Shows
Keep the HeartNot On Speaking TermsThere is a word for relationships that are stuck in a zone of alienation. That word is “estranged.” There are many reasons for people to distance themselves, but there are times when you may not even know what led to the separation.
Sometimes we may know why a relationship has been damaged, but not always. There are those times when you can’t think of anything you've done and God hasn’t brought anything to mind, and yet you are dealing with the pain of a loved one who has cut off communication without explanation. Whether it’s a family...2025-05-0610 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 29Welcome to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs in five minutes or less! Developing a daily Bible reading habit is a "gift that keeps on giving." As you spend time in the Word, your relationship with God deepens and your ability to handle matters wisely increases.
Proverbs 29:23 is a great reminder verse for the day, cautioning us about the temptation to think too highly of ourselves:
"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit."
Being conceited comes naturally. Humility...2025-04-2905 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Don't Correct a ScornerWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This week's episode, "Don't Correct a Scorner," prompted emails, messages, and thousands of downloads. We are not the first people to have loved ones who are rejecting God, disregarding biblical living, and engaging in behaviors that cause a loss of sleep for those who love them.
If you have a scorner in your life, this episode is for you. When it comes correcting a scorner, the Bible says "reprove not." That's Bible for "Don't."
Apply: Living What We Learn--31-Day Devotional...2025-04-2212 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 16Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a Proverbs chapter in under five minutes! Proverbs 16 is loaded with life application principles that guide us into handling matters wisely.
God's Word teaches us not only how to live, but even how to speak. Words have power, and when we employ them like power tools--with care--we arrive at better outcomes in our interactions with others. Here's a great verse example:
"The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips." (Proverbs 16:23)
Notice that this verse says "t...2025-04-1605 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday: Three Great Relationship HabitsWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons!
This week's episode, "Three Great Relationship Habits" has a short list of goals that are easy to achieve. Life is a vapor, and that includes our relationships. Take a 10-minute break to listen to this helpful relationship-building episode from Season Three.
Apply: Living What We Learn--31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
NEW! Herbs for the Heart: A Study of James by Kathy Ashley
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias
What Do...2025-04-0811 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 1Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit. The first day of each month puts us at the beginning of the book of Proverbs. This introductory chapter lays the foundation for the purposes of Proverbs in our lives:
"To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion." (Proverbs 1:4) The word "subtilty" means "wisdom and prudence." In other words, Proverbs teach us how to apply practical wisdom to the issues that we face in daily living.
It is worth listening to Proverbs chapter 1 at least twice. Pay extra attention to the closing verses. T...2025-04-0105 minKeep the HeartWhen the Problem is Several Years OldDo you have a problem that is over 12 years old? Maybe your situation has gone on longer. One thing is certain: your issue is not too hard for God. We may not understand His timing, but we can trust His goodness. When we don’t understand, Psalm 119:68 makes an excellent prayer request: "Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes."
There was an unnamed woman in the New Testament who had a "12-year issue of blood," which meant that she was hemorrhaging for a major portion of her adult life. Let's examine four lessons from her...2025-03-2516 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 18Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs in about 5 minutes or less. The goal of these chapter episodes is to build a habit of daily Bible reading. While listening may not be the same as reading from a physical Bible, this is a great way to establish your habit.
Here's a verse from Proverbs 18, reminding us that arrogance is destructive, while humility is rewarding:
"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility." (Pro 18:12)
Click HERE to visit the Shop...2025-03-1805 minKeep the HeartHope Beyond GriefWhen I was a senior in high school, I was selected to participate in a foreign exchange student program that led me to live in Chile for a year. My first few months were hard. I felt like a person who didn’t fit in anywhere. There were some days when I just felt lonely and wanted my old familiar life back.
Grief is like that.
The foreign land of grief is unfamiliar and can even make us feel hopeless at times, but there is hope beyond grief. No matter who it is who passes fro...2025-03-1114 minKeep the HeartReplay Wednesday-Calm in the ChaosWelcome to Replay Wednesday, where you'll hear some of the most popular episodes from the previous season. This week's episode, Calm in the Chaos, struck a chord with last season's listeners. When life is chaotic for too long, it changes from challenging to tormenting. It's doubly distressing when we don't know why things are so disorderly and confusing.
If you missed this episode in 2024, take a break for less than 15 minutes to consider four questions you can ask yourself when life is stuck in the uncomfortable zone of chaos. Pray for God to "give you understanding" as...2025-03-0514 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 25Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs in under 5 minutes. The point isn't to make Bible study as short as possible. The goal is to build a daily Bible habit. Time in the Word is personal time with God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
In less time than it takes to scroll through social media, you could listen to a chapter of life-changing Proverbs, building your relationship with Christ while growing in grace and knowledge. He...2025-02-2505 minKeep the HeartWhat Doubt Does to Our FaithThe Bible has historic accounts of the lives of people who were just like us. We are not the first to wrestle with uncertainty, disbelief, or even skepticism. God can help us to grow in our ability to trust Him, but we'll need to deal with the doubt. Let’s look at three ways that doubt works against our faith, and consider how we can surrender our doubts to God.
Mentioned in this episode: Secret Doubts: Working Through Unspoken Unbelief by Tim Zacharias
Apply: Living What We Learn--Daily Devotional by Francie Taylor
Elegant Ol...2025-02-1815 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 14Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit! The habit of being in the Word of God daily builds us up, making us spiritually stronger. God uses the "knowledge of the holy" to give us understanding, helping us to make wiser decisions and choices in our lives.
Proverbs 14 is full of instructions, observations, and even warnings like this: "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge." (Proverbs 14:7)
Foolish people give matching counsel. So what did God say to do? "Go from the presence of a foolish...2025-02-1405 minKeep the HeartReplay Wednesday-How to Handle DiscouragementWelcome to Replay Wednesday! This episode, "How to Handle Discouragement" from Season One continues to be one of the most frequently-downloaded episodes. No surprise. Discouragement is a common experience, and it has a lot of causes.
Maybe you've lost a job and haven't been able to find another one yet. Or perhaps there's trouble in your family and it feels like the problems are multiplying. Or maybe there's something you have been longing for in your life and it hasn't come to pass, and you're wondering if it ever will?
Discouragement can make our spirits...2025-02-0509 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 29Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs in about five minutes. This is a habit that pays in the currency of godly wisdom, which the Bible calls "the principal thing (Prov. 4:7).
If you've ever wondered why it seems like divisiveness is increasing, there is an answer to that question in Proverbs 29:27: "An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked."
When a person is living in godliness, they will be very unappealing to t...2025-01-2905 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 15Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit! This week, Proverbs 15 opens the chapter with a lesson on the "soft answer." We need this lesson. When people speak to us harshly, it's human nature to want to respond the same way. Our carnal nature is not interested in godliness. It is human to have a classic case of "how dare they speak to me like that."
When we tell someone off and imagine that it will settle things, instead this wrong move heats up the conversation until both sides are angry. God wants to help us fix this t...2025-01-1504 minKeep the HeartSeason 5 Intro-Better is the End of a ThingWhen I had a heart procedure done a few years ago, I was told that I would be feeling great afterwards. This was not my experience! Instead, shortly after going home I was taken right back to the ER with overwhelming pains that were shooting through my body. The heart procedure had damaged some nerves at the point of entry for the surgery. These nerves went crazy and sent lightning bolts of pain through my body for a few days. Once the pain resolved, I actually did feel much better than I had felt before going into the procedure.2025-01-0807 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 3Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit! One of the greatest habits you can develop for the health of your soul is to feed it daily from the Word of God. Just as the physical body needs nourishment, so does the soul.
The 3rd chapter of Proverbs is full of instructions that guide and direct us in our daily living. In fact, the first two verses point us to the importance of remembering God's Word and living by it.
"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of...2025-01-0304 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 27Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs in five minutes or less. The habit of feeding your soul from the Bible daily is like the habit of providing nourishment for the physical body. Just as junk food doesn't build strength, filling the mind with everything but the Bible leads to spiritual weaknesses. Building a daily Bible habit will build your wisdom and understanding.
Read a chapter of Proverbs without skipping for 90 days and see how God speaks to you directly from His Word, teaching you how to handle m...2024-12-2704 minKeep the HeartAsk God to Give You UnderstandingHave you ever had a problem that you could not figure out? That's like asking if you have a pulse. It is part of life to face things that are hard to understand, let alone solve. That's a good time to pray at least three words:
"Give me understanding."
The words, "give me understanding" appear five times in Psalm 119. This episode briefly covers those five verses, all of which make excellent prayer requests.
Stumped? No clue what to do? Ask God to "give you understanding." It's a biblical prayer request.
Apply...2024-12-2008 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 12Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, with episodes that take you through a chapter of Proverbs in under 5 minutes. Proverbs chapter 12 covers a broad range of life topics, from righeous living to the hazards of laziness. Applying the instructions from Proverbs leads to better relationships and wiser decisions. Daily Bible reading is a habit that makes life better!
"Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish." (Proverbs 12:1)
Apply: Living What We Learn--Daily Devotional by Francie Taylor
NEW! Far Above Rubies: A 31-Day Devotional by Melissa Hedrick
...2024-12-1204 minKeep the HeartReplay Friday-Are You a Drama Mama?Welcome to Replay Friday, where you'll hear some of the most popular episodes from previous seasons! This week's episode, "Are You a Drama Mama," was played and replayed and shared thousands of times. It is easy to become a Drama Mama. All a person needs is an attitude. A bad attitude.
This replay covers five marks of a Drama Mama. This episode is like a self-exam. Sometimes we need to check our behaviors and thought processes for blind spots. Share this episode. Let's reduce the drama.
Book & Bible Bundle: Apply-This Liberty of Yours-Olive Snap Flap...2024-12-0610 minKeep the HeartDisagreements Are a Part of RelationshipsFamily gatherings have the potential to put people together who have strong disagreements over their philosophies of life, as well as other topics. One simple statement can start an argument that turns what was supposed to be a joyous time into an event-ending conflict. Sometimes this can feel like walking into a trap!
The holiday season in particular is the time when people often get together after months or even years of not having seen each other. Why should we mess up these rare gatherings with disagreements when we can find so many other things to discuss...2024-11-2608 minKeep the HeartReplay Friday-Dumb Things I Did as a NewlywedWelcome to Replay Friday! This episode had thousands of downloads when it first aired in 2021, and maybe that's partly because people like to hear about how others blew it! Ha! "Dumb Things I Did as a Newlywed" is not just for brand new wives. It's for married women of all stages. The problem with doing things incorrectly is that it may become habit-forming, persisting into the later years of marriage.
Marriage is a "work of heart," including routine maintenance as well as occasional repairs. This episode covers four things that qualify for the "Not to Do" list...2024-11-1512 minKeep the HeartReplay Thursday-When Plans ChangeWelcome to Replay Thursday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season! This episode, "When Plans Change," was recorded after I was released from the hospital following a health emergency. I had to cancel a trip, was grounded from flying for over a month, and had to make several other unplanned changes on my calendar and in my life. This was hard, but people face much harder changes.
We won't always understand why plans change, but it's good to remember that this is a page in the story, not the end of the story. I...2024-10-2413 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 17Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit. In less than 5 minutes, you'll complete a chapter of Proverbs while equipping yourself with valuable daily living instructions for handling daily matters wisely.
Here's a gold nugget from chapter 17:
"He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends." (Proverbs 17:9)
Disagreements grow in size when shared with those who are not part of the problem. Sharing our disagreements with others, outside of the realm of seeking godly counsel, is often a thinly-veiled attempt to paint someone else in a bad...2024-10-1704 minKeep the HeartCourage Steps for Handling ChallengesWelcome to Replay Saturday! Today's episode, "Courage Steps for Handling Challenges," takes a snake story and transforms it into a how-to session on handling things that cause fear. You may not have to face a real snake in your life, but things that make a person afraid are part of the human experience.
There are steps we can take to break fears down into steps that bring the challenges down to size. Take a break for nine minutes of courage-building!
Apply: Living What We Learn--Daily Devotional by Francie Taylor
NEW! Far Above Rubies...2024-10-0509 minKeep the HeartReplay Thursday-Blind Spots in LifeWelcome to Replay Thursday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
Have you ever almost side-swiped a car because they were in your blind spot? We often "side swipe" people in our daily lives for the same reason: they were in our blind spot.
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 and notifies the driver of their presence, often with a light in the sideview mirror and a...2024-09-1910 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 12Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs in about five minutes! "Little is much, when God is in it." If you need a way to develop a daily Bible reading habit, this will help. Invite a friend to do the same, and you can compare notes on what you've learned from each chapter.
Why does it seem like people are becoming cruder, ruder, and lacking in basic courtesy? This is a result of living for self while disregarding God and His "Instruction Manual" for how to walk in...2024-09-1204 minKeep the HeartManaging Our ThoughtsHave you ever had negative thoughts replaying in your mind, and you felt powerless to stop them? This merry-go-round that you never asked to get on is taking you in circles inside your head. And what’s worse about it, is these thoughts are indicators of the condition of our hearts. Why is that? Because thoughts come from the heart.
This episode title, “Managing Our Thoughts” is carefully worded. Notice that I didn’t say “Controlling Our Thoughts,” because clearly, we are not in control. If we were, we’d all be enjoying so much peace and abundant quiet...2024-09-0611 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 31Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, a series designed to help you develop a habit of daily Bible reading. Proverbs 31 is where we read about the "Proverbs 31 woman," also known as the "virtuous woman," but this chapter has wisdom for men and women.
Here's a verse that is good for all of us:
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." (Proverbs 31:26)
Words spoken in "the law of kindness" are easier to receive than words spoken in harshness. There are many opportunities to say the w...2024-08-3105 minKeep the HeartGracious Ways to DisagreeDisagreements with people are nothing new, but we are seeing an increase in the contentious nature of the disagreements. This is mainly because our culture is promoting a mentality that you must agree with only one line of thinking or you are automatically wrong and therefore intolerant. That’s a two-way street.
Expecting people to agree with us 100% of the time is unrealistic. How did we get here? The answer is as old as the Old Testament. Listen to this verse from Judges 21:25: "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which wa...2024-08-2208 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 15Welcome back to Proverbs Chapter 15 on Build Your Bible Habit.
This chapter, like the rest of Proverbs, is filled with relationship verses. When we apply the verses to our daily interactions, we have better outcomes, but when we disregard the Word, we have more messes.
Here's an example from Proverbs 15:1:
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
Application: We can tell when a conversation is becoming tense, so instead of increasing our volume or using a harsher tone to make our point, we turn down the...2024-08-1505 minKeep the HeartReplay Friday-Four Ways to Stop Double MindednessWelcome to Replay Friday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This week's episode, “Four Ways to Stop Double Mindedness” was in demand back in season 3. No surprise, because this is a common problem, especially when we're faced with tough decisions.
Double mindedness overcomplicates our lives, making us unstable. This episode shares ways that we can avoid this unhelpful habit.
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." (James 1:8)
Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor
NEW! What Do I Have to Lose: Losing My Way an...2024-08-0913 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 2Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a daily chapter from the book of Proverbs. The second chapter of Proverbs reads like a "listen up" list of life instructions, written to help us to walk wisely even in unexpected situations.
It takes less than five minutes to listen to or read a chapter of Proverbs, but this habit provides a lifetime supply of wisdom. Wise people make better decisions.
"For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6)
NEW! What Do I Have t...2024-08-0205 minKeep the HeartA Winning Loser-Interview with Janice WolfeWe tend to think of losing as an automatically negative event, but in her new devotional, "What Do I Have to Lose," Janice Wolfe demonstrates how Christ reframes losing into the miraculous discovery of an abundant life in Him. Losing is culturally scorned, but it is biblically desirable.
To find our lives, we must first lose them in Christ. This is a painful yet strength-building journey designed by God, but not actively pursued by many. Let’s face it: by nature, we like life to be predictable, comfortable, and enjoyable. How could losing have anything to do wit...2024-07-2537 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 19Welcome to Proverbs chapter 19 on Build Your Bible Habit. The theme of upright living is woven throughout this chapter, giving us principles to put into practice right away. If you haven’t started doing so, I suggest that you pray before listening to these Proverbs. Ask the Lord to show you what to work on from the chapter, and then watch for pop quizzes throughout your day. Remember, sometimes people are the "tests" in life.
You will find yourself applying the Bible more to your everyday living as you continue to build your Bible habit. Verses will po...2024-07-1905 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 4Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, audio Proverbs combined with brief commentary from your host, Francie Taylor. The Proverbs are known as God's "instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity" (Prov. 1:3). The book of Proverbs teaches us how to live what we're learning from the Word.
Chapter four reminds us that wisdom is essential. Take the next five minutes to saturate your soul with the "principal thing." Keep up this habit with a daily Proverb, and watch God show you how to walk out your Christian life!
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore g...2024-07-0404 minKeep the HeartReplay Thursday-Four Ways to Stop Double MindednessWelcome to REPLAY THURSDAY, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. What does it mean to be “double minded? The Strong’s Concordance defines it as “two spirited,” “TWO” as in number. It goes on to define it as “wavering, doubting, and uncertain.” We’re going back and forth on an issue in our opinion, our purpose, or both. This phrase only appears twice in the New Testament, and both times are in the book of James.
Listen to the bottom line from James 1:8: "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." Granted, this...2024-06-2712 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 20Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit. These audio Proverbs provide a great tool for getting into the Word of God daily. In less than five minutes, you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs, allowing the principles to sink into your soul. Before long, you'll go from listening and reading to living and applying!
Verse of the week: "Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?" (Proverbs 20:24)
We may not understand every "why" that happens in our lives, but God does. Investing time in your relationship with G...2024-06-2005 minKeep the HeartSuffering and Survival from the Book of JobNo matter how many times I read the book of Job, I pause and try to imagine the traumatic shock waves that must have been passing through the souls of both Job and his wife, not to mention the unnamed people who were a part of their lives. What happened to their family was beyond comprehension. It was as if they were living in a horror movie.
People still go through heartbreaking tragedies today that we simply cannot comprehend. There are modern-day versions of Job.
Have you ever wondered why God included Job’s story in...2024-06-1317 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 30Welcome to Proverbs chapter 30 on Build Your Bible Habit! These audio proverbs, read by Francie Taylor provide a easy way to learn and apply the Bible to daily living. Look at this prayer request from Proverbs 30:7-8:
"Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me..."
"Give me neither poverty nor riches" is another way of saying, "I will be fine with just enough." When we learn how to be...2024-05-3005 minKeep the HeartWidows, Widowers, and the Big Remarriage QuestionHere’s a question I’ve been asked a lot since my Norman passed away: "Francie, are you ever going to remarry?" There’s nothing wrong with the question itself, but may I tell you how it sounds to my ears? (I am only speaking for Francie here, not for all of widowkind!) It sounds like this:
Francie, when are you going to become whole again?
Francie, when are you going to stop being single?
Francie, what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? (as if widowhood is a bad ne...2024-04-1118 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 29Welcome back to BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT, the popular audio Proverbs series. Chapter 29 opens with a warning about being stubborn:
"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." (Proverbs 29:1)
Stubbornness can fill our lives with unnecessary chaos and pain. This is another loaded chapter, and it will take you less than five minutes to read and listen!
Visit the shop links below at Keep the Heart for books by Francie Taylor and other authors, as well as a beautiful selection of Bibles.
Rough Pa...2024-02-2904 minKeep the HeartReplay Thursday-The Anatomy of an Inappropriate RelationshipWelcome to REPLAY THURSDAY, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. This episode first aired on February 13, 2023, the day before Valentine's Day. Not exactly the kind of episode for a romantic holiday, but thousands of downloads later, it was one of the most played episodes of 2023.
It's devastating to hear about marriages and families exploding because of inappropriate relationships. This has become its own pandemic, with too many people walking into traps baited with flattery and excessive attention.
When all the lust is exhausted, two people are left with empty brokenness...2024-02-2216 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 15BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT with the daily Proverbs system.
You won't have to wrestle with yourself to develop and embrace this habit. Simply press play. In four minutes, you've covered one chapter of Proverbs. Repeat this daily, and you'll finish the entire book of Proverbs every month!
Gain wisdom, increase in understanding, and learn how to handle the issues of life while deepening your walk with God.
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
Visit the shop links below at Keep the Hea...2024-02-1504 minKeep the HeartArrogance and Ignorance-An Interview with Author Kathy AshleyAN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR KATHY ASHLEY
When Kathy Ashley heart about "AI," those letters brought two different words to her mind. Not "artificial intelligence," but Arrogance and Ignorance. This is the kind of AI that leads to an artificial inflation of self, and it's hazardous to our spiritual health.
Arrogance is pride on steroids. When you mix arrogance with ignorance, this creates a puffed up conceit that is deceptive. We can become our own worst enemies when we're infected with the dynamic duo of arrogance and ignorance. The antidote to this infection is God's Word...2024-02-0821 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 18BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT with daily Proverbs
Are you still trying to develop a habit of daily Bible reading? Here's an easy way to begin: one daily Proverb. In less than five minutes per day, you'll be on your way to building a Bible habit that will lead you from reading to studying and more!
Here's another practical tip: quit putting it off. Enough with the delays and excuses. Grab your ear buds and your Bible. You can do this. You've done much harder things. Take five.
BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP T...2024-01-1804 minKeep the HeartHow God Gives Us Instructions in AdvanceWouldn’t it be great if we could have advance instructions from God for the day? I mean, what if God could warn us in writing, guiding us to the right way to handle stressful situations that often catch us off guard? Wouldn’t that be grand?
God already does this. He gives us instructions in advance, but we don’t always read or heed them. Instead, we try to live the Christian life on our own terms, making up solutions as we go along. We will have greater struggles by trying to live the Christian life withou...2024-01-1108 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 4BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT with daily Proverbs
The beginning of the year is a great time to build a habit of daily Bible reading. Listen while you read along, or take a walk and "ponder the path of your feet" as the Scripture feeds your soul.
"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." (Proverbs 4:26)
Join Francie a chapter at a time in this Audio Proverbs Library:
Audio Proverbs with Francie Taylor
2024-01-0404 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 28Build Your Bible Habit is the popular audio Proverbs series, available in a complete library here: Build Your Bible Habit Audio Proverbs Library
By reading along or listening to a daily chapter of Proverbs, you will develop the habit of being in the Word daily. Soon, Proverbs won't be enough. You'll want more. The Bible is bottomless!
BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART
Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias
Minerals for the Mind...2023-12-2804 minKeep the HeartChristmas Replay-Minimizing Strife at Family GatheringsChristmas Replay
This episode, "Minimizing Strife at Family Gatherings" is one of the most-replayed episodes in our podcast library. There's something about "the most wonderful time of the year" that tends to bring out the some of the least wonderful qualities in people. How can we have gatherings with loved ones who have strongly held opinions that differ from ours without things turning into a war of words?
Or what about the guests with the list of special requests? And how can we host when we're worn out from so many special events? Is a...2023-12-2110 minKeep the HeartWhen Plans ChangeHow many of you love it when things go according to plan? Most of us do, but real life inserts some strange changes when we least expect it. In fact, that’s part of our problem: we expect things to go normally all the time.
Things may go way off script: The wedding wasn’t supposed to be called off, but suddenly it was. The doctor appointment was supposed to be just a routine check-up, not a frightening diagnosis. The car was running fine before you packed it for a road trip. You were supposed to be hold...2023-12-0713 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-The Empty Chair and Other Firsts of GriefWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we replay the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This episode, The Empty Chair and Other Firsts of Grief is approaching the 10,000 download mark, which tells us something we already knew: grief is an ongoing rotation in life. Some of us are in the roles of comforters, while others need comforting. When it's our turn to grieve, we experience how deeply life changes with the absence of a loved one.
If this is your experience, you have an empty chair and all the changes that come with the grieving process. Many people...2023-11-2113 minKeep the HeartLiving in Rebellion Against GodAre you in a disagreement with someone you love because you stand on opposite sides of an issue where God's Word is clear? This is becoming increasingly common. It is challenging to live biblically in an antagonistic society that questions God's existence, let alone His authority. Proverbs 29:27 reminds us that "An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked."
We could probably handle the strain if the division was coming from a stranger. But when the pressure is from someone we know and love...2023-11-0915 minKeep the HeartFour Signs That You May Be a People PleaserDo you feel pressured to convey a certain image because of what others expect of you? Are you afraid to disappoint others, so you hide your honest opinions and thoughts so that you can be accepted? Are you angry because you feel pushed around by others, but you haven’t been honest with others or even with God about it? You’re not alone. You’re in a huge club called “The People Pleasers.”
What is a people pleaser? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it’s "a person who has an emotional need to please others often at the expense...2023-10-2614 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Be the First to ApologizeWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This episode, “Be the First to Apologize” addresses a common but sometimes complicated matter. Leaving situations in an awkward holding pattern where you can tell there’s “funny air” between you and someone else is not a strategy for reconciliation.
When we’ve hurt someone, even if it was unintentional and even if we feel they were also in the wrong, our part is to apologize sincerely, and then wait humbly for their response. And if we’ll remember that not everyone forgives right away, th...2023-10-1709 minKeep the HeartCourage Steps for Handling ChallengesMy daughter-in-love and I were rolling my luggage through the garage to load into her car. She was driving me to the airport for my flight. As we were leaving the garage, I saw that the “CatchMaster” sticky board was upside down, and there was a tail snapping back and forth out from underneath the sticky board. Oh oh. Time for some courage steps.
I made an executive decision to leave it there until I returned from my trip. That way, it would be done thrashing…or so I thought.
When I returned from the confer...2023-10-1009 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Facing the Gray Area DecisionsWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we replay the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This week, we’re revisiting an episode that touched on a common yet complex topic: “Facing the Gray Area Decisions.” Whether you’re a new listener or you’ve been with us since the first episode, we hope that these suggestions will provide some insights for those who are facing decisions on matters not directly addressed in scripture. God’s Word is completely sufficient to aid us, and we can always be confident of this truth.
Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor
2023-10-0315 minKeep the HeartBlind Spots in LifeHave 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 pr...2023-09-2610 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Did God Answer Your Prayer?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 trustin...2023-09-1909 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Inserting Calm Into Daily PressuresWelcome 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 in...2023-09-1208 minKeep the HeartThe Tricky Terrain of Giving Advice(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...2023-09-0511 minKeep the HeartBe the First to Apologize (rebroadcast)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...2023-08-2909 minKeep the HeartThe Heavy Things We Carry by Guest Host Janice Wolfe (rebroadcast)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...2023-08-2214 minKeep the HeartThe Secret Life is Not So SecretRebroadcast 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 o...2023-08-1511 minKeep the HeartHolding a Grudge Hurts the HolderYou’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 po...2023-08-0811 minKeep the HeartSurviving an Explosion in LifeHave 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 i...2023-08-0112 minKeep the HeartHow to Handle DiscouragementHave 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 Barnett2023-07-2508 minKeep the HeartWhen We Don’t Want to ForgiveHave 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 forgiv...2023-07-1812 minKeep the HeartSoundbite-Are You Angry With Someone?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...2023-07-1108 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-We Don’t Have to Be So Broken DownWelcome 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 b...2023-06-2711 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Is It Toxic or Is It Us?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 Fra...2023-06-2011 minKeep the HeartFour Ways to Stop Double MindednessHave 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 wisd...2023-06-1312 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Are You Overdosing on Bad News?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...2023-06-0613 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-I am Slap Wore OutWelcome 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 s...2023-05-3010 minKeep the HeartTalebearers Are TroublemakersHave 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...2023-05-2308 minKeep the HeartBonus Replays-Dumb Things I Did as a NewlywedWelcome 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...2023-05-1912 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Prayer is Not Like Same-Day Dry CleaningWelcome 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 pay...2023-05-1611 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-We Are Not Called to Be ArgumentativeWelcome 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 argume...2023-05-0913 minKeep the HeartCrying with PurposeHave 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 s...2023-05-0210 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Lessons from an Unexpected DiagnosisWelcome 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: "B...2023-04-2534 minKeep the HeartNo Guile-Getting Rid of the False FrontHave you ever smiled at someone and pretended that all was well between you when it really wasn’t? Or have you ever “overshared” information about someone else, even though you were asked to keep it confidential? Or maybe you’ve said some really unkind things about someone behind their back, but in their presence, you never mention these things?
What do these questions have in common? They are simple examples of being a great pretender, also known as a person corrupted by guile.
Basically, "guile" is deceit or treachery. We need God's help living genuinel...2023-04-1110 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Psalm 119 verses 145-176Welcome to the seventh and final segment of Psalm 119 on Build Your Bible Habit. As you may already know, Psalm 119 has 176 verses divided into 22 sections called stanzas. The last four stanzas sound like prayers of a troubled heart, mingled with hope and praise.
This is also the end of the chapter. Now that you’ve finished the largest chapter of the Bible, you can go back to the beginning and replay these segments. If you’ve never tried listening to the Bible before bedtime, these segments would be a great place to start. Soon, you’ll find that G...2023-03-3105 minKeep the HeartThree Great Relationship HabitsRelationships have moments, don’t they? We shouldn’t be surprised by that because humans are included, but there are things we could do to prepare ourselves to have better responses and fewer overreactions. Not perfect, but better.
Imperfect people can’t have perfect relationships, but God left us with the wisdom of scripture to help us do a better job, if we’ll employ this wisdom. This episode shares three verses that are great for our interactions with each other. When we have better relationship habits, we'll have better relationships.
Visit the Shop at Keep the...2023-03-2810 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Psalm 119 verses 121-144Welcome to the sixth segment of Psalm 119 on Build Your Bible Habit. This passage is full of personal prayer requests. All of the requests are related to a transformed life. You’ll hear words such as, “Teach me, be merciful unto me, deliver me, and many others. This segment reads like a tutorial in how to pray.
God is personally interested in our lives, and we can speak with Him about all our concerns. We can also ask Him to help us in areas where we have weaknesses. It’s human to have weaknesses, and we don’t have to...2023-03-2504 minKeep the HeartTeachbackTuesday-Co-workers Can Work Your NervesWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
This time last year, we had the incredible surprise of being selected as one of the podcasts of the week at Podbean, the podcast hosing platform for Keep the Heart. This resulted in thousands of new listeners from all over the world! As part of the collaboration with Podbean, Keep the Heart wrote four mini-episodes that were bookended with a brief shout out to Podbean.
This week’s episode, “Co-Workers Can Work Your Nerves” provides three suggestions for ways that we can...2023-03-2109 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Psalm 119 verses 97-120Welcome to the fifth segment of Psalm 119 on Build Your Bible Habit. This passage begins in verse 97 with the declaration, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." This is what happens when we’re in God’s Word. It becomes the focal point of our thoughts.
Build Your Bible Habit was launched as a special bonus segment Keep the Heart Podcast in 2022 with Proverbs, and now it includes Psalm 119. Have you ever wondered which way to turn in a situation? Psalm 119:105 reminds us that the Bible is the "lamp" and "light" that w...2023-03-1704 minKeep the HeartThe Anatomy of an Inappropriate Relationship-rebroadcast(Note: This episode originally aired on Valentine's Day 2023, which was an "inappropriate day" to promote this hard topic! We're providing this rebroadcasted episode for those who missed it.)
Inappropriate relationships are common, but common does not equal normal. The Bible devotes an entire chapter of Proverbs to paint a picture of what this is and how it happens. At the root of any inappropriate relationship is a selfish desire to have our own way. This is so Old Testament: "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." (Proverbs 21:2)2023-03-1415 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-How Not to Become a Monster-in-LawWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
It's conference season, and I’m also wrapping up a first draft of the next 31-day devotional, so we will need to tap into our podcast archives now and then, just to keep up until the end of conferences. New podcast episodes are in production and coming soon.
This week’s Teachback Tuesday episode has two Taylors on one podcast! My daughter-in-love, Jessica Taylor, co-hosted on the topic of "How Not to Become a Monster-in-Law" back in February 2022, and thousands of dow...2023-03-0718 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Food Won’t Fix That ProblemWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
This week’s episode, “Food Won’t Fix That Problem,” opens with a true story of a time when I was trying to eat my way through a storm of grief. Since the problem wasn’t hunger, food didn’t fix it. Do you find yourself alternating between healthy and unhealthy eating habits? To paraphrase a saying, “It’s not what you’re eating. It’s what’s eating you.” Let’s listen again to three suggestions that can help us handle this matter wisely.
...2023-02-2815 minKeep the HeartThe Anatomy of an Inappropriate RelationshipInappropriate relationships are common, but common does not equal normal. The Bible devotes an entire chapter of Proverbs to paint a picture of what this is and how it happens. At the root of any inappropriate relationship is a selfish desire to have our own way. This is so Old Testament: "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." (Proverbs 21:2)
Proverbs chapter seven is both cautionary and instructional. You may want to sit down with your Bible opened for this episode. God has provided us with a vivid...2023-02-1415 minKeep the HeartTrailer-Season 3 on Keep the HeartWelcome to season 3 of Keep the Heart podcast. I’m your host, Francie Taylor from Keep the Heart, a ministry devoted to making Bible study meaningful through Bible application and personal study. We’ve been told by our listeners that these podcast episodes feel like sitting at the dining room table with our Bibles, having coffee while discussing the issues of life with a sister friend.
Each episode covers interpersonal issues of life from a biblical perspective, with a goal of helping us learn how to handle matters wisely. Proverbs 16:20 tells us that "He that handleth a matt...2023-01-1704 minKeep the HeartIs Social Media Your Bible?Is social media your Bible?” The topic for this episode was born out the realization that the dramatic increase of biblical illiteracy is directly related to the dramatically addictive popularity of social media. It’s such a rabbit hole, isn’t it?
Now before you worry that I’m about to bash social media, relax. That would be insincere on my part, since Keep the Heart has a presence on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. With all technology, there is a positive use and a negative use. It’s not the technology that abuses us; we abuse technology.
We o...2022-12-2012 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Minimizing Strife at Family GatheringsWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
This week’s episode, “Minimizing Strife at Family Gatherings,” was a popular favorite in December 2021 when it first aired. The three suggestions in this episode are practical and based on the everyday things that tend to come up. Things like this: Someone wants to debate at the dinner table. Or maybe Mom tried to recreate a restaurant experience with a meal that left her exhausted from all the prep. Or perhaps you have guests that have special requests and you were caught off gu...2022-12-1311 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-What to Do About Self-Inflicted TroubleWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season.
This week’s episode, “What to Do About Self-Inflicted Trouble,” takes a compassionate look at what to do when we’ve blown it in life, either carelessly or accidentally. It's easy to create messes in life, but the cleanup can really cost us. We aren’t the first! The Bible is full of examples of people who made questionable decisions that were very costly. If you’re in a stressful situation that you have caused, this Teachback will provide some useful insights and suggesti...2022-12-0612 minKeep the HeartThe Benefits of GratitudeI’ve been asked an unusual question more than once, and I know that it’s in part because I’m a widow. Here’s the question: Francie, aren’t you tired of being alone? My response is simple: First, God never leaves me alone, but my additional response is this: I don’t focus on what I don’t have.
Gratitude is underrated, but it’s priceless. A person who has mastered the “gratitude attitude” has discovered true appreciation for life in the current form. It’s a beautiful place to live, and it erases the struggle of always wis...2022-11-2909 minKeep the HeartThe Gifts of TribulationWhat comes to mind when you hear the word “tribulation”? Do you automatically think of something that would happen outside of your life, or do you realize that it could happen inside your very own family? Tribulation doesn’t have boundaries.
I am a fan of looking up definitions, because there are times where there’s more depth to a word than we’re storing in our minds. The word tribulation is one that has layers to it, including these meanings: affliction, trouble, anguish, and persecution. But here’s a short definition of the word: tribulation is pressure. It...2022-10-1808 minKeep the HeartTeachback Tuesday-Stop Talking to Yourself Like ThatWelcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we replay the most popular episodes from the previous season. Have you ever criticized yourself? Many of us have done this at some point. It’s a common part of what I call the NHS: "Noisy Head Syndrome.” The problem with habitually speaking to ourselves negatively is that we run the risk of making our lives worse, not better. The episode, “Stop Talking to Yourself Like That” helps us to examine a habit that needs changing. Would you speak to a dear friend the same way you talk to yourself? Let’s hit the replay but...2022-06-2112 minKeep the HeartBuild Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 22BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 22 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter begins with an emphasis on the importance of having a good reputation, and ends with a focus on the benefits of being diligent in business. These are related in the sense that both refer to a person who is responsible and reliable. Sandwiched in between verses one through 29 are a host of instructions for daily living. As usual, there is something for everyone in Proverbs.
Chapter 22 really helps us to focus on character development in areas that we may tend to ignore, such a...2022-06-1604 min