a Christian and she was aiming to minister to me, too!
Has that ever happened to you before? Have you had someone invite you to church, or begin to share the Gospel with you while you were hoping to do the same with them? I love when that happens, and it usually results in rejoicing on both sides. Well, that’s what happened in the hair chair. The stylist is a born-again, Bible believing Scripture quoting God loving Christian, and unashamed. We had a great conversation about ministry and life in general as she worked the literal kinks out of my hair.
The more she talked, the more I learned. This episode shares three takeaways I learned while in the hair chair.
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Welcome to TEACHBACK TUESDAY! When this episode first aired back in Season One/March 2021, the timing was "accidentally on purpose." March is right about that time when many are abandoning their 3-month-old New Year's Resolutions. Whether that's you or you're working on improving in some other area, this episode has ideas to help you to gain victories, which gives us an appetite for more victories!
Have you ever told yourself that you needed to eat healthier, and then went to the McDonald's drive-through as a farewell tour? Or maybe you've started a new budget, but blew past it in the first week and then went shopping. Or have you ever said something that created drama because you ignored the Lord warning you in your conscience not to say it? These examples are all related to a lack of self-control, also known in the Bible as temperance.
Self-control is unnatural, but it is possible to grow in this vital area. God wants us to have this fruit of the Spirit, so He trains us through the everyday "pop quizzes" that he allows into our lives. This episode covers three self-control exercises we can practice to cultivate the fruit of temperance.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 10 on Build Your Bible Habit. You’ll notice that chapters 10-31 address the “issues of life” more directly. We will be wiser if we’ll follow these instructions, and that makes life sweeter and improves our relationships with others as well. This is real soul food.
Reading a Proverb-a-day will soon lead to deeper Bible study habits. The more we’re in the Word, the greater our understanding of human nature and how we were meant to interact with each another. Replay these audio Proverbs often, listening for the personal lessons woven throughout each verse. You’ll notice God’s specific instructions on how to deal with the daily situations we'll face. God even helps us to avoid unhelpful habits such as talking too much, which keeps us from creating our own dramas. Here’s our reminder to put our tongues on a budget, found in Proverbs 10:19: "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise."
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Welcome to episode 3 of the four-part series: "For Real." These mini-episodes are in collaboration with Podbean, the podcast host for Keep the Heart. Podbean selected Keep the Heart as their Podcast of the Week for March 7-13, 2022! To repay their kindness, Keep the Heart is giving them a brief shoutout at the end of each segment in this four-part bonus episode series. If you'd like to try a free 30-day trial, visit Podbean and use our promo code: PODCAST21
I heard a pastor say this as he was presenting the Gospel: “We all have a 10 in 10 chance of dying.” Such a reality check, isn’t it? Then why do we still act surprised when people pass away? Is it because we’ve forgotten the truth about how death is part of life? Let’s face it: Death is a hard topic.
With so many of us having experienced the passing of loved ones, we still seem shocked by death, as if it somehow isn’t supposed to happen. In this episode, we'll consider three reminders to help us to become less out of touch about this real-life event.
Many of you listening to this podcast are born again believers, and you know where you're going when it's your turn to leave your earthly shell. For others, this question is still unanswered and causes fear. If you don't know what would happen if you were to pass away suddenly, here are four things you need to know:
1. God truly loves you, and many of you already know the verse about this truth:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
2. We are all sinners. No one can claim to be perfectly sinless but Christ.
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ... For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:10, 23)
3. Christ truly died and rose again to pay for our sins.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
4. We can confess our sins, believe and receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
If you have never taken this step of faith, here is an example of a simple prayer:
"Dear Lord, thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for my sins. I am sorry for all the wrong that I have done, and I want to walk in newness of life. Please forgive me. I accept Your free gift of salvation and eternal life. In the name of Jesus, Amen."
For more information about life after death, visit this link:
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Luke chapter 15 is a declaration of God’s love for the lost. Janice Wolfe, our guest host today from Faith Music Radio, shares lessons learned while studying this very personal chapter. This episode will remind us that we were among the lost that have been found, and it reveals our value to the Seeker. The undying love that our Savior has for lost souls compels us to have a heart for the lost as well. This lesson is part of “The Loser Bible Study Series.” Discover more about this series on the eleven2one blog at faithmusicradio.com.
During the busy conference season, Francie lives in airplanes and hotels while teaching around the country. It’s not always possible to record new episodes, so we call in reinforcements to help us! There’s nothing like a friend who’s not afraid of microphones. When Francie needs a sub, Janice is her first call! Thanks, Janice Wolfe and team at Faith Music Radio and eleven2one!
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter nine on Build Your Bible Habit. In this chapter, we see a contrast between the wise and the foolish. We are also firmly warned not to reprove a scorner. Trying to correct or reason with someone who disregards God is wasted energy. When we heed instructions like these, we can avoid getting into heated debates that usually end poorly.
Now that you’re up to chapter nine, you are almost a third of the way into building a Bible habit that will lead you not only to the best life, but also the blessed life. A blessed life doesn’t have to be perfect to be amazing! Pay attention to each verse as you study, looking for ways to put the verses into practice. You will notice an improvement in your ability to make wise decisions as you apply what you’re learning.
As it says in Proverbs 9:9, "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
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Welcome to TEACHBACK TUESDAY! This episode had thousands of downloads in Season One. There must be a reason for that! Perhaps it's partly because we all have this human tendency to be argumentative, challenging, and even quarrelsome at times. If you had a chance to catch Contentious Relationships in 2021, this will be a refresher, but if you're new to Keep the Heart, this will give you some things to carefully consider in how you're interacting with others.
Are there certain things that just easily set you off? If so, you'll find that these irritants often lead to disagreements in your relationships. We will never argue our way to happiness, and the only satisfaction in winning an argument is proving that you can be contentious to the finish line. What can we do about this human tendency to be contentious? The Bible has a lot to say about this subject, but we’ll just examine a few verses in this episode, leaving room for you to continue this important topical study on your own.
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Welcome to episode 2 of the four-part series: "For Real." These mini-episodes are in collaboration with Podbean, the podcast host for Keep the Heart. Podbean selected Keep the Heart as their Podcast of the Week for March 7-13, 2022! In exchange for a very nice shout out on their home page, Keep the Heart is running a promo at the end of each segment in this four-part bonus episode series. If you want a free 30-day trial of the paid version of Podbean, use our promo code: PODCAST21
Ah the office drama. Or the school staff drama. Or the ministry drama. Or the drama mama overall. And there are Drama Papas, too. Working together for hours a day, several days each week provides a breeding ground for issues. Some people remind me of the column they used to have on old-school report cards that said this: “Does not work well with others.”
Most of us work for a living, and that involves spending time with others. Whether you own your own business, work for someone else or work in a ministry, you will have people in your airspace and where there are people, there will be problems.
So, what are our options? Well, if you can’t find a job where there are no people—haha—let’s consider three ways to work peaceably with those who are in your time zone. These are just suggestions. God will help you to think of more ways since He sees your people group and knows them all by name.
This is episode 2 of 4. Watch for others soon!
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter eight on Build Your Bible Habit. Wisdom has an instructional voice in this chapter, and it’s powerful. When we have godly wisdom, we’ll do better in life overall. Without godly wisdom, we’ll be prone to self-inflicted troubles. We all need more wisdom.
Reading a Proverb a day is a habit that you won’t have to fight to build. Begin with the chapter of the day, and then just keep repeating the process until you reach the end of the month. This is not just an exercise in running your eyes over the pages. This is an investment in your relationship with God. You’ll find that this is habit-forming in a very good way. After all, Proverbs 8:34 says "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors."
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It was April of 2021 when I received a call from my sister friend, Valerie Clear. I assumed that this was a call for catching up, or "phone coffee" as I call it, so I settled into a comfy chair for what I thought would be a cheerful visit. Instead, I heard these words: "Francie, I'm calling to let you know that I've been diagnosed with cancer."
There was a brief moment of silence as I struggled to process what Valerie had just told me.
There are bad days, and then there are off-script seasons when things are very different than we had planned. In fact, Valerie said this: “It’s not just off script, it’s like life has become a whole new library. You’re browsing in the aisle you had never imagined."
This episode is for anyone who has received an unexpected diagnosis, or for those who have family members walking this road. The insights will be helpful, and you'll feel like you're sitting in the room with caring friends. Join us for this 30-minute Q & A.
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ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Welcome to the four-part series: "For Real." These mini-episodes are in collaboration with Podbean, the podcast host for Keep the Heart. Podbean selected Keep the Heart as their Podcast of the Week for March 7-13, 2022! In exchange for a very nice shout out on their home page, Keep the Heart is running a promo at the end of each segment in this four-part bonus episode series. If you want a free 30-day trial of the paid version of Podbean, use our promo code: PODCAST21
Somewhere along the line in Christianity, we took a detour and started focusing on appearance over transformation. We were working hard on trying to get people to conform to a certain image, while just giving the Holy Spirit’s transforming power a nod. This resulted in a confused generation that took the pendulum and threw it as far in the opposite direction as possible. I wonder if God ever shakes His head while He’s watching us with all of our bright ideas?
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for this very same behavior in Matthew 23:27 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."
The Pharisees had tattoos and didn’t even realize it! They had the image that people admired and even imitated, but inside, they were a mess. We’re all a mess on the inside unless we allow God to transform us. Tattoos can be visible or covered, but they’re still present. What can we do about our own tattoos? This bonus episode gives us three things to consider.
This is episode 1 of 4. Others coming in the next few weeks!
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ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter seven on Build Your Bible Habit. The overall theme of chapter seven is a hard warning against lust. It reminds me of the old saying, “When fleeing temptation, don’t leave a forwarding address.” This chapter is good and hard at the same time.
Since listening to a chapter of Proverbs takes less than five minutes, you may want to replay these chapters. You’ll notice details that you may have missed the first time. The study of God’s Word is a continuous life improvement course. As it says in Proverbs 7:2: "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye."
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Welcome to TEACHBACK TUESDAY! Conference season is in full swing, so we'll be providing episodes from the previous season sprinkled in between the new episodes. It is entirely possible that this Teachback Tuesday segment is even more relevant now than when it first aired. So many people have had enormous life changes, including the passing of loved ones.
There is a way to comfort those who are grieving, and then there are ways that really don't help at all. Listen to what Job said in Job 16:2 after his friends failed to comfort him with their armchair-analyst observations: "I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all."
Job’s friends may have meant to be a blessing, but they ended up adding to his pain and won the prize for miserable comforters. How can we be comforters and not the miserable kind? A great place to begin is with the right perspective, and that is found in Phil. 2:4: "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
We all take turns in the rotation of grieving. Sometimes we're in need of comfort, and then we're on the team of comforters. This episode provides a short list of ways that be a help rather than another source of discomfort.
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter six on Build Your Bible Habit. Chapter six has a beginning, middle, and an end. The beginning includes financial advice, the middle covers daily living, and then the end has warnings about the trap of adultery. This is a loaded chapter! You will find something that applies to everyone within these verses.
By now, you are one fifth of the way through the book of Proverbs. You are building your Bible habit! In the beginning, it tends to take more effort to develop this spiritual practice of daily Bible study, but over time it becomes woven into the fabric of your life. These audio Proverbs are helping thousands of listeners to develop the habit of getting into God's Word daily, and sometimes several times per day (on replay)!
God's Word illuminates our paths so that we have never have to walk in darkness. Proverbs 6:23 reminds us of this truth: "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life…" God has given us the lamp, the light, and corrective instruction to help us learn how to handle the issues of life.
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ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--New Testament Case Studies
When I’m 64—Growing Older in Our Culture
I grew up hearing the Beatles on the radio. One song that came out when I was about nine years old was called, “When I’m 64.” I didn’t care for the tune, and I only knew one line of the lyrics because I kept hearing it on the radio: “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?” The song didn't make sense to my young ears. "Why wouldn't someone feed him," I wondered, thinking he must have lived in a place where the food was scarce or something. To this day, I still over-analyze song lyrics. It's a quirk.
At the time of that song, 64 sounded like GRANDMA-OLD to me. Now that I’m 64, I think they could rewrite the song to “When I’m 94.” As the saying goes, an old person is someone who is at least 15 years older than you. Ha!
If you’re a young listener, don’t assume that this episode is not for you. You are in the process of becoming the person you will be in old age, so this is for you, too! Most people don’t want to even think about growing older, but it happens whether we’re thinking about it or not. Some live to be very old, while others have a shorter life span, but aging is a required part of long life. Let’s consider this topic of growing older with a goal of improving in this area.
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BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter five on Build Your Bible Habit. Chapter five begins with a reminder to pay close attention to the wisdom and understanding found in God's Word. The phrase, “bow thine ear” reminds us that if we’re not listening to God, we won’t hear Him. The entire book of Proverbs reads like a “how to live” instruction manual, specifically designed to help us to face the issues of life.
We know that you have Bible apps for this, but we’re adding these audio Proverbs chapters to the podcast library at Keep the Heart for those who want a familiar voice. Since it takes less than five minutes to listen to an audio Proverb, try replaying them a few times. The more you listen, the more God’s Word sinks into your soul.
Proverbs 5:21 is a great inspiration to live as if God can observe everything we do. It says this: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings."
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We are nearly ruined with our expectations for speed. If the computer won't load a screen in five seconds, it's so slow. If the gas pump doesn't shoot the fuel into our cars like liquid lightning, we wonder what's taking so long. If we're standing in line behind someone who is paying by cash, it seems like it's taking them forEVER to pull that old-school currency out of their wallet.
And so we carry the expectation for speed into our spiritual lives, imagining that if we've prayed, we should have our answer within the same day at best, the same week at worst. Prayer is not like same-day dry cleaning that goes in by 10am and out by 4pm.
Prayer is a our communication with God. It is a combination of relationship-building, making our requests known to God, and then trusting His timing as we wait for the answers. Prayer is also specific, as we'll hear in this episode based on the passage of Luke chapter 18. Great spiritual habits have great value, which is precisely why they are also harder to develop.
If you've ever sat through a sermon about prayer, feeling guilty or wishing that you would pray more, this brief study will give you helpful ideas that are also sustainable. We're going through the powerful passage in Luke 18:1-8 together. At the end of it, you will want to pause and take some time to pray.
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ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter four on Build Your Bible Habit. We’re using the word “habit” by design, because we're talking about something that becomes your custom or part of your daily routine. Habits are built by repetition, so as you continue the habit of studying a daily Proverb, you’ll find that it becomes automatic. The Bible is habit-forming in a beautifully powerful way. Listen for God to speak to you from His Word, often touching areas where He is pruning and transforming us to be more like Him.
Your five-minute investment in Scripture will grow into so much more, and will bless you with the ability to make wiser decisions and fewer errors. So often, we make mistakes and messes in our lives because of a lack of Bible knowledge or failure to apply what we do know. God can change that by the power of His Word. Daily Bible study provides direction, protection, and a deeper relationship with God. As it says in Proverbs 4:7, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
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ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Two Taylors on one podcast episode! Join us as my daughter-in-love, Jessica Taylor, co-hosts on the topic of "How Not to Become a Monster-in-Law." We'll cover four guidelines for getting along, providing practical ideas for your relationships, especially when you've married into a family. Even if you don't have in-laws (I prefer to call them "in-loves"), these suggestions will work in any relationship.
When we truly love and care for one another, we'll do our part to build healthy relationships with all family members, as often as possible. As the Bible says in Romans 12:18, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Sometimes people are hard to get to know, while others may come with baggage that we can't unpack for them. One thing we can do is this: we can love one another.
Wait until you get to the part where Jessica-the-younger-Mrs. Taylor loses her train of thought. It's a funny blooper, so we left it in there...okay, well maybe it was Francie that left it in there, but Jessica will make you smile.
Whether you're a MIL, DIL, SIL, or just dealing with extended relationships of any kind, this episode will give you some ideas for getting along, remembering that our loved ones are in our lives as gifts from God. Please be sure to share this episode with family and friends!
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ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, an audio series in Proverbs. We know that many of you have Bible apps, but these audio Proverbs are recorded by a familiar voice! The main purpose of these recordings is to encourage the habit of getting into the Word daily. Proverbs 3 is a chapter that provides a roadmap for fruitful Christian living. We suggest following along in your Bible as you listen, but you could use these for taking a walk or during a commute, too.
The Proverb-a-Day system will help you build a daily Bible reading habit, and don't be surprised when it leads to deeper personal Bible study. After a while, one Proverb a day is not enough. You will find yourself craving more!
We'll continue uploading these Proverbs chapters to the Bonus episode library weekly until we've completed the entire book of Proverbs. Once we hit chapter 31, you can begin using these chapters in order by the date on the calendar (read Proverbs chapter one on the 1st of each month, chapter 2 on the 2nd and continue until chapter 31). What begins as an exercise will soon become a part of the fabric of your life.
The struggle to be in the Word is real, and this is our small way of helping listeners to create a beneficial habit. Daily Bible reading richly blesses our lives. As it says in Proverbs 8:34, "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors."
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I was on vacation when I caught myself trying to fix a problem the wrong way. It wasn’t meal time and I wasn’t hungry, but I wandered into the kitchen anyway and opened the bag of sea salt potato chips and started munching. I sort of measured out a serving size of 15 chips, but the broken ones don’t count right? Then I needed something sweet to offset the salty, so I ate a short stack of ginger cookies. Next, I opened the fridge and had a wedge of Wisconsin sharp cheddar. When I came back in the kitchen an hour later and opened the can of cashews, I said this to myself:
“Food won’t fix this.”
And then I put the lid back on the can of cashews, turned off the kitchen light and left the room. I was trying to solve a problem that wasn’t hunger, but I was eating as if food would fix it. It would never work.
Sometimes our wrestling matches with food habits are related to this quote: "It’s not what we’re eating. It’s what’s eating us."
Food doesn’t solve problems, but it can add a few. If we learn recognize the times when we’re eating for reasons other than hunger, we can make changes. Let’s consider three common reasons why we eat when we’re not hungry, and what we can do instead.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, an audio series in Proverbs. If you're new to this series, the purpose of these recordings is to encourage the habit of getting into the Word daily. God uses Bible study to transform us "by the renewing of our minds" (Rom. 12:2). For years, people have used the Proverb-a-Day system to build a daily Bible reading habit, and it has been very successful in helping people to develop a daily habit of reading and personal Bible study.
We'll continue to upload a Proverbs chapter to the Bonus episode library weekly until we've completed the entire book of Proverbs. Once we hit chapter 31, you can begin using these chapters in order by the date on the calendar (read Proverbs chapter one on the 1st of each month, chapter 2 on the 2nd and continue until chapter 31). What begins as an exercise soon becomes a part of the fabric of your life.
The struggle to be in the Word is real, and this is our small way of helping listeners to create a beneficial habit. Daily Bible reading is enriches our lives and keeps us from turning away from God. "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:12) Proverbs chapter two takes less than five minutes to read. You'll have plenty of time to replay and pray!
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Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Calm in Christ: Inspiring Reasons for Daily Bible Study ebook
Welcome to TEACHBACK TUESDAY! Now that we have a year's worth of episodes in the library, we'll weave the earlier episodes in between the new ones for 2022. This allows more time for book projects at Keep the Heart, and keeps the podcast going when Francie is hopping on and off airplanes during conference season. We hope you'll enjoy these occasional replays. This week's episode was the first full episode (not including the Trailer) on the podcast.
I can tell. I sounded very nervous. I didn't know how to ride the podcast bike yet.
Based on Proverbs 22:4, Riches, Honor, and Life is a mini lesson on how God blesses us when we yield to His plan for our lives. Humility and fear of the Lord are keys to riches, honor, and life, but God sees these valuable assets differently than we see them. God has perfect vision. Our limited lenses need His fine-tuning for better vision.
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NEW! Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing
NEW! Encouragement for Your Identity--A 30-day Devotional
NEW! Divorce Hurts--Be An Encourager
BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Introducing Build Your Bible Habit! Do you struggle to get into Scripture daily? You're not alone, but this problem can be fixed and we'd like to help. For years, people have used the Proverb-a-Day system to build a daily Bible reading habit, and it has been very successful in helping people to develop a daily habit of reading and Bible study. If you've been repeating the same mistakes and falling in the same ditch, perhaps it's because you're spiritually underfed.
We'll post a Proverbs chapter to the Bonus episode library weekly until we've completed the entire book of Proverbs. Once we hit chapter 31, you can begin using these chapters in order by the date on the calendar (read Proverbs chapter one on the 1st of each month, chapter 2 on the 2nd and continue until chapter 31). Many of you have already done this system, but for those who haven't, prepare to develop a deeper level of wisdom and a closer walk with God.
We know that you can get an audio Bible through any Bible app. This is just an extra service that we're providing from a sister friend who cares. Daily Bible reading is essential to our spiritual health. As it says in Proverbs 8:34 "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." When you're in the Word daily, you're feasting on Soul Food!
Ponder the Path will help you build your Bible habit
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Are you able to listen to someone sharing a problem without trying to fix it? In other words, can you just listen, or are you formulating a solution as you listen, waiting to blurt it out as soon as the other person stops talking?
Listening to someone tell you that they’re about to make an unwise decision is really hard. We may want to try to talk the person out of their plans, but we know that by inserting ourselves like this, we could end up creating tension in the relationship. By saying nothing, it may seem like we’re agreeing, but if we speak the truth in love, we may get slapped into submission by a verbal rejection. Unsolicited advice is a field of land mines.
We can usually sense when a conversation is taking a sharp turn, and this can easily happen if we swerve into giving advice without having been asked. Unsolicited advice is easy to give but hard to take. If you've ever had someone deliver an analysis about your life that you never requested, you know how this lands on the ears.
What happens if we say something that then things blow up and we get chewed out? How can we sit by and watch someone running straight for the edge of an unseen cliff that we have in full view? Giving advice is tricky terrain. Let’s consider three things to keep in mind when we’re trying to discern when to speak and when to be silent.
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ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
TRAILER 2022: Welcome to Season Two of the podcast at Keep the Heart. This episode is a brief introduction to the podcast. Regular episodes for Season Two will begin on January 18, 2022. New listeners, welcome to the table! Returning listeners, we're so grateful for your continued support.
Have you ever seen the plate spinner in a circus routine? He or she starts spinning the plates on these tall sticks, one by one until there’s a whole row of spinning plates. The plate spinner then dashes back to the beginning of the plates, spinning each one to keep them from falling. Some of you are out there spinning the plates, trying to keep everything together. We get it! We know how busy you are. Raising children or living in the "sandwich generation" of raising children while caring for elderly parents. Facing drama and walking on egg shells in a volatile work culture. Family issues. Financial challenges. Health issues... add your issue and we have a potluck stew of busy on multiple levels!
Because of the warp-speed pace of life, episodes at Keep the Heart will continue to be 15 minutes or less. In that time, you will receive a lesson written with a goal of inspiring listeners to follow God and walk in His ways. And just like last season, these episodes will be brief but packed with principles that you can apply right away. We encourage you to bring a journal or something for taking notes, as we've been told by our listeners that they review the lessons from these episodes multiple times. Other listeners take this podcast with them on their daily walks. Whatever your listening style, we will provide inspiring lessons in small but loaded packages.
Podcast subscribers are the first to know when a new episode has launched, so if you want to be in the know, subscribe today! We will continue the mission found in Proverbs 4:23, which says this: "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Please subscribe, share this with your friends, and support the podcast though a purchase or a donation in the shop at keeptheheart.com. Most of all, we greatly appreciate your prayers as we continue to create podcast episodes, books, and Bible studies designed to encourage living God’s Word.
NEW! Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing
NEW! Encouragement for Your Identity--A 30-day Devotional
Ponder the Path--A 31-day Devotional
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BONUS EPISODE: Welcome to the Best of Keep the Heart from 2021. This podcast was launched on January 21, 2021 in the studio of Faith Music Radio, where I went through a week of intensive training with veteran radio hosts Dan and Janice Wolfe. They are a gifted dynamic duo, running a media consulting business and ministry at the same time. Both Dan and Janice have their own shows on Faith Music Radio, and Dan is also the Vice President and General Manager of the radio station while Janice has a thriving podcast here. Once I arrived in Evansville for "podcast boot camp," I was told that I wasn’t going home until I had an episode on the air! A huge shout out of THANKS to Dan and Janice Wolfe and Faith Music Radio!
Today you’ll hear the first most-downloaded episode of 2021: “Recovering from Spiritual Dryness.”
I can’t help but wonder if this episode resonated with so many because of the pandemic. After all, we were shut out of church for a season, and then we realized that there were some things that were very robotic about our attempts to worship the Lord. Revival is often born during times of trial. “Recovering from Spiritual Dryness” shared three indicators that we may be spiritually thirsty, along with suggestions for recovering from this temporary condition. Here’s your first-place episode from 2021!
NEW! Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing
Calm in Christ: Inspiring Reasons for Daily Bible Study ebook
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BONUS EPISODE: Welcome back to the Best of Keep the Heart from 2021! Thank you for listening and for continuing to tune in while we’re on break. Season Two begins with a new episode on Tuesday, January 18th of 2022. Wow, 2021 was a vapor! Today you’ll hear the SECOND most-downloaded episode of 2021: “Escaping the Bondage of Self-Indulgence.” It was totally unplanned for this episode to land on the first spot for 2022, when many people are thinking about personal improvements. Coincidence? No. "God-incidence."
If you missed this episode when it first aired in September 2021, you'll hear why it resonated with so many listeners. Self-indulgence is a natural battle. As I’ll mention in the opening, we’re all unique and while we may have common struggles, God can put His finger on our weaknesses and help us to overcome them by His power and might, not by our own. Here comes the refresher on “Escaping the Bondage of Self-Indulgence”! This is better than a New Year’s resolution. God can give us a New Life transformation, which is way better!
Welcome to the new listeners, and a big thank you to the returning listeners. Thank you for sharing this podcast with your friends!
NEW! Encouragement for Your Identity--A 30-day Devotional
Ponder the Path--A 31-day Devotional
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BONUS EPISODE: Welcome to the Best of Keep the Heart from 2021. The first episode of our new podcast aired on January 21, 2021. As of December 21, 2021, Keep the Heart has had over 170,000 downloads, totally astounding this newbie podcaster! Thank you for listening, and for referring us to your loved ones as well.
Three episodes rose to the top out of 52 main episodes. Today you’ll hear the THIRD most-downloaded episode of 2021: “Signs of a Controlling Person.” It was a close contest. This episode only missed second place by two downloads!
If you haven't heard this yet, you can catch it now! If you heard “Signs of a Controlling Person” back in July of 2021, then this will be a refresher. Listen as this episode covers three signs of a controlling person, along with suggested solutions to this common but exhausting habit.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Are you having a family gathering for Christmas? Maybe you’ve already been contacted by some who have opted not to come, or who have requested that everyone be vaccinated before gathering. Or maybe you have family members who won’t visit unless everyone tests negative for COVID. No matter what you think or where you stand on the pandemic and all the connected issues, one thing is still true: we don’t have to argue about this or anything else at the dinner table.
Mocking people for their stand in the pandemic is unwise and does nothing attract people to Christ. Many people are genuinely afraid of catching the virus or any severe illness. Ridiculing someone for their fear is not going to decrease the fear, but it may increase the misconception that Christians are uncaring. Let’s face it: More people are afraid of dying than ever before, and without Christ, this fear is reasonable. Do we care more about debating the merits of a vaccine than sharing the Gospel?
When we become combative and argumentative as Christians, we’re looking less and less like Jesus. One of the greatest risks we face is not just a loss of personal freedoms; it’s a decrease of love for the lost.
You and I can’t do much about the storyline being pushed by national news, but we do have control over what happens within our own homes. How can we have gatherings with loved ones who have strongly held opinions that differ from ours? Is it possible? Yes, it is.
For this year-end episode, I’ll share three guidelines that I abide by in our home, with a goal of providing ideas, not mandates. These are unwritten but helpful policies that I quietly employ. This is our final episode of Season One. Thank you for your support of this young podcast!
Encouragement for Women--A 30-day Devotional
Calm in Christ: Inspiring Reasons for Daily Bible Study ebook
Have you ever done something that ended up putting you in a very bad spot? It may have been a something done on the fly without thinking, or maybe you actually had been thinking about it for a while. Either way, once the decision was made, the consequences were set in motion.
Whether we’re living contrary to biblical principles or just being too careless in daily decisions, we could be asking for our own version of the Jonah Journey, also known as the Fish Belly Tour. It’s not a pleasure trip.
Making mistakes is part of learning and growing, but sometimes we’re making them too frequently, and this can be very costly to us in more ways than one. Relationships may be damaged, along with our reputations and our testimonies. It’s common to have days when we just don’t feel like paying attention to our every move, but the reality is this: a lack of alertness can cost us more than we’re ready to pay.
There were people in the Bible who got themselves into trouble, and the one that we’ll study in this episode is Jonah. Let’s learn three things from the life of a man who spent some time out in the belly of a whale. Jonah’s example has several built-in lessons that can help us when we’ve gotten ourselves into trouble.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Old Testament Bible Application Study
The digital age gives us more access to the private lives of others than ever before. Just think about it: If you wanted to know how someone was doing just 20 years ago, you didn’t log onto your computer or pick up a cell phone and start swiping through their social media account. You had to CALL them, or even slower, WRITE to them by snail mail.
This also meant that it was unlikely that we would know when someone was struggling with a difficult decision, since there were fewer methods of communication. Talking in person lent itself more to this kind of discussion. The gray areas of life were a hot topics back when we did more talking than texting, and they're even more volatile today.
In fact, if you want to start an argument fast, pick a gray area and then make an opinionated statement about it. Watch the sparks fly!
We are way too late to be the first ones to wrestle with gray area decisions. The apostle Paul wrote about it in Romans chapter 14:5: "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."
The context of this verse was in regards to Christian liberty. Paul was teaching that we need to be more concerned with our own motives and conduct than with that of others. Unfortunately, we have too many cooks in our kitchens. When people mistakenly confuse unity with uniformity, they are bound to cross over into someone else’s territory of decision. Expecting agreement over gray areas is unrealistic, but that hasn’t stopped people from dividing over issues where the Bible has not issued a mandate.
What can we do with gray area decisions? We'll cover four suggestions with a goal of inspiring discretion in decision-making, encouraging you to prayerfully take your gray areas to the Lord.
NEW! Encouragement for Women--A 30-day Devotional
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When we're familiar with the Bible, there is a risk that we will read through it too quickly, missing important key facts. For example, did you remember that Jesus got into a boat and went fast asleep in the midst of a storm?
Most of us would be up wide awake, watching the skies and shuddering at the sound of the howling winds. Worry and fear are not storm-stoppers, but the disciples had Jesus right there with them in the ship, and yet they asked Him this question in Mark 4:38: "... Master, carest thou not that we perish?"
We are so much like the disciples. We have Jesus with us daily, and yet we forget that He is continously able to tell the wind and the waves what to do and when to do it. We forget that He is Almighty because we are not. We try to attribute our weaknesses to Christ, which is a mistake on so many levels.
There are profoundly helpful lessons at the end of the fourth chapter of Mark that will help us to learn how to calm down, and how to rest in a storm. You'll want your Bible handy for this study of Mark 4:35-41. It's deep. Pun intended.
NEW! Encouragement for Women--A 30-day Devotional
Whenever we get to the holidays, there's always the chance that there will be people who are going through a season of firsts. These are the things that come up in life and are happening for the first time since a loved one's passing, like having an empty spot at the dining room table. It’s disorienting, and we may find ourselves feeling like we’d rather not celebrate.
It's really hard to know what to do when you're going through something for the first time. It's kind of like being in a choir with a new piece of sheet music, and not knowing how to sing the song. Even if you are familiar with reading music, the first time through is rough. That's what it's like when you're going through a season of firsts because of changes in your life due to grief. Those firsts are unfamiliar and challenging.
The empty chair at the dining room table is one of several adjustments when we are trying to learn how to live without someone that we've had in our world for so long that they’re woven into the fabric of our soul. There are birthdays, anniversaries, and even first-time medical challenges without our beloveds by our sides. Even if we were expecting their passing, there is an adjustment period that takes time and takes us through a transition that is stunning at times, and tender at others.
This episode examines three things to consider when you're going through a season of firsts.
Encouragement for Women--A 30-day Devotional
Calm in Christ: Inspiring Reasons for Daily Bible Study ebook
Do you have friends who would walk on hot pavement barefooted for you? I have been blessed with friends like that, and they help lift heavy loads in my life. Today's special episode is a perfect example of this. Veteran radio host, Janice Wolfe from Faith Music Radio is our guest podcaster today, covering for me while I'm out battling illness. Janice's inspiring show, eleven2one, airs on Faith Music Radio from 11am-1pm, Monday through Friday. You will hear a sample of Janice in this episode about "The Heavy Things We Carry." (It's so easy to listen to her deep and beautiful voice. It reminds me of butter melting on toast.)
Do you realize we carry heavy things around every day? Heaviness is mentioned in both the Old and New Testament. Is there a way to lighten the load? The Bible gives us precise instructions on how to trade the weights that we carry for the much easier yoke of Christ. You'll want your journal to take notes during this encouraging episode.
Many thanks to Dan and Janice Wolfe, my podcast trainers, for their investment in the podcast at Keep the Heart. Follow Janice on Instagram and Facebook, and visit her show by clicking the link below.
eleven2one radio with Janice Wolfe
Encouragement for Women--A 30-day Devotional
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Little is Much When Many are the Givers
Psalm 43:5 asks, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." It is helpful to know why we’re anxious, but even if we can’t figure out the source, God is still able to deliver us.
Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines anxiety as "concern…respecting some event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness." The medical community also has this description: “Intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, and feeling tired may occur.”
The American Psychological Association adds this to the mix of definitions: “Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.
If you're thinking to yourself, “I don’t need a definition; I need a solution!” I hear you. These definitions were provided as a foundation to this episode, but I’m with you: knowing what it is that we're dealing with and doing something about it are two different things.
If there is one good reason to go through various afflictions such as anxiety, it is so that we can become a caring, compassionate resource for others. My battle with anxiety began during my husband’s journey through cancer. The anxiety increased to hazardous levels within hours after my Norman’s passing, landing me in the emergency room with symptoms that mimicked a heart attack.
I quietly wrestled with this beast for over a year, until the Lord revealed some things to my soul, little by little. These lessons became exercises for me that I still practice today. Please understand that dealing with anxiety does not have quick fixes, but there are some things that we can practice to help bring our emotions back out of the danger zone. I’ll share four spiritual exercises that I’ve found to be helpful in reducing anxiety. These are routines that I’ve learned from studying the Word and crying out for help in prayer. I hope they'll help you as well.
NEW! Encouragement for Women--A 30-day Devotional
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You probably know someone who used to claim to be a Christian, but now they say that they either don’t believe in God, or they will not discuss anything about Christianity or spiritual matters. Something happened for them to arrive at this spot. There are common reasons why people reject God, or say that they don’t believe in God. It’s actually a popular position today but it’s also very hazardous. We can’t change our minds after the final breath.
It’s hard to watch friends and loved ones drifting away from God and the foundational principles of His Word. It is even more painful when those loved ones are close relatives, such as a spouse, a sibling, or adult children. If you are watching this happen to someone you love, you’ve probably also realized by now that you can’t make them turn around. That’s God’s territory. If we try to force change in someone else’s life, we may find ourselves being rejected as well. This shouldn’t make us angry. It should increase our compassion and resolve to pray without ceasing.
The reasons people reject God are so many that if I did an episode with three points every week for a year, we wouldn’t even come close to covering them all. We’ll consider three common reasons, with a goal of inspiring listeners to consider a more careful and thoughtful approach to those who are trapped in unbelief. It is indeed a trap.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
It is possible to handle disagreements lovingly, but we'll have to remember that we love the people with whom we have the disagreement! It's too easy to fall into the "us against them" trap, leading to contentious disagreements that damage relationships.
Anytime there are gatherings, there will also be multiple opportunities for disagreements. The old saying that you don’t discuss politics or religion at the dinner table needs a new category added: vaccinations. When I was a child and I would hear my Dad and Mom having a disagreement, if Mom kept adding to the list of transgressions Dad would say seven words: “You just want something to fuss about.” There are people today who qualify for that charge. They not only want something to fuss about; but they also expect you to agree with them or else you are most surely WRONG!
When someone throws a baited hook at you in the form of a prickly statement, do you take the bait and jump into an argument, or do you use discretion and carefully consider your words before speaking? We may think that we must say something, but sometimes taking the bait leads to nothing but a war of words.
This is way too big a topic to cover in a brief podcast, so we'll condense this down to four things that we can do to handle disagreements with tender loving care. Disagreements with are unavoidable. Arguments are avoidable.
NEW! Encouragement for Women--A 30-day Devotional
Have you ever had a time when something tragic or otherwise painful happened in a loved one’s life and they looked at you in shock and sadly asked, “Why me?” That’s a hard question, isn’t it? In fact, it doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned veteran to hardship and loss, it’s still a question that doesn’t have an easy answer. Sometimes we ask questions that cannot be answered fully on this side of Heaven.
It used to be true that if you suffered something catastrophic, you were somewhat rare. People would flock to the side of a person when they received a sobering diagnosis or if someone in their family passed away. But now, with so much going on in our world, more people have been struck by hardships and grief than ever before. Has death accelerated, or is it just more noticeable because we’re keeping track of the numbers? That’s another question that has no easy answer, but this we do know, things have changed, and we have more questions than answers.
This episode addresses three common questions that don’t have easy answers, followed by suggestions in how to rewrite them into prayer requests. The purpose of this exercise is to increase hope and confidence in God. He has not abandoned us, even if this season in life seems incredibly heavy. These suggested revisions of the hard questions are only designed to provide a way to view things from a more helpful angle.
NEW! Encouragement for Women--A 30-day Devotional
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When you read a post on social media and it makes an unverified claim, do you automatically assume that it’s true?
Do you make hasty decisions based on your emotions rather than taking the time to pray?
Have you ever had a caution in your soul about whether or not to do something, but you ignored it and ended up getting hurt by your own choice?
What do these questions have in common? All of them are related to a lack of prudence. A lack of prudence can turn life into one mess after another.
Included in the definitions of “prudent” you’ll find this gem of a statement: “Cautious not to act when the end is of doubtful utility.” In other words, a prudent person isn’t going to do something without considering the possible outcome of the actions. Prudence really enriches a person’s life. The wisdom of being a prudent person leads to less worry, a lot less drama, and less clean-up of self-made messes.
This episode walks through four verses about the prudent person. We’ll see some identifying marks that can help us to make some life improvements.
NEW! Encouragement for Women--A 30-day Devotional
Not long ago, I saw a little wall plaque that said this: “Hold on. I’ve gotta overthink about it.” That’s funny until it’s not.
Overthinking keeps us from doing things that could be beneficial while trapping us in a prison cell of doubt. Whether you’re doubting your abilities or doubting God, overthinking is a real vision killer, and it feeds on fears and what ifs. Is overthinking keeping you stuck? Don’t overthink that question. Just answer it honestly.
The general definition of overthinking is to “think about something too much or for too long.” Why would we do this? There are lots of reasons, but it is a learned behavior. Sometimes it’s fear of failure, and other times it may be a fear of not being accepted, or maybe we’re just afraid to try anything unfamiliar. Is there something you’re supposed to be doing but you’ve talked yourself out of trying? You may be a victim of overthinking, and the person doing this to you is in the mirror.
Whatever you’re putting off—whether it’s sharing the Gospel with someone God has put in your path, starting a new ministry, or launching a small business, overthinking will trap you in a loop of second-third-and-fourth guessing, preventing you from getting anything done. This is a form of self-inflicted torment, and unless we face this foe, we’ll stay stuck by choice. Sometimes it’s more comfortable not to do something than to step out boldly and walk by faith.
How can we stop paralyzing ourselves with overthinking? Let’s consider four suggestions, and then you can get together with God to pray about this whole subject. He has more for you. As usual, this episode is just a starter list.
NEW! Encouragement for Women--A 30-day Devotional
Have you ever opened a package of something, intending only to have a few bites and then suddenly the entire package was gone? We may think it’s something that’s just routine, but it’s really the result of a habit.
Sometimes we try to wiggle out of facing our issues by claiming that they aren’t addressed in the Bible, but on closer examination we will find that habits are in the Bible. They show up in lists like the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22-23, and like the "add to our faith" qualities in 2 Peter 1:5-8.
Good habits help us to grow. Bad habits hinder growth and keep us stuck and spinning our wheels like a car stuck in a Minnesota snowbank. If you’ve never experienced having your car tires stuck in a snowbank, let me tell you from experience that you can rev the engine all you want but you’re not going anywhere.
Why do we settle for being stuck in habits that we hate when we can grow and thrive? Sometimes it’s as simple as this: we’re not examining ourselves to consider our ways. We’re just repeating the same mistakes but expecting a different outcome. God can help us with this. Let’s look at a person in the Bible whose habits helped him, with the goal of allowing the examples to help us as well. His name was Paul, and he had some great habits that anyone can practice.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
"I don't like what's happening in my life right now."
Culture shock sounds like that.
Maybe you’re a newlywed and you’ve moved to a new town with your husband and you don’t even know your way to Target. We know how much we love our Target runs!
Or could it be that you’re a former Pastor’s wife and suddenly, your husband is no longer the pastor? That creates an identity crisis on several levels.
Or maybe you’re a missionary on the field, and you wonder sometimes if people really care enough to pray for you as you go through struggles that you wouldn’t write about in the missionary prayer letter.
Or perhaps you’re like me, a widow who doesn’t know how to NOT be a wife. You’ve been married for longer than you’ve done anything else in life, and now you’re in a “Who am I?” stage of life.
Or maybe your situation is something else, but you’re still feeling like things just don’t fit right.
We don't have to move to a foreign country to experience culture shock. Whether you're feeling cut off from things that were familiar, or you're just going through too many changes, the uncertainty and uneasiness is real.
What can we do when we’re in a new or trying situation and we're wrestling to adjust? This episode provides four tips designed to inspire you to walk through this season with hope and encouragement.
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ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of self-indulgence is “excessive or unrestrained gratification of one's own appetites, desires, or whims.” Self-indulgence has lots of indicators. Here are some signs that you may be struggling with self-indulgence:
- You have an income but no money because of your spending habits.
- You repeatedly complain about your weight but you keep eating things that are great for packing on the pounds.
- Arriving late is your trademark for almost everything because of poor time management.
- You allow yourself to be moody and expect people to deal with it because "that's just how you are."
- You’re taking poor care of your health but making excuses for it.
Self-indulgence is self-inflicted bondage. You are in prison and holding the keys. Living like this makes life less enjoyable and more stressful. The self-indulgent life seems like it would reward us, but it actually robs and enslaves us. This tendency to do whatever we please was born in the Garden of Eden, and it has been an easy trap every since. What can we do about it?
This episode provides three starter suggestions, and then it would be best for you to go and spend some time with the Lord in prayer for more specific direction. We’re all unique, and while we may have common struggles, God can put His finger on our particular weaknesses and help us to overcome them by His power and might, not by our own.
Are you one of many people who didn’t mind when church was limited to live stream for a season? Maybe you would only admit this to close friends or family, but you had company. After decades of going to church in person, suddenly we were sitting in our pajamas with pancakes, bacon, coffee and our Bibles. Okay maybe some of you only had coffee but still, this wasn't how we normally went to church.
Something happened during that time of dramatic change. It advanced the ideal environment for spiritual dryness. Not everyone had this experience, but if you found yourself embracing the live stream over the in-person service so much that you didn’t want to return, there may have been more going on than just side effects of the pandemic. And it’s not just about church, either.
Seasons of spiritual dryness can happen to anyone. The pandemic is not the only thing that was going on in people’s lives when it arrived, and it will never be the only thing we’re facing on any given day. There are many things in life that can leave us feeling physically spent and spiritually drained, but God can help us to recover. We'll consider three indicators that we may be running dry, and then we’ll explore suggestions for recovering from this temporary condition. Spiritual dryness happens, but it doesn’t have to become permanent.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
One of the wealthiest people who ever lived had houses in the plural, and they were paid for in full. These homes were surrounded by vineyards and gorgeous gardens filled with orchards of fruit trees. An elaborate irrigation system watered the gardens and trees. No running around moving the old-fashioned sprinklers for this property owner!
But it didn’t stop there. Since this person had unlimited wealth, servants were hired to do everything from groundskeeping to cooking, cleaning, and more. Any possessions that someone else had, this person had to have bigger and better. There wasn’t enough to satisfy the bottomless appetite of this wealthy man.
And even with all this abundance, the man named Solomon, who had been known for his great wisdom said these shocking words found in Ecclesiastes 2:17:
"Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit."
Have you ever said that you hated life? Maybe you, like Solomon, were looking for satisfaction in all the wrong places. While there are many lessons we could learn from Solomon's mistakes, we'll consider three take-aways that are relevant to our lives today.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Old Testament Bible Application Study
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When several items were stolen from my checked luggage last December, it really degraded my trust in the airlines. I couldn't prove who took the things from my bag, but this experience made me determine not to pack anything of greater value than a pair of used shoes!
It's understandable when we have trust issues as a side effect of being wronged by someone, especially when it was someone we should have been able to count as reliable. The problem with trust issues is that they tend to spill over into our walk with God, causing us to worry and become filled with anxiety and doubt. Fear and fretfulness are merely signs that our trust in God needs opportunities to grow.
We may prefer to stay in our comfort zones, but greater growth happens in the discomfort zone, and that's where trust is learned. God is worthy of our trust, no matter what happens in this life.
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You’ve done or said something wrong and now your friend is upset with you. It was totally an accident, but the outcome was the same as if you’d had done it on purpose. You felt really bad about it at first, until you started analyzing the situation. Was it really all your fault, or was this person just being thin-skinned?
Come to think of it, hasn’t she or he said a thing or two in the past that didn’t sit right with you, but you let it go? Where is the grace for you that you gave them when they were in the wrong? The more you replay these unhelpful thoughts, the less inclined you'll be to apologize. Developing a bad attitude won’t fix the situation. It will just delay the repairs.
Apologizing when we’ve done or said something offensive requires spiritual maturity and humility. This episode will focus on what we can do to make things right when we’ve been the offender.
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Have you ever had something happen in your life that made you wonder, "What just happened here?"
Heartbreaking events create a pressure in life that is like an explosion. First, there is shock as a person processes information that knocks them off their feet, and then the pain begins. As pain transitions into a cold numbness, it leaves behind side-effects that take time to resolve. Explosions in families, marriages, ministry, and more are reminders of our perilous times.
What can we do after something has happened to cause the earth to feel like it is crumbling beneath our feet? How do we recover when tragedy strikes, leaving us dazed and wounded? There are some things that we can do, and we'll cover these suggestions in this episode.
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People in the Old and New Testament had painful things happen in their lives that people wouldn't tend to freely discuss:
- King David murdered Uriah to cover up his adultery with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba. (2 Sam. 11:1-17). The baby from this adulterous relationship died abruptly.
- Abigail was married to Nabal, a wealthy and powerful man who was also a disagreeable drunk. (1 Sam. 25:3). We can only guess the challenges she had.
- Jonah struggled with discouragement and depression (Jonah 4:8). He wanted to die even after his miraculous survival from living in a fish belly for three days.
- Judas committed suicide (Matt. 27:3-5). This had to have been so sad for the disciples who considered him a friend, but have you ever wondered how his parents felt?
All of these accounts from Scripture prove that we are not the first to have things happen in our lives that are uncommonly hard. Sometimes things happen that we just can’t discuss openly with others, and this may lead to feelings of isolation and despair.
This episode offers four suggestions for walking through those times when we’re dealing with issues that we’re not free to discuss. We need wisdom when we’re secretly carrying a heavy burden. When you can't talk about it, you may feel lonely, but you are not alone.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Old Testament Bible Application Study
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There are times in life when we are really vulnerable to spiritual attacks. For some, the stress of the pandemic has led to a lukewarmness about Bible reading, church attendance, or other healthy spiritual habits. For others, the passing of a loved one has left a painful fog of grief mingled with indifference to anything spiritual. Or maybe it’s a matter of who has access to your thinking. Are you spending a lot of time with people who are not interested in godly living? Regardless of the cause, any of us could go through seasons when we’re spiritually vulnerable, increasing the temptation to backslide.
Anything we do in this life is tied to our spiritual health. If we’re spiritually healthy, it’s reflected in our choices. The same is true if we’re spiritually unhealthy: it will show.
Are you in the process of backsliding? Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines a backslider as “one who falls from faith and practice of religion.” We know that Christianity is a relationship; but the word “religion” is in the Bible, and it’s referring to our worship of God. So, in this sense, backsliding is the act of falling from our faith back into habits and behaviors that are selfish and biblically off-base.
What if you or someone you love is heading in the wrong direction? Let’s look at a brief list of indicators, and then we’ll consider what we can do about it.
You finally got together with that sister friend for a long overdue cup of coffee. The conversation was general small talk until suddenly, your friend looked at you and said, "Can I talk to you about something?" As she unfolded her problem, you were wondering if you could truly help. Giving counsel is a very serious matter. After all, we surely don't want to add new problems to existing ones.
Biblical counseling includes purposeful advice with scriptural guidance and planning. It's not just a couple of people venting or passing opinions back and forth. Bring a notebook and pen to this episode. We'll cover a list of five instructions designed to help you as you're helping others.
"Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end." (Proverbs 19:20)
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Case Studies
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The desire to control the outcomes and people in our lives is a very common temptation. It’s a flawed thread woven into the fabric of our lives, making us tense and anxious. It’s also a tendency that comes with our carnal nature, feeding on imaginations that we know what’s best.
Being in control of life’s circumstances is an illusion and a delusion. We can trick ourselves into believing that if we manipulate situations just right, things will turn out according to our desires. The problem with this plot is that we’re out of line. People with control issues also have major trust issues, and the lack of trust starts with God and then works its way down into other relationships.
This episode is directed to the controlling types. We can’t dive deeply into this topic in eleven minutes, so let’s just consider three signs of a controlling person, and some suggestions on ways to give up this draining habit while inspiring improvements.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Was someone given the job that you wanted and now you’re unhappy because you thought that you were better suited for the position? And no matter how hard you've tried not to think about it, does your mind keep replaying the painful tape?
Or maybe a friend of yours just had something fabulous happen in her life, and you’re wondering why she gets all the fabulous while you get all the ordinary. When would it be your turn? Why were great things happening to everyone but you?
Are you looking at someone else’s life and thinking that they have what you want? If so, you’re wrestling with envy and it's keeping you pinned to the mat. Envy will trap you in a competition that you can’t win because it is never satisfied.
Proverbs 27:4 makes a statement and then asks a question: "Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?" Who is able to stand before envy? No one. Compared to wrath and anger, envy comes up as the hardest on the list. It’s like a self-inflicted gunshot wound, causing pain that could have been avoided.
There is nothing good about the consuming emotion of envy. It’s such a spirit crusher! One of the easiest ways to keep your life in a negative loop is to allow envy to creep in and color your world. Regardless of what caused the envy, exposing it to the light will help you to call it by name and face this foe. This episode examines three ways that envy warps our world, and what we can do to escape the envy trap.
BONUS EPISODE: There are many things that may make marriage difficult: A job loss, a change in health, poor communication skills, trouble with young adults, interfering relatives, a contentious woman, an angry man, or you fill in the blank.
Get a notebook to jot down five observations and suggestions on how to ride out the ups and downs that happen after the "I do." This bonus episode is not meant to be a substitute for Christian marriage counseling, but we hope that it will help with small things that often become big. If you are going through something that's extreme in your marriage, a Christian counselor will be a very vital resource.
Making a Difficult Marriage Better was originally taught at a women's Bible conference, but it's condensed for this podcast. Most episodes on Keep the Heart will cover the "issues of life" affecting a general audience, but occasionally we'll do a bonus episode that is more like a breakout session. This would also make a good episode to share with a small group, and then you could have an engaging discussion at the end.
Making up your own marriage rules is like drawing up a faulty map that leads to the wrong destination. Following God’s directions for relationships will lead to the right destination because He knows the way. Actually, He is the way.
How can we share the Gospel in a world that is so seemingly antagonistic to anything related to Christianity? In a word: thoughtfully. While news media reports continue to paint the world as fully divided, people are still seeking answers for how to live, and they want the truth. That's the same as seeking Christ.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
As people trust Christ, this impacts our society in a positive way, one soul at a time. There are so many creative ways that we can share the Gospel in this desperate world, but we first have to care. Has your desire to share Christ with others grown cold? This episode will give you reminders along with ideas that you can use right away.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Old Testament Bible Application Study
When we speak discouraging or negative words to ourselves, we’re not helping our situations. We’re just giving ourselves a few more reasons to feel bad. Do you talk to yourself? Most people do, but what if the scripts in our minds were projected onto forehead screens where anyone could read them? Would we edit what we've been saying to ourselves?
Try to think of the last time you had a gracious thought about yourself for anything unrelated to physical appearance or numbers on a scale. I’m not talking about being conceited; I’m talking about extending the same grace to yourself that you would to others. Have you ever thanked the Lord for who you are in Him, or do you repeatedly allow negative chatter and unproven fears to dominate the airwaves of your mind? God can fix this flaw, but we have to yield our hearts and minds to Him for spiritual transformation.
The topic of having a “noisy head” is nothing new, but I'd like to give you some things to consider to help make your thought life more beneficial. Get ready for three reasons why we need to rule over the things that we say to ourselves. Our thoughts may not be audible to others, but God hears us loud and clear.
Have you ever prayed and asked the Lord to reveal any sin in your life, only to have Him point out something that you really didn’t think was wrong? We don't see things as clearly as God sees them. Our vision is imperfect.
There's a good chance that someone listening to this episode has a secret life and you’d probably prefer that it would never be revealed, but God already knows all about it. Whether it’s double-standard living, harboring envy, hiding something from your spouse, or some other sin, here is the reality: The secret life is not so secret.
A secret life of sin can stunt our growth, limit our service, and harm our reputations. This episode explores common areas where we tend to justify things that are unbiblical and displeasing to God, followed by suggested solutions. Ultimately, it is up to you to ask God to search and try you personally. He has the ability to cleanse us from "secret faults."
"Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults." (Psalm 19:12)
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
How many of you have had something happen within the past year that was not in your planner? Here's another way to put it: Is there anyone who didn't have something happen off-script? I think we're finished being surprised that life has surprises!
In this episode, we’ll consider four things that we can do when we are facing the unexpected:
1. Face the Fears.
2. Face the Frustrations.
3. Face the Facts.
4. Face the Fire (God's refining fire).
We prefer to have lives that fit neatly into their designated boxes, but life is rarely that tidy. It is often messy and unpredictable. We don't know what today will bring, or even the next moment. Instead of expecting things to go according to our plans, we can trust God with His plan.
"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." (Proverbs 27:1)
Are you following Christ, or are you just a great pretender? Could someone else look at your life and copy it as a pattern for walking with God? Do you consider what your choices and decisions mean to God before you make them?
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." These were the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 11:1, and it was a very bold statement. Keep in mind that Paul was just a man. In fact, he was a man with a very dark past that he openly admitted and it was no secret to others. How could a man go from being one of the greatest persecutors of Christians to one of the most devoted Christians?
Paul learned how to live by the Word, and he encouraged believers to be “followers” of him, as he followed Christ. The unspoken part of this statement was also true: if Paul wasn’t following Christ, then he didn’t want people to follow him. Two words within the verse make this clear: “even as.” This makes his statement conditional. Paul wasn’t merely saying, “Hey everyone, copy me because I’m a super-Christian.” He knew better and besides; Paul knew his own history.
What he was saying was this: “Copy me as I copy Christ. Imitate me as I imitate Christ. Do what I’m doing if it is according to Christ and His Word. What Paul was saying wasn’t easy, but at least he had a walk that matched his talk. Could we say, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ”? In other words, would our lives make a good pattern for someone else to help them walk with God?
What does it look like to follow Christ? In the letter to the believers at Philippi, the instructions that were given then are still valuable to us today. Philippians 2:5-8 gives us a pattern that serves as our example. This episode breaks the pattern down into five points that we can copy as we learn to follow Christ.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Case Studies
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You’ve probably known of people who used to be friends, but something went wrong and instead of repairing the problem, they turned against each other. Both friends felt like the other person caused the issue, so they were both waiting for the other to apologize. It was a very long wait. They went to the same church, had an overlapping friend group, and things were awkward for anyone who knew them.
Are you the friend with the broken relationship?
Are you holding a grudge against someone right now? When you hear those words, does a face pop up onto the movie screen of your mind? Something has gone wrong, and instead of resolving the conflict, one or both of you have chosen to cling to the hurt and now it’s hurting you. Holding a grudge always hurts the holder more than anyone else.
In the book, Ponder the Path—A 31 Day Devotional (link below), Day 22 addresses the connection between anger and bitterness. First there is a transgression, then anger, and if the conflict remains unresolved, the anger waters the seeds of bitterness. Soon, the person is a carrier of an angry and bitter virus that spawns a grudge. This episode addresses three reasons why holding a grudge is harmful to us and to others.
"The biopsy showed a malignant tumor..."
"Your baby has doesn't have a heartbeat..."
"There's been a terrible car accident. We're sorry..."
When you hear words that signal the beginning of a fiery trial, does it make you wonder why you and why now? Why did God bring you into such a hard place? Why didn’t He keep the event from happening? If God is all-powerful, why does He allow us to suffer when He could easily stop it? Is God being unfair? Why is this happening?
While we can’t answer anything that God hasn’t answered in His Word, we can address and apply what He has given us. The truth is this: there is no simple answer for the “Why would God” questions. What would we consider to be an acceptable response? An answer that I may accept, you may reject. Instead of asking “Why would God?” we can rephrase this into a question that has answers: What can God do with my suffering?
It is a reality that life deals some hard blows, and our reactions are human. God knows us and understands that we don’t want to suffer, but He also promised that He would be with us through our valleys. Life never has just one valley. The journey has several, but we don’t have to go through the incredibly dark times alone. Let's consider a starter list of four things that God can do in and through our suffering.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Case Studies
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Without realizing it, we are often following our hearts instead of following God. We have a tendency to number sin on a scale of one to ten rather than being honest about the fact that we’re doing our own thing while pretending to be godly.
“Follow your heart” has become the repetitive motto that sounds so noble, but it is misguided. What does this saying really mean? It’s not telling us to pay attention to the beating muscle in our chest. It’s a “go with the gut” mentality that allows our minds to guide us apart from the mind of Christ. “Follow your heart” actually sounds like a training camp slogan for a painful life.
God never intended for our hearts to be our guides. He is our guide, but when we ignore God’s leading and go with our heart’s desires, we end up in situations that cause anxiety and even despair. This episode shares a list of four reasons why we should not follow our hearts.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Have you ever lost your composure, your temper, or any other form of emotional control over failed plans? Or have you ever gone home crying from an event that was supposed to be happy, because something didn't go the way you had expected? Do you turn simple situations into big hairy stressful ones? You may be a Drama Mama.
Drama is mainly a distraction designed to keep our focus on trivial matters. These distractions can keep us from becoming all that God wants us to be. When we’re engaged in drama, we’re not gracious or godly women. Drama turns us into bad actors.
This episode exposes some characteristics of the Drama Mama, but not for the sake of analyzing others. The goal of this lesson is to look for anything in our own hearts and lives that needs changing. We don't have to live from one drama to the next. By allowing God to “transform us,” we become more like Christ and His Holy Spirit inspires us to imitate Him.
"Honey, are you sitting down?" When my husband said those words by phone, I wasn't expecting good news to follow.
Receiving a difficult diagnosis happens every day, but it doesn’t strike us to the core until it’s happening to us. There is no perfect way to respond to a frightening diagnosis, but this segment shares information that may be helpful to you. Just remember this: Everyone’s situation is different, so you're about to listen to a very short list of things to consider, not hard and fast guidelines and certainly not medical advice.
Dealing with a difficult medical diagnosis means that your life will look different now. For those on the caregiving side, you will need support and assistance, so let people help you. For those who are patients with changed lives, rest in the reality that you are ultimately God’s and He is yours. God will walk with you and comfort you in your affliction.
If you are wondering what happens to a soul when it leaves the body, the link below provides answers about eternity in an abbreviated message, courtesy of First Baptist Church in Rosemount, Minnesota:
"You should get your eyebrows done." When someone said that to me after a conference, it made me wonder if that was her only takeaway from a weekend of Bible application lessons...and it also sent me in search of a mirror. If someone makes a questionable comment about your physical appearance, do keep replaying the comment in your mind? Image issues can cause us to get stuck like that.
Who told women that they need "perfect eyebrows"? Clever marketing companies continue to create imaginary shortcomings, and then of course they’ll sell us the solutions. "Cover that gray hair. We'll sell you the dye every six weeks. Here's the face cream for those no-no-gotta-go wrinkles. Get a flat stomach with buns of steel by using our exercise program, and we’ll throw in a digital home scale that syncs to your cellphone and keeps you obsessed with your weight."
God has much more purpose for us than just competing to look the best until death. Image issues are common, but we're not stuck with them. This episode offers practical tips for finding freedom from image issues.
“Mom and Dad, I need to talk to you.” This is a generic version of the statement parents may hear before an adult child shares news that feels like a bomb dropped. Sometimes you see warning signs. Other times, you’re broadsided and wondering what just happened. The grief and heartache that often follows is a normal response to loss. It’s normal but not permanent. It’s never a good idea to stay stuck in a negative thought loop about our own children. God can show us how to walk this out.
This is another Bonus Episode in our podcast lineup. Since most of the episodes will be for a general audience of women across many stages, occasionally we will do a breakout session to address a specific issue. The topic of facing hardships with adult children is one that comes up repeatedly in email requests. We hope that this capsulized episode will give you some points to ponder.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Are your friendships high maintenance? Is someone upset with you because of a small thing and you’re stressed out about it? Do you wonder sometimes about the people you’ve allowed into your close inner circle? When our friendships become thorny burdens, we need to give those friendships a checkup. Something is unhealthy somewhere. This episode covers five ideas for building consistent friendships.
Imagine having a friend who would steal money from you, share your private information with people who hated you, and take a bribe to have you killed. Jesus had a friend like that, and his name was Judas. It’s really easy to paint Judas as the ultimate villain, but are we anything like Judas?
It’s so much easier to point out the faults of others than it is to recognize the flaws in ourselves. Judas had certain traits that are common to those who are disregarding God. This episode takes a brief look at three things about Judas that can double as a personal examination.
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Have you ever offended someone without realizing it? What’s your response to a situation like that? Do you apologize once you're made aware of the situation, or do you get defensive and blame the offended person for being "thin-skinned"? Your response can make a difference or it could make a bigger mess.
Relationships are gifts, but we tend to appreciate people the most when they’re gone. It doesn’t have to be like that. We can cherish and treasure our relationships now. This episode covers four helpful behaviors for building better relationships.
Thanks for leaving those five-star ratings and incredibly encouraging reviews on Apple, and for following Keep the Heart here on Podbean!
Are we doomed to be insecure until we’re too old to remember how to spell the word? No. Insecurity is not a life sentence. It's an opportunity to examine ourselves for faulty thinking, allowing us to replace the false with the truth. Insecurity is really just a lack of self-confidence paired with an overdose of self-doubt, which is not entirely bad. We need more confidence, but in God and not in self. God-confidence is rooted and grounded in how He sees us rather than how we view ourselves.
Whether it’s pretending to be humble or trying to be the center of attention, pride is the driver of insecurity.
Are we doomed to be insecure until we’re too old to remember how to spell the word? No. Insecurity is not a life sentence. It's an opportunity to examine ourselves for faulty thinking, allowing us to replace the false with the truth. Insecurity is really just a lack of self-confidence paired with an overdose of self-doubt, which is not entirely bad. We need more confidence, but in God and not in self. God-confidence is rooted and grounded in how He sees us rather than how we view ourselves.
Insecurity often causes us to say and do things to elevate self, but no matter what we do, it's never enough. Whether it’s pretending to be humble or endlessly seeking attention, pride is the driver of insecurity. This episode covers five practices that we can apply to begin the process of overcoming insecurity. Share this podcast with family and friends!
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
What does it take for you to jump to the irritated default mode? Getting stuck in traffic when you’re already running late? New policy changes at work? A last-minute change in plans that you don’t like? Even those who are usually very tranquil have things that can push them beyond their emotionally calm boundaries.
Life can be stressful and pressures may pile up, but we don’t have to live with the heat turned on high all the time. There can be calm inserted into the daily pressures, because not all pressures are big deals. This episode covers three encouraging practices that we can begin applying right away. High-strung is not a life sentence; it's a changeable habit.
BONUS EPISODE: It's great to have a wonderful marriage, but married life is not wonderful all day, every day. In fact, many have experienced some rough waters along the way. Married people have to work hard at learning how to love and care for one another as God designed it. In this bonus episode, I'm sharing some of the mistakes I made as a newlywed. People may learn from success, but failure is educational, too. Grab a beverage and settle into a comfy chair for this "NOT TO DO" list.
1 John 3:18 reminds us how to love: "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." Married life is a vapor.
Most episodes on Keep the Heart will cover the "issues of life" affecting a general audience, but occasionally we'll do a bonus episode that is more like a breakout session. This one is for wives or soon-to-be wives.
The scene is familiar. Someone you love is living in a way that is unstable, so you attempt to correct them with instructions that seem logical to you. The conversation ends in painful frustration. What went wrong?
You tried to reprove a scorner.
The biblical guideline for reproving a scorner can be summed up in a word: Don’t. There’s drama ahead if we try to instruct someone who lives by the motto, “Don’t tell me what to do.”
Francie walks through key verses about dealing with a scorner from a loving and biblical perspective. If you have someone in your life who is actively choosing to walk contrary to Scripture, this episode will help you to handle matters wisely rather than making things worse. The deeper the problems, the greater the miracles.
Abbreviated in the blog--"Don't Tell Me What to Do"
Have you ever told yourself that you couldn’t eat a certain food for a time, and then you’d go and eat more of it than ever? Or have you ever tried to hold back from losing your temper and then you let loose and exploded like a cannon? Or maybe you’ve experienced the runaway tongue that blurted out something that should have been edited before it was spoken? These examples are all related to a lack of self-control, also known in the Bible as temperance.
Self-control is unnatural, but it can be gained through training. God wants us to have this fruit of the Spirit, and so He trains us through exercises that he allows into our lives. This episode covers some exercises we can practice to cultivate the fruit of temperance.
Many thanks for all the star ratings and encouraging reviews that dozens of you have left on Apple podcasts!
ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--Heart Conditions Bible Study
Proverbs 27 Off-Script is a Bible application study of seven verses from Proverbs 27, beginning with the reminder that we never know "what a day may bring forth." The verses covered in this study are as follows: Proverbs 27:1, 4, 5-6, 9, 10, and 17.
The Off-Script episodes are like sitting in the dining room at Francie's house with a slice of homemade pumpkin bread, a smooth cup of coffee, and the Bible. This episode also provides an example of the practical applications found in the book of Proverbs.
Improve your daily Bible study habit: Ponder the Path 31-Day Devotional
ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--Heart Conditions Bible Study
(Off-script episodes do not have lesson notes.)
Have you ever had question run through your mind: “Why didn’t God answer my prayer? It’s not uncommon to think like this, but underneath this question is another question: Did God fail to answer your prayer, or did He answer it differently than you requested it?
We may be praying more than ever, but are we praying with a right spirit? A spirit of fear is not from God. He is never rattled and nothing surprises Him. How can we shift our thinking from fearful to trusting?
This episode covers five ways that we can clear up our thinking about prayer, and improve our prayer lives in the process.
Lesson notes coming soon!
BONUS EPISODE: There’s a quote that says this: “Unsolicited advice is the junk mail of life.” That’s why this episode has the title, “A Young Mom Asked for Advice.” A young mom wrote to us with two motherhood questions. Since she asked, we are providing solicited advice!
Most episodes on Keep the Heart will cover the "issues of life" affecting a general audience, but occasionally we'll do a bonus episode that is more like a breakout session. Invite your mom friends to listen.
A Young Mom Asked-Lesson notes
Are there certain things that just set you off? We will never argue our way to happiness, and the only satisfaction in winning an argument is proving that you can be contentious to the finish line. What can we do about this human tendency to be contentious? The Bible has a lot to say about this subject, but we’ll just examine a few verses in this episode, leaving room for you to continue this important topical study on your own.
Contentious Relationships Lesson Notes
ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--Heart Conditions Bible Study
Have you mastered the plaster smile? It’s the one that we wear when our insides are not smiling but we don’t want to reveal our true emotions. It’s easy to hide discouragement, but it’s not a solution to pretend to be fine when we’re not. Francie shares three biblical suggestions to help listeners who are walking through difficult times.
How to Handle Discouragement Lesson Notes
Some of the biggest mistakes that we've made in our lives are directly related to a lack of wisdom, but God can help us to turn that around. If you're tired of spinning your wheels in the ditch, you're ready for wisdom. Grab your Bible and turn to Proverbs chapter four.
Ponder the Path 31-day Devotional
Have you been struggling to develop a daily Bible study habit? You’re not the first, and you are not alone. This episode shares insights and examples of the lessons God teaches us from His Word when we make Bible study an essential priority in our lives. Francie uses Proverbs 17 to provide examples of what we would learn through the Proverb-a-Day study system. Learn how you can build a Bible study habit that draws you closer to God and teaches you how to handle the issues of life wisely.
In Job 16:2, the man Job gave his well-meaning friends a title: "miserable comforters." Job's friends meant to help, but they ended up causing greater pain. We could make the same mistake simply by saying or doing the wrong thing, or the right thing at the wrong time. How can we be helpful to those who are hurting? Join us for insights and suggestions on ways to be a comfort to those who are grieving.
Read more about the story of Job in the popular Bible study series, ICU--In Christ Unconditionally, Old Testament, available on our website!
Coming to Christ later in life means that we’ll bring baggage that accumulated during those unsaved days. Baggage that a person who grew up in a Christian home usually does not have. The good news is you can unpack now. It doesn’t matter when you became a believer, you are still a part of the family of God. So, what are some of the things that may need unpacking? We'll take a look at a short list together.
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ICU--In Christ Unconditionally New Testament Bible Study
People are so desperate to appear popular and prosperous, they'll even spend money to fake it! God sees prosperity differently that we see it. Join Francie for this Proverbs 22:4 mini-devo on how humility and fear of the Lord are the keys to God's forms of riches, honor, and life.
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Introducing Keep the Heart with Francie Taylor, making Bible study meaningful through mini lessons on the issues of life. Join us every week for lessons designed to take you from learning to applying.
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