Here’s a question I’ve been asked a lot since my Norman passed away: "Francie, are you ever going to remarry?" There’s nothing wrong with the question itself, but may I tell you how it sounds to my ears? (I am only speaking for Francie here, not for all of widowkind!) It sounds like this: Francie, when are you going to become whole again? Francie, when are you going to stop being single? Francie, what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? (as if widowhood is a bad neighborhood) Not everyone sees the simple question about remarriage in the same way, but it's worth noting that the question raises questions. Some widows and widowers remarry. Some do not. This personal episode will look at the complicated things that we consider when we’re trying to figure out whether we will commit to another marriage. If you are not a widow or widower, this will be informative. If you are, you probably already know these things so this may be more of a refresher. If you’re a new widow or widower, save this for future reference. Let’s examine some verses from 1 Corinthians chapter 7 to dive into this topic about widows, widowers, and remarriage. INSPIRING NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK! Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor 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

REPLAY THURSDAY: Guile is the art of being deceitful, dishonest, and double-dealing in our interactions with others. Guile is easy to practice because it's carnal, and carnal behaviors come naturally. It's also problematic, because a person with guile cannot be trusted. Genuine Christianity is hard to find, but if we'll let God "create clean hearts" within us, we can become people who are without guile. Without the false front. Real. And a real blessing. "Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." (Psalm 32:2) INSPIRING NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK! Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor 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

Does it seem to you like people are more stressed out lately? The further we move along the timeline of what the Bible calls “last days,” the more we are seeing people who are operating in a constant level of distress. But is this our lot in life? Do we have to live as if life is ganging up on us and we have no way to stop it? It’s unreasonable to expect life to be free of trouble. Job recognized this when he spoke these words in Job 5:7: “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” We’re going to have things happen that weren’t in our planners, but if your life is one continuous stream of chaos, that’s like a check-engine light on the dash in your car. Something needs to be examined. Chaos happens, but it doesn't have to become our operating system. Let's consider four questions to ask ourselves when life is more chaotic than calm. EXCITING NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK! Apply: Living What We Learn by Francie Taylor 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

REPLAY THURSDAY: A friend of mine once said to me, "If you don't like my cooking, lie to me." She was just kidding, but it reminded me how easy it is for us to pick and choose when we're going to lie or tell the truth. Lying is habit forming, but it is also a breakable habit. When we know better, we can do better. God can help us to remove this habit from our lives, but we will need to ask for His help and yield to His Word. "Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously." (Psalm 119:29) NEW IN THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART! Apply: Living What We Learn--A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor

Welcome back to BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT, the popular audio Proverbs series. Chapter 29 opens with a warning about being stubborn: "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." (Proverbs 29:1) Stubbornness can fill our lives with unnecessary chaos and pain. This is another loaded chapter, and it will take you less than five minutes to read and listen! Visit the shop links below at Keep the Heart for books by Francie Taylor and other authors, as well as a beautiful selection of Bibles. Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley 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 Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor 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. This episode first aired on February 13, 2023, the day before Valentine's Day. Not exactly the kind of episode for a romantic holiday, but thousands of downloads later, it was one of the most played episodes of 2023. It's devastating to hear about marriages and families exploding because of inappropriate relationships. This has become its own pandemic, with too many people walking into traps baited with flattery and excessive attention. When all the lust is exhausted, two people are left with empty brokenness. It's not so exciting then. God never intended for the sacred beauty of the physical relationship to be treated like a fast-food restaurant meal. His boundaries are for the blessing and benefit of our lives. "Keep my commandments and live" is not a suggestion; it's an instruction for our wellbeing. Proverbs chapter seven details the anatomy of an inappropriate relationship. This is not an episode for children. "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye." (Proverbs 7:2) Visit the shop links below at Keep the Heart for books by Francie Taylor and other authors, as well as a beautiful selection of Bibles. Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley Call Upon Him: An Examination of Prayers Throughout Scripture by Kathy Ashley 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 with the daily Proverbs system.  You won't have to wrestle with yourself to develop and embrace this habit. Simply press play. In four minutes, you've covered one chapter of Proverbs. Repeat this daily, and you'll finish the entire book of Proverbs every month! Gain wisdom, increase in understanding, and learn how to handle the issues of life while deepening your walk with God.  "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Visit the shop links below at Keep the Heart for books by Francie Taylor and other authors, as well as a beautiful selection of Bibles. Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley Call Upon Him: An Examination of Prayers Throughout Scripture by Kathy Ashley 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

AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR KATHY ASHLEY When Kathy Ashley heart about "AI," those letters brought two different words to her mind. Not "artificial intelligence," but Arrogance and Ignorance. This is the kind of AI that leads to an artificial inflation of self, and it's hazardous to our spiritual health. Arrogance is pride on steroids. When you mix arrogance with ignorance, this creates a puffed up conceit that is deceptive. We can become our own worst enemies when we're infected with the dynamic duo of arrogance and ignorance. The antidote to this infection is God's Word. He has the prescription for healing and recovery. "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." (Proverbs 8:13) Visit the shop links below at Keep the Heart to find Kathy Ashley's trio of excellent books: Vitamins for the Soul, Minerals for the Mind, and Call Upon Him. Vitamins for the Soul: Maintaining Spiritual Health by Kathy Ashley Minerals for the Mind: A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley Call Upon Him: An Examination of Prayers Throughout Scripture by Kathy Ashley 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

BONUS BIBLE SERIES: Build Your Bible Habit!  Do you struggle to get into Scripture daily? You're not alone, but this problem can be fixed and we'd like to help. For years, people have used the Proverb-a-Day system to build a daily Bible reading habit, and it has been very successful in helping people to develop a daily habit of reading and Bible study. If you've been repeating the same mistakes and falling in the same ditch, perhaps it's because you're spiritually underfed. The daily Proverb system is simple: listen to these chapters in order by the date on the calendar (read Proverbs chapter one on the 1st of each month, chapter 2 on the 2nd and continue until chapter 31). Many of you have already done this, but for those who haven't, prepare for a deeper level of wisdom and a closer walk with God. We know that you can get an audio Bible through any Bible app. This is just an extra service provided by a sister friend who cares. Daily Bible reading is essential to our spiritual health. As it says in Proverbs 8:34 "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." When you're in the Word daily, you're feasting on Soul Food!

Welcome to a REPLAY REFRESHER from Keep the Heart! "Don't Be Fooled" first aired in January of 2023, and thousands of downloads later, people are still clicking this episode. These are confusing times, and we need more wisdom and discretion to be alert to the hazards of falling from the truth of God's Word.  Have you ever listened to someone who was trying to sound like they knew what they were talking about, but you could tell that they were just making things up? That’s what’s going on today as people have coined the phrase, “I am speaking my truth.” It's impossible to create our own truth, but we can be deceived into thinking that it's possible. Jesus said this plain statement to His disciples in John 14:6: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Are we becoming confused because  spiritually we're starving? Let’s look at three things you can do to protect yourself from deception. ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions Leader Guide ICU-In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions Participant Guide The Mirror of God's Word: A Biblical View of Physical Beauty Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions This Liberty of Yours: Unlocking Your Liberty in Christ Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram Like Keep the Heart on Facebook

BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT with daily Proverbs Are you still trying to develop a habit of daily Bible reading? Here's an easy way to begin: one daily Proverb. In less than five minutes per day, you'll be on your way to building a Bible habit that will lead you from reading to studying and more! Here's another practical tip: quit putting it off. Enough with the delays and excuses. Grab your ear buds and your Bible. You can do this. You've done much harder things. Take five. 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 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

Wouldn’t it be great if we could have advance instructions from God for the day? I mean, what if God could warn us in writing, guiding us to the right way to handle stressful situations that often catch us off guard? Wouldn’t that be grand? God already does this. He gives us instructions in advance, but we don’t always read or heed them. Instead, we try to live the Christian life on our own terms, making up solutions as we go along. We will have greater struggles by trying to live the Christian life without the Bible. Daily Bible reading provides us with instructions for daily living. This episode provides three examples of how God gives us instructions in advance. Why keep running into trouble or making unnecessary mistakes when we have better options? God can help us learn how to do life His way. His way is perfect. "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him." (Psalm 18:30) 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) Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram Like Keep the Heart on Facebook Francie on Facebook

BUILD YOUR BIBLE HABIT with daily Proverbs The beginning of the year is a great time to build a habit of daily Bible reading. Listen while you read along, or take a walk and "ponder the path of your feet" as the Scripture feeds your soul. "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." (Proverbs 4:26) Join Francie a chapter at a time in this Audio Proverbs Library: Audio Proverbs with Francie Taylor

Build Your Bible Habit is the popular audio Proverbs series, available in a complete library here: Build Your Bible Habit Audio Proverbs Library By reading along or listening to a daily chapter of Proverbs, you will develop the habit of being in the Word daily. Soon, Proverbs won't be enough. You'll want more. The Bible is bottomless! 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) Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram Like Keep the Heart on Facebook Francie on Facebook

Christmas Replay This episode, "Minimizing Strife at Family Gatherings" is one of the most-replayed episodes in our podcast library. There's something about "the most wonderful time of the year" that tends to bring out the some of the least wonderful qualities in people. How can we have gatherings with loved ones who have strongly held opinions that differ from ours without things turning into a war of words? Or what about the guests with the list of special requests? And how can we host when we're worn out from so many special events? Is a peaceful gathering even possible? Yes, but we need to be prepared. This season-ending episode shares three guidelines that I quietly employ when we're having large groups of family and friends. These three suggestions are not a guarantee that you won’t have any issues at your next gathering. These are just starter ideas to help you prepare for hosting with a greater chance of having a pleasant and peaceful outcome. 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) Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram Like Keep the Heart on Facebook Francie on Facebook

BONUS BIBLE SERIES REPLAYS: Welcome to Proverbs chapter 14 on Build Your Bible Habit. This chapter covers the wise, the foolish, the scorner, the backslider, the angry person and more! Once again, God has given us instructions on the right and wrong ways to live. It’s like being served a meal where there are things that we really like mixed with things that we’d rather not eat, even though they’re very good for us. We need both for balance. This chapter is a life buffet. To build a Bible habit, we need to make a commitment that’s firm. We can’t be on and off about it. God has provided us with an abundant life through His Word. How many With as many Bibles as the average person owns, we could at least commit to reading one of them consistently. Make your Bible study an unbreakable appointment. Try pairing it with something else, like Bible and breakfast. Just commit and stay committed. As it says in Proverbs 14:27, "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." There is more value to building a Bible habit than we can imagine. It is so worth it!

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) 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 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) Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram Like Keep the Heart on Facebook 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 Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram Like Keep the Heart on Facebook Francie on Facebook