Life has issues, and the Bible has the answers. Francie Taylor teaches the relevance of Scripture to daily life through these brief Bible application studies.
Episodes
Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
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:
Blog: How Many Days Do We Have?
Shop the "Mall of Keep the Heart"
Elegant Pink & Brown Leaf Motif Compact Bible
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
"Like" Keep the Heart on Facebook
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
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!
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
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
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."
NEW! Pink & Brown Beautiful Compact KJV Bible
Gorgeous Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
$5-$10-$15-You Choose the Donation!
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
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.
NEW! Elegant Pink & Brown Leaf Motif Compact Bible
Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Teachers of Good Things--English version
Maestras del Bien (Teachers of Good Things)--Spanish version
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
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!
New! Pink & Brown Compact Bible
Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
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."
NEW! Pink & Brown Beautiful Compact KJV Bible
Gorgeous Rose Gold Personal Size KJV Bible
"Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" T-shirt
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Thank You for Your Podcast Donations!
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
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.
First Baptist Church of Rosemount MN
Follow Valerie Clear on Facebook
NEW! Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
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!
NEW! Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
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."
Gorgeous Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
"Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" T-shirt
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Thank You for Your Podcast Donations!
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
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.
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
NEW! Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing
NEW! Encouragement for Your Identity--A 30-day Devotional
NEW! Divorce Hurts--Be An Encourager
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
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.
NEW! Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--New Testament Case Studies
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
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.
Make a Birthday Donation to the Podcast!
NEW! Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Encouragement for Women: A 30-Day Devotional
Thursday Feb 17, 2022
Thursday Feb 17, 2022
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."
NEW! Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Calm in Christ: Inspiring Reasons for Daily Bible Study (ebook)
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
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.
NEW! Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
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."
NEW! Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
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!
NEW! Rose Gold KJV Personal Size Bible
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
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."
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Calm in Christ: Inspiring Reasons for Daily Bible Study ebook
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
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
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
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!
Your Donations Are a Blessing!
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional
Calm in Christ: Inspiring Reasons for Daily Bible Study ebook
Monday Jan 24, 2022
Monday Jan 24, 2022
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.
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
NEW! Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing
NEW! Encouragement for Your Identity--A 30-day Devotional
NEW! Divorce Hurts--Be An Encourager
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
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
Seaside Treasures Seashell Gift Bags
Monday Jan 17, 2022
Monday Jan 17, 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 keep in mind when we’re trying to discern when to speak and when to be silent.
Visit the Shop at Keep the Heart
ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Application Study
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
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
Seaside Treasures Seashell Gift Bags
Monday Jan 10, 2022
Monday Jan 10, 2022
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
Thank you for donating to this podcast!
Monday Jan 03, 2022
Monday Jan 03, 2022
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
Seaside Treasures Seashell Gift Bags