Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit! Proverbs chapter 13 is a study of contrasts: "live like this, not like that." The practicality of these verses will sharpen and equip you to walk in greater wisdom.

Here's an example:

"Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard." (Proverbs 13:15)

When we know what is right, but we choose to do the wrong thing anyway, Proverbs 13:15 clearly warns us that our way will be "hard." It's not easy to live biblically, but the alternative is harder. We do get to choose.

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Apply: Living What We Learn--31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

NEW! Herbs for the Heart: A Study of James by Kathy Ashley

NEW! From Overwhelmed to Overcomer by Natalie Raynes Blanton

What Do I Have to Lose?--Devotional by Janice Wolfe

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

Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

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There 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 member or a friend, the result is the same: there is pain.

It’s puzzling to go through estrangement, but we don’t want to do or say anything to make it worse. This episode covers four things to remember when someone we love won’t speak to us.

Apply: Living What We Learn--31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

NEW! Herbs for the Heart: A Study of James by Kathy Ashley

NEW! From Overwhelmed to Overcomer by Natalie Raynes Blanton

What Do I Have to Lose?--Devotional by Janice Wolfe

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

Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

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Welcome 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 is a spiritual quality that takes practice. 

Apply: Living What We Learn--31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

NEW! Herbs for the Heart: A Study of James by Kathy Ashley

NEW! From Overwhelmed to Overcomer by Natalie Raynes Blanton

What Do I Have to Lose?--Devotional by Janice Wolfe

Ponder the Path: A 31-Day 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

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Welcome 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 by Francie Taylor

NEW! Herbs for the Heart: A Study of James by Kathy Ashley

NEW! From Overwhelmed to Overcomer by Natalie Raynes Blanton

What Do I Have to Lose?--Devotional by Janice Wolfe

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

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

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

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Welcome 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 "the heart of the wise teacheth his mouth." When wisdom is in our hearts, it shows in our speech. Wise people speak with godly sensitivity.

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 I Have to Lose?--Devotional by Janice Wolfe

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

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

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

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Welcome 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 I Have to Lose?--Devotional by Janice Wolfe

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

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

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

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Welcome 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. They warn us of the hazard of being poor listeners. When God gives instructions, they are not suggestions.

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Apply: Living What We Learn--31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

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

What Do I Have to Lose?--Devotional by Janice Wolfe

ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Study by Francie Taylor

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

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

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

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Do 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 long-running story. Whether your problem is physical or something else, your faith is being tested.

Click HERE to visit the Shop at Keep the Heart

Apply: Living What We Learn--31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

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

What Do I Have to Lose?--Devotional by Janice Wolfe

ICU--In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions Bible Study by Francie Taylor

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

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

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Welcome 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 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

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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