Keep the Heart

How many of you love it when things go according to plan? Most of us do, but real life inserts some strange changes when we least expect it. In fact, that’s part of our problem: we expect things to go normally all the time.

Things may go way off script: The wedding wasn’t supposed to be called off, but suddenly it was. The doctor appointment was supposed to be just a routine check-up, not a frightening diagnosis. The car was running fine before you packed it for a road trip. You were supposed to be holding a newborn, not recovering from a miscarriage. And how could it be that a loved one has passed away when you just saw them? You were just talking with them…

Add your unplanned situation, and whether it’s better or worse, the outcome was the same: your plans changed. One thing that directly affects our responses to unplanned changes is the condition of our relationship with God. If we are close to the Lord before a crisis, we will tend to accept changes without becoming foul in our spirits. How close are you to the Lord in your life? It really makes a difference in how we respond to the events that we face.

What can we do when the change of plans makes life harder? This episode covers three reminders.

BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART

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

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

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

Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love by Marianne Barnett

In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions by Francie Taylor (Leader Guide or Solo Study)

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Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we replay the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This episode, The Empty Chair and Other Firsts of Grief is approaching the 10,000 download mark, which tells us something we already knew: grief is an ongoing rotation in life. Some of us are in the roles of comforters, while others need comforting. When it's our turn to grieve, we experience how deeply life changes with the absence of a loved one.

If this is your experience, you have an empty chair and all the changes that come with the grieving process. Many people may try to be supportive and caring, but eventually they do have to leave us and return to their own lives. When no one else is around, God will not leave us alone. He is the Comforter Who abides with us forever.

Here's a verse that reminds us of this truth: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever..." (John 14:16)

BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART

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

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

Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love by Marianne Barnett

In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions by Francie Taylor (Leader Guide or Solo Study)

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Francie on Facebook

Are you in a disagreement with someone you love because you stand on opposite sides of an issue where God's Word is clear? This is becoming increasingly common. It is challenging to live biblically in an antagonistic society that questions God's existence, let alone His authority. Proverbs 29:27 reminds us that "An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked."

We could probably handle the strain if the division was coming from a stranger. But when the pressure is from someone we know and love, the differences of opinion can become painfully personal and superheated.

This episode is for anyone interested in walking wisely with those who are living in rebellion against God. After this episode, pause to spend time in earnest prayer for your loved ones.

BOOKS IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART

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

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

Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor

Mirror Talk: A Journey from Hurt to Healing Through God's Redemptive Love by Marianne Barnett

In Christ Unconditionally: Heart Conditions by Francie Taylor (Leader Guide or Solo Study)

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Francie on Facebook

Do you feel pressured to convey a certain image because of what others expect of you? Are you afraid to disappoint others, so you hide your honest opinions and thoughts so that you can be accepted? Are you angry because you feel pushed around by others, but you haven’t been honest with others or even with God about it? You’re not alone. You’re in a huge club called “The People Pleasers.”

What is a people pleaser? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it’s "a person who has an emotional need to please others often at the expense of his or her own needs or desires."

We can’t get over our issues with people pleasing when we don’t understand why we’re doing what we’re doing. This is not a light matter, and while I can only scratch the surface in this brief episode, I encourage you to ask God to search your heart to uncover deeper things that may be going on. We have reasons for doing whatever we do, and when it comes to people pleasing, guilt, shame, fear, and a lack of trust in God are on the list. At the end of this episode, take some time to pray and ask the Lord to show you what’s going on in your heart and let Him help you. God’s way is perfect. Ours is flawed.

Let’s consider four signs that you may be a people pleaser, followed by suggestions on what to do about it.

Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

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

Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley

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

Olive Petal Snap-Flap KJV Bible-Imitation Leather

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Francie on Facebook

We're moving the podcast from Tuesdays to Thursdays. The episodes will upload overnight on Wednesdays and will be ready for you immediately if you are a subscriber. (We are based in the central time zone in the USA, so if you're oversees, this podcast will land two days later than previously.) Thanks for listening, and remember: 

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This episode, “Be the First to Apologize” addresses a common but sometimes complicated matter. Leaving situations in an awkward holding pattern where you can tell there’s “funny air” between you and someone else is not a strategy for reconciliation.

When we’ve hurt someone, even if it was unintentional and even if we feel they were also in the wrong, our part is to apologize sincerely, and then wait humbly for their response. And if we’ll remember that not everyone forgives right away, that will help us to wait patiently. 

Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

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

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

Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley

Olive Petal Snap-Flap KJV Bible-Imitation Leather

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Francie on Facebook

My daughter-in-love and I were rolling my luggage through the garage to load into her car. She was driving me to the airport for my flight. As we were leaving the garage, I saw that the “CatchMaster” sticky board was upside down, and there was a tail snapping back and forth out from underneath the sticky board. Oh oh. Time for some courage steps.

I made an executive decision to leave it there until I returned from my trip. That way, it would be done thrashing…or so I thought.

When I returned from the conference, I noticed that the board was moved a bit from where I first saw it. I knew that the creature moved it, but still couldn’t tell what was under there. The tail could have been a gecko or a skink, but I suspected from the patterns that it was more likely to be a snake. I share the rest of the story in this episode, along with how this experience reminded me that it’s often better to handle things that frighten or intimidate us in steps rather than trying to do everything at once. Let's examine three courage steps together.

Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

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

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

Olive Petal Snap-Flap KJV Bible-Imitation Leather

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Francie on Facebook

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. 

Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Francie on Facebook

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.

Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

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

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Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Francie on Facebook

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. 

Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

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

Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram

Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

Francie on Facebook