Keep the Heart

Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Teachback Tuesday-Facing the Gray Area Decisions Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

Welcome 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.

Rough Patches-Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

This Liberty of Yours by Dr. Tim Zacharias

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

Olive Petal Snap-Flap KJV Bible-Imitation Leather

Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Blind Spots in Life Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Teachback Tuesday-Did God Answer Your Prayer? Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Teachback Tuesday-Inserting Calm Into Daily Pressures Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

Sister Friends by Francie Taylor

The Tricky Terrain of Giving Advice Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

(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.

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

Ponder the Path-31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Be the First to Apologize (rebroadcast) Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

eleven2one radio with Janice Wolfe

The Heavy Things We Carry by Guest Host Janice Wolfe (rebroadcast) Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

Ponder the Path-31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

The Secret Life is Not So Secret Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

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)

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

Ponder the Path-Devotional by Francie Taylor

Holding a Grudge Hurts the Holder Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

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)

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