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
Monday Sep 13, 2021
Monday Sep 13, 2021
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.
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Monday Sep 06, 2021
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
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Monday Aug 30, 2021
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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Monday Aug 23, 2021
Monday Aug 23, 2021
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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Monday Aug 16, 2021
Monday Aug 16, 2021
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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Monday Aug 09, 2021
Monday Aug 09, 2021
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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Monday Aug 02, 2021
Monday Aug 02, 2021
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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Monday Jul 26, 2021
Monday Jul 26, 2021
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.
Monday Jul 19, 2021
Monday Jul 19, 2021
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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Monday Jul 12, 2021
Monday Jul 12, 2021
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
Monday Jul 05, 2021
Monday Jul 05, 2021
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.
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
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.
Monday Jun 28, 2021
Monday Jun 28, 2021
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
Monday Jun 21, 2021
Monday Jun 21, 2021
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.
Monday Jun 14, 2021
Monday Jun 14, 2021
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
Monday Jun 07, 2021
Monday Jun 07, 2021
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)
Monday May 31, 2021
Monday May 31, 2021
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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Monday May 24, 2021
Monday May 24, 2021
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.
Monday May 17, 2021
Monday May 17, 2021
"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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Monday May 10, 2021
Monday May 10, 2021
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
Monday May 03, 2021
Monday May 03, 2021
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.
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
"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:
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Monday Apr 19, 2021
"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.
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
“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
Monday Apr 12, 2021
Monday Apr 12, 2021
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.