Keep the Heart

Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs in under five minutes while gaining valuable wisdom and understanding. This chapter opens with an instruction that could be summed up in a word: LISTEN. The next portion of the chapter includes warnings about the pitfalls of immorality, which always takes more than it gives and costs more than anyone wants to pay. The chapter continues with instructions for husbands to take to heart. Having a loving relationship is a priceless treasure. Even though this is a "couples" chapter...

Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This episode, "Are We Anything Like Judas" requires us to do some soul searching. When you study the lives of people from the Bible, you’ll notice common characteristics that we may not admit to having in ourselves. It’s so much easier to point out the faults of others than it is to recognize the flaws in ourselves. Judas had certain traits that are common to those who are disregarding God. This episode examines four things about Judas that may be going on i...

Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit! By listening to a daily chapter from Proverbs, you growing in wisdom and understanding as you immerse your soul in the Word of God. Life has so many issues. Gratefully, the Bible has the answers. Our job is to apply them. Here's a verse for the week: "A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath." (Proverbs 21:14) Apply it: There are times when we have run-ins with people, and often these times are accidental. When you know that someone has been...

Have you ever referred someone for biblical counseling and they said, “Oh I tried that and it didn’t work for me”? They may have had a counselor who was new, or who was untrained, or didn’t know how to apply scripture appropriately. This happens, but it is not always the case. If the person seeking counseling is expecting an “instant oatmeal” solution, they will be disappointed. Biblical counseling uses the Bible to bring solutions to the issues of life. Life has so many issues, and fortunately, the Bible has the answers. What biblical counseling does is it points...

Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs in under five minutes. Chapter seven is a tough one. If you're a daily Proverb reader, you already know this. The first four verses sound like "walk the talk" instructions, but then the chapter pivots to a very dark story about a young man "void of understanding" (he lacked wisdom) and the "strange woman" (she was not this young man's wife). Did you ever wonder about the life of the woman in this chapter? I often do, as every life has...

Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This week's episode is another one that had thousands of downloads. People were and are  concerned with what looks like another silent pandemic: the virus of backsliding. To backslide is to turn back or to "apostasize," which is the act of turning away from one's faith. It's not a good plan. Whether you're experiencing this yourself or you are concerned for someone who appears to be struggling with their faith, this episode examines symptoms and provides suggestions for restoration. Previously aired in 2021 as w...

Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can build wisdom, develop a deeper closeness with God through His Word, and feed your soul all within less than five minutes! The word "wisdom" appears 234 times in the Bible, and three of those verses are in Proverbs chapter 24. Here's a wisdom passage for your week: "My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and...

When someone you love is dying, it is a complicated and often emotional time, and yet we aren’t always fully aware that the person is really leaving us until those final hours. Whether we’re holding onto hope for a miracle or we’re just too wrapped up in caregiving to recognize where we are, there are mingled and sometimes confusing things going on in our hearts and minds. What can we do when it seems that someone we love is dying? These five points are based on personal experience, and while these are not a comple...

Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a daily chapter from the book of Proverbs in under five minutes! You will notice a difference as you start applying what you're learning to your daily situations. When we have more wisdom, we make fewer messes. That doesn't mean we'll have trouble-free lives. It just means that we'll be better at handling the issues as they arise.  God has a way that He wants us to live, and it brings us strength.  "The way of the LORD is strength to th...

Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons. We went into the Wayback Machine of our first season for this episode! Were you born again later in life as I was? This episode will be relatable, but even if that's not your story, you may find some helpful observations that you can share with someone you know who became a believer in their late teens or adult years. VISIT THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART For Daily Proverb Readers: Apply: Living What We Learn-A 31-Day Devotional <...

Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit! Chapter 24 is a "wisdom walk." In fact, Proverbs 24:5 tells us that a wise man has strength: "A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength." Building your Bible habit is also building your strength through increased wisdom! A Proverbs-based tool for building your Bible habit: Apply: Living What We Learn-A 31-Day Devotional Ponder the Path: A 31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor FOR COUPLES: Rough Patches: Temporary Marital Tensions by Francie Taylor What Do I Have to Lose: A 50-Day Devotional (Book...

You have a new roommate named “Anxiety” and you never invited her to live with you. If one more thing goes wrong, you don’t think you can take it. The circumstances in your life seem to be ganging up on you. But wait a minute. Is it the circumstances or is it something or someone else? Circumstances get way too much credit for the lack of peace. The real problem is often closer to home. It’s the person in the mirror. And we all have a person in the mirror, so this episode isn’t po...

Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit. Listening to a daily Proverb is a practice that will increase your Bible reading and your wisdom. God uses Proverbs to teach us practical skills for daily living. Here's a verse from Proverbs 10, reminding us that love is willing to overlook offenses: "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins." (Proverbs 10:12) VISIT THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART FOR BOOKS, BIBLE STUDIES & MORE! BIBLE STUDY GROUPS: ICU: In Christ Unconditionally-Heart Conditions Apply: Living What We Learn--31-Day Devotional by Francie Taylor ...

Welcome to Teachback Tuesday, where you'll hear the most popular episodes from previous seasons. This week's episode from Season Two was recorded by my favorite stand-in, radio host Janice Wolfe from eleven2one. You will want your Bible for this episode, and hopefully you will treasure your Bible to a greater degree after listening to this inspiring time with Janice. Special music by the gifted Jennifer Skaw at the end, and links below. "I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word." (Psalm 119:16) VISIT THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART FOR...

Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit. This is a habit that you'll never want to break. The practical wisdom from daily Proverbs equips us to walk in wisdom, making us better in handling the multiple decisions and interactions that come our way. God left us a GOLD MINE in His Word, and all we need to do is read it and apply it to our lives. The peace of God is not related to our circumstances. It is a result of walking with Him. Friendship is one of many areas touched on in Proverbs 27, and verse 17...

Welcome to an unusual episode on Keep the Heart. This episode, "When You Can't Find the Bed of Roses," was inspired by an email from a disillusioned letter writer.  This young woman who wrote the email made this statement: “I feel like I was told before marriage, growing up, in my teens, and as a young adult, that living the Christian life is wonderful, and a bed of roses.” The key phrase in her statement is this: “I feel like…” Feelings are not the same as facts, and there are times when what we hear and...

Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs in under five minutes! The practical book of Proverbs is an excellent way to draw closer to God while learning how to walk in wisdom. God uses the wisdom of His Word to guide and instruct us. This is especially helpful when we face situations that are puzzling or unexpected. Here's a verse from today's chapter reminding us of the importance of having spiritually wise friends: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall...

Welcome to the podcast at Keep the Heart! We're so glad that you're a listener, and we're prayerfully preparing new episodes for 2026. This Trailer gives the details. Watch for new episodes monthly, rotating with Teachback Tuesdays and Build Your Bible Habit. Here's a great theme verse for the year: "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) VISIT THE SHOP AT KEEP THE HEART FOR BOOKS, BIBLE STUDIES & MORE! Support this podcast with a donation HERE Apply: Living What We Learn--31...

Welcome back to Build Your Bible Habit, where you can listen to a chapter of Proverbs in under five minutes! We've been hearing from listeners who have kept up this habit, and are seeing God transform their lives. It's by design. God's Word is transformative when we read and apply the principles. Keep this habit up, and you will experience the blessings and benefits of handling life's matters wisely. Daily Proverbs is a habit that increases your wisdom and understanding, making life calm even in the midst of storms.  "Every word of God is pure: h...

Welcome to the Christmas week edition of Keep the Heart. This reading of Luke chapter two is a long-held tradition in many homes, and it is a wonderful way to place the focus on the Christ of Christmas.  The birth of Jesus marked the birth of our Saviour. He came into this world as the Sinless One on a mission, and because He died, we have the gift of eternal life. Do your children know that the tradition of gift-giving is related to the greatest gift ever given? Christmas is not celebrating us. It’s honoring Christ. We...