Hope's Harbor Podcast - Gritty Bible Devotions

The book of Ruth is an incredible story of loss, struggle, faithfulness, love, and redemption.

The principles at work in this event point to Jesus as our kinsman redeemer, portrayed by Boaz. The bride rescued in this story is a likeness of Jesus's bride, the church. That's us.

The encouragement from the experience of Ruth gives us an example of GOD's love and plan to rescue us.

Show notes at hopesharbor.net

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

What happens to the Christian soul at death? The Bible is clear about this subject, however much speculation floats around about it, and even false teaching.

This episode examines the truth in Scripture. And listen, there is nothing to fear.

While dying on the cross Jesus made a statement to a thief, also dying on a cross beside Jesus, that reveals what happens at death. To the Christian.

Show notes at hopesharbor.net

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

We have too many needs facing us each day to be able to go into in this short time together. But if we prioritize needs and are honest with ourselves the greatest need is of eternal importance - the need to get right and be right with GOD.

This episode looks at how to do that very thing -

show notes at hopesharbor.net

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

Our Greatest Need - how can we know it beyond the need for food, clothing, and shelter?

How about emotional needs? Do we need to be loved? How about this... do we need to love?

A spiritual need may be the first thing to attend to. After that, an emotional need, a void within our heart, may be the greatest need we have.

Listen to see if your need is revealed. And to see if you may find a way to meet that need.


Show notes at hopesharbor.net

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

Deliver me.

In my experience, the greatest need we have is from mental bondage.

First off we are in bondage to ignorance before we discover GOD's forgiveness. We don't know we need deliverance from the penalty of inbred sin.

And then, after we ask GOD to forgive us based on Jesus's death on the cross for our sins, we are held captive by other forms of mental bondage to false beliefs about our faith and our position as children of GOD.

Finally, as far as this devotion goes, many of us need deliverance from painful memories and circumstances continuing to cause pain.

Have you ever had discouragement try to pull you down & suffocate you?
Then you know what I mean...

Show notes at hopesharbor.net

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

Satan's tool of self-destruction. Does it come in different forms and practices seen at times like this?

• Suicide
• Numbing to oblivion
• Cutting
• What else?

In my experience self-destruction is rooted in unbelief. When I do not believe life will ever get better so why bother living. And if I do live what does it matter if I stay numb?

This is rhetorical of course, but even then I've been there and know the power of self-destructive behavior. 

It nearly took my life - 

Show notes at hopesharbor.net

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

Self-hatred - it is a common mindset for the depressed among us.

Especially the conscientious.

But listen,

God does not hate us.

Though He does hate sin.

So much so He sent His Son to rescue us from hate. And the sin that enslaves us...

Show notes at hopesharbor.net

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

This series examines three methods Satan afflicts GOD's people with, and provides a way of escape.

Self-condemnation - This destructive mindset nearly put me in the grave. It is tied in with self-hate and self-destruction. These three afflictions in this order: condemnation-hate-destruction follow one upon another and will lead to deep despair in most cases.

I walked this path to the point of suicide, and then GOD intervened and I woke up to what was happening.

Find out what GOD has to say about His love for you: John 15:9

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

Spiritual sleep is damaging, first to those whose eternal destination is other than with GOD. In Heaven. And second, spiritual sleep is damaging to a Christian's life. This is because eternal rewards hang in the balance, unclaimed by a deadened heart.

Jesus died to give us life, not sleep in the spiritual sense.

Show notes on hopesharbor.net

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

GOD's Love is a symbol of His Power

The Bible tells us GOD is love. It is part of His essence and not a flittering emotion like humans have. With love guiding GOD's decisions we can rest assured He will always do the best thing for us. But we must choose whether or not to believe in GOD's love.

If we use worldly wisdom and logic, many times we will misunderstand GOD's loving ways and become angry. Like a spoiled child.

This episode sets forth a few considerations concerning GOD's love and its impact on each one of us.

For show notes go to hopesharbor.net

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net