Episodes
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Blind Spots in Life
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Monday Sep 25, 2023
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
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Teachback Tuesday-Did God Answer Your Prayer?
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Monday Sep 18, 2023
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
Monday Sep 11, 2023
Teachback Tuesday-Inserting Calm Into Daily Pressures
Monday Sep 11, 2023
Monday Sep 11, 2023
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
Monday Sep 04, 2023
The Tricky Terrain of Giving Advice
Monday Sep 04, 2023
Monday Sep 04, 2023
(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
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Be the First to Apologize (rebroadcast)
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Monday Aug 28, 2023
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
Monday Aug 21, 2023
The Heavy Things We Carry by Guest Host Janice Wolfe (rebroadcast)
Monday Aug 21, 2023
Monday Aug 21, 2023
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
Monday Aug 14, 2023
The Secret Life is Not So Secret
Monday Aug 14, 2023
Monday Aug 14, 2023
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
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Monday Aug 07, 2023
Holding a Grudge Hurts the Holder
Monday Aug 07, 2023
Monday Aug 07, 2023
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
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Surviving an Explosion in Life
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Monday Jul 31, 2023
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
Monday Jul 24, 2023
How to Handle Discouragement
Monday Jul 24, 2023
Monday Jul 24, 2023
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
Monday Jul 17, 2023
When We Don’t Want to Forgive
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Monday Jul 17, 2023
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
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Bonus Episode for Wives-Love Him Like You Don’t Have Tomorrow
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
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
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Soundbite-Are You Angry With Someone?
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
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
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Monday Jun 26, 2023
Teachback Tuesday-We Don’t Have to Be So Broken Down
Monday Jun 26, 2023
Monday Jun 26, 2023
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
Monday Jun 19, 2023
Teachback Tuesday-Is It Toxic or Is It Us?
Monday Jun 19, 2023
Monday Jun 19, 2023
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
Support this podcast with a donation of your choice!
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Like Keep the Heart on Facebook
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Four Ways to Stop Double Mindedness
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Monday Jun 12, 2023
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
Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
Build Your Bible Habit~Proverbs Chapter 12
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
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)
Thank You For Your Podcast Donations!
FOLLOW Keep the Heart on Instagram
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Teachback Tuesday-Are You Overdosing on Bad News?
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Monday Jun 05, 2023
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
Monday May 29, 2023
Teachback Tuesday-I am Slap Wore Out
Monday May 29, 2023
Monday May 29, 2023
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.
Shop the "Mall of Keep the Heart"
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Monday May 22, 2023
Talebearers Are Troublemakers
Monday May 22, 2023
Monday May 22, 2023
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
Thursday May 18, 2023
Bonus Replays-Dumb Things I Did as a Newlywed
Thursday May 18, 2023
Thursday May 18, 2023
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.
Shop the "Mall of Keep the Heart"
Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor
Monday May 15, 2023
Teachback Tuesday-Prayer is Not Like Same-Day Dry Cleaning
Monday May 15, 2023
Monday May 15, 2023
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
Monday May 08, 2023
Teachback Tuesday-We Are Not Called to Be Argumentative
Monday May 08, 2023
Monday May 08, 2023
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
Monday May 01, 2023
Crying with Purpose
Monday May 01, 2023
Monday May 01, 2023
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
Monday Apr 24, 2023
Teachback Tuesday-Lessons from an Unexpected Diagnosis
Monday Apr 24, 2023
Monday Apr 24, 2023
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