Keep the Heart

We 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 with our life goals?

In God’s plan, losing our lives and setting aside our personal agendas allows us to experience the abundant life in Christ.

Janice Wolfe is an author, conference speaker, and radio host of the popular women's program, eleven2one on Faith Music Radio. After hearing this interview with Janice, be sure to click the link below to get a copy of her book in the shop at Keep the Heart.

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

Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Sister Friends by Francie Taylor--Same book NEW LOOK

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

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Welcome 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.

Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

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

Sister Friends by Francie Taylor--Same book NEW LOOK

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

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Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Welcome to Replay Thursday, where we play the most popular episodes from the previous season. 

Imperfect people can’t have perfect relationships, but God left us with the wisdom of scripture to help us do a better job. 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.

Welcome 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 get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)

Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

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

Sister Friends by Francie Taylor--Same book NEW LOOK

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Welcome 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 verse was speaking about asking God for wisdom without wavering, but it applies to any area where we’re wavering.

Being double minded is uncomfortable on purpose. It's an helpful way to live. Let’s consider four ways to stop this confusing habit.

Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Sister Friends by Francie Taylor--Same book NEW LOOK

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Welcome 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 God will reward your soul as you grow in grace and knowledge of Him.

Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Sister Friends by Francie Taylor--Same book NEW LOOK

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

No 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 scripture? We can only guess, but I wonder if one of the reasons was so that we would know that it is possible to go through the darkest, most pain-filled time and still survive. It may feel like we are not going to make it, but time passes and the razor-sharp edges of pain soften and we find a way to breathe again. Job’s survival of trauma beyond comprehension is proof that devastating events do not have to destroy our lives. Out of 42 incredible chapters, let's consider four lessons from the book of Job. 

Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Sister Friends by Francie Taylor--Same book NEW LOOK

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

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!

Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Olive Petal KJV Snap Flap Bible

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

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

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.

Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor

Olive Petal KJV Snap Flap Bible

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook