Keep the Heart

Latest Episodes:

Hope Beyond Grief Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

When 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 from our lives—husband, child, parent, sibling, close friend—we may go through a season of feeling lost and out of place, but just as seasons change, this too, shall pass. Let’s consider four reasons why we have hope beyond grief.

Click HERE to visit the Shop at Keep the Heart

Apply: Living What We Learn--Great for small groups!

Elegant Olive Petal Snap Flap Bible--Great for travel!

The "Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" T-Shirt

Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Replay Wednesday-Calm in the Chaos Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

Welcome 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 you carefully consider the questions you'll hear.

"Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word." (Psalm 119:169)

VISIT THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART

Apply: Living What We Learn--Great for small groups!

Elegant Olive Petal Snap Flap Bible--Great for travel!

The "Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" T-Shirt

Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Build Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 25 Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Welcome 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. Here's a sample verse from today's chapter, reminding us that we don't need to seek the admiration of others:

"It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory." (Proverbs 25:27)

VISIT THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART

Apply: Living What We Learn--Daily Devotional by Francie Taylor

Elegant Olive Petal Snap Flap Bible--Great for travel!

The "Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" T-Shirt

Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

What Doubt Does to Our Faith Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

The 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 Olive Petal Snap Flap Bible--Great for travel!

The "Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" T-Shirt

Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Build Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 14 Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

Welcome 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 man..." Who has your ear? The people we listen to have influence in our lives.

Visit the Shop at Keep the Heart:

Apply: Living What We Learn--Daily Devotional by Francie Taylor

Elegant Olive Petal Snap Flap Bible--Great for travel!

The "Be Like Jesus is Better Than You Do You" T-Shirt

Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Replay Wednesday-How to Handle Discouragement Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

Welcome 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 heavy, but this is a temporary condition, not a permanent address. Find a comfy chair and pause for these helpful insights designed to encourage. There is hope. Even when we lose our own.

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." (Psalm 42:5)

Helpful tools here in the Shop at Keep the Heart:

Apply: Living What We Learn--Daily Devotional by Francie Taylor

Elegant Olive Petal Snap Flap Bible--Great for travel!

Encouragement for Young Women: A 30-Day Devotional for Teens by Charity Berkey & Team

What Do I Have to Lose: Losing My Way and Finding God's by Janice Wolfe

Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Build Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 29 Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

Welcome 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 those who choose to do the opposite. What can we do about this gap? Look for people who want to know if there is more to life than a bunch of people arguing and slapping labels on each other. Engage in a sincere and caring conversation about why you believe what you believe, and always be ready to share your faith.

Not everyone is antagonistic. Some are still seeking.

Helpful tools here in the Shop at Keep the Heart:

Apply: Living What We Learn--Daily Devotional by Francie Taylor

Elegant Olive Petal Snap Flap Bible--Great for travel!

Encouragement for Young Women: A 30-Day Devotional for Teens by Charity Berkey & Team

What Do I Have to Lose: Losing My Way and Finding God's by Janice Wolfe

Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

The Proud Heart-ICU Bible Study Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

Prideful thoughts sound like these:

Who do they think they are?
She/he thinks her/his way is the only way to do things.
Why do they get praised for doing the same work that I do?
I should get recognition for this.
I'm not bragging, but...

Welcome to a Bible Study segment from the series, ICU: In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions. This week's episode is a study of "The Proud Heart." This is a 25-minute episode, since it is the entire lesson from ICU.

We do not need lessons on how to be prideful. It comes naturally. In this episode, we'll look at a poster child for the prideful heart: King Nebuchadnezzar. He thought way too highly of himself, but aren't there times when we're doing the same thing?

If you're planning to teach a Bible study group, get the Leader Guide which includes teaching notes. The Leader Guide is also appropriate for solo study. The participants in your group would each need a Participant Guide, which includes interactive blanks to fill in, along with space for study notes.

Get your group together and play this episode. You'll complete this lesson in less than 30 minutes. You'll confidently teach the other lessons on your own. Bible study groups are a great way to form lasting bonds of friendship around the Word of God!

The episode ends with a BONUS SEGMENT of tips for leading your next Bible study group.

"Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom." (Proverbs 13:10)

START YOUR BIBLE STUDY GROUPS WITH THESE TOOLS!

ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--Heart Conditions Leader Guide

ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--Heart Conditions Participant Guide

ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--New Testament Leader Guide

ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--New Testament Participant Guide

ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--Old Testament Leader Guide

ICU: In Christ Unconditionally--Old Testament Participant Guide

Apply: Living What We Learn--Daily Devotional by Francie Taylor

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Build Your Bible Habit-Proverbs Chapter 15 Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

Welcome 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 tendency. The solution? Learn the art of the soft answer. Godliness is rewarding to the soul, building humility and temperance.

Here's a great verse for the week:

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)

Those sharp words you were tempted to use? Soften them.

Helpful tools here in the Shop at Keep the Heart:

Apply: Living What We Learn--Daily Devotional by Francie Taylor

Elegant Olive Petal Snap Flap Bible--Great for travel!

Encouragement for Young Women: A 30-Day Devotional for Teens by Charity Berkey & Team

What Do I Have to Lose: Losing My Way and Finding God's by Janice Wolfe

Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Season 5 Intro-Better is the End of a Thing Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

When 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.

The end was better than the beginning, but I had to be patient and walk through some pain before getting to that "better" part.

In this Season 5 Intro episode, I'm sharing my theme verse with you, explaining the blessing of how this simple habit helps. If you don't have an annual theme verse, pick one today. Watch how God uses that verse, often in ways that bring both "growing pains" and joy!

My theme verse for 2025: Ecclesiastes 7:8

"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."

Helpful tools here in the Shop at Keep the Heart:

Apply: Living What We Learn--Daily Devotional by Francie Taylor

Far Above Rubies: A 31-Day Devotional by Melissa Hedrick

Encouragement for Young Women: A 30-Day Devotional for Teens by Charity Berkey & Team

What Do I Have to Lose: Losing My Way and Finding God's by Janice Wolfe

Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook