Keep the Heart

Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Build Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 6 Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Build Your Bible Habit with Proverbs! One of the greatest gifts you'll give yourself is the habit of reading or listening to your Bible daily. Knowledge of God, strength for the journey, and instructions on how to live are all found within the pages of the Word. Keep building your Bible habit. You're improving your life!

Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley

The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton

Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias

Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Build Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 30 May 29, 2024

Show notes

Welcome 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 satisfied with what God has already provided, everything else is above and beyond the blessings!

Pick up a copy of the new 31-Day Devotional "Apply" in the shop at Keep the Heart. It will be another useful tool helping you to build your Bible habit!

Find it here: Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Adding Temperance to Your Faith May 22, 2024

Show notes

Don’t you hate self-sabotage? You know, those times when you are planning to do something that is good for you, but then you’re forced to battle the inner toddler that wants to do the opposite. There was someone who had this same struggle in the New Testament, and he wrote these words in Romans 7:15:

"For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."

The apostle Paul was writing about the battle with self, also known as the a lack of temperance.

According to the Strong’s Concordance, temperance is another word for “self-control.” It’s that very difficult spiritual workout of learning how to have the mastery over our desires, passions, and appetites. And when the definition says “appetites,” that’s not just referring to food. Some people have an appetite for power, while others have an insatiable desire for pleasure.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary includes this definition for temperance: “Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.”

So how can we achieve this calm, patient, management of the self? Let’s consider three truths from Scripture, and then you can pray for God to show you where to begin.

Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley

The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton

Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias

INSPIRING NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK! Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Replay Thursday-Don't Be Fooled May 15, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to REPLAY THURSDAY, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from the previous season. Have you ever heard someone say they were "speaking their own truth?" The absence of God plus the presence of deception equals strong delusion.

We need to protect ourselves from deception by keeping our souls nourished. God's Word is our "necessary food," as Job observed in Job 23:12: "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food."

The Word of God is as essential to our souls as physical food is to our bodies. Don't be fooled. Three suggestions in 12 minutes.

Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley

The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton

Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias

INSPIRING NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK! Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Build Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 9 May 08, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to Proverbs chapter 9 on Build Your Bible Habit! In less than five minutes, you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs while building a habit that will improve your daily decisions and interactions with others. Walking in wisdom is possible. We just need to apply what we're learning!

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10)

Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley

The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton

Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias

INSPIRING NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK! Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Messy Conflicts Apr 24, 2024

Show notes

There are regular conflicts, and then there are MESSY conflicts. Regular conflicts are easily resolved, but messy ones take more time. Messy conflicts are a part of the cost of having relationships. There will be awkward, uncomfortable, embarrassing, infuriating, and even shocking events that happen in daily life. Maybe you’re facing a messy conflict right now. It’s like trying to walk over a bed of hot coals without burning your feet. Anywhere you step, there’s heat.

Trouble is human. We see this stated in Job 5:7: "Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." Imperfect people will not have perfect relationships. The more relationships you have, the more opportunities you have for conflict. And not everyone has mastered the biblical practice of appropriate conflict resolution, so that means you may have to face a few toddlers stuck in adult bodies.

We know that run-ins and strong disagreements happen, but we may make conflicts worse if we are not handling matters with wisdom. Wisdom comes from God, and He has left us a lifetime supply of wisdom in His Word. What can we do when we’re facing messy conflicts? Let’s consider four suggestions together.

Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley

The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton

Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias

INSPIRING NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK! Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Build Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 19 Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to Proverbs chapter 19 on Build Your Bible Habit. The theme of upright living is woven throughout this chapter, giving us principles to put into practice right away. If you haven’t started doing so, I suggest that you pray before listening to these Proverbs. Ask the Lord to show you what to work on from the chapter, and then watch for pop quizzes throughout your day. Remember, sometimes people are the "tests" in life.

You will find yourself applying the Bible more to your everyday living as you continue to build your Bible habit. Verses will pop up on the screen of your mind, prompting you to pause and edit yourself, putting you in a position to have better outcomes in your relationships.

Proverbs 19:11 is a perfect example of this, as it reminds us of this key relationship principle: "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression." The next time someone does or says something that provokes you and you’re tempted to have a short fuse, pause and P.O.A.T.: Pass over a transgression. We love it when people do that for us.

Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley

The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton

Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias

INSPIRING NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK! Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Widows, Widowers, and the Big Remarriage Question Apr 10, 2024

Show notes

Here’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 neighborhood)

Not everyone sees the simple question about remarriage in the same way, but it's worth noting that the question raises questions.

Some widows and widowers remarry. Some do not. This personal episode will look at the complicated things that we consider when we’re trying to figure out whether we will commit to another marriage. If you are not a widow or widower, this will be informative. If you are, you probably already know these things so this may be more of a refresher. If you’re a new widow or widower, save this for future reference. Let’s examine some verses from 1 Corinthians chapter 7 to dive into this topic about widows, widowers, and remarriage.

Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley

The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton

Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias

INSPIRING NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK! Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Replay Thursday-No Guile-Getting Rid of the False Front Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

REPLAY THURSDAY: Guile is the art of being deceitful, dishonest, and double-dealing in our interactions with others. Guile is easy to practice because it's carnal, and carnal behaviors come naturally.

It's also problematic, because a person with guile cannot be trusted. Genuine Christianity is hard to find, but if we'll let God "create clean hearts" within us, we can become people who are without guile. Without the false front.

Real. And a real blessing.

"Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." (Psalm 32:2)

Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley

The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty by Robin Parton

Fret Not: Peace of Mind in Perilous Times by Tim Zacharias