Michael Joe Harvell

I noticed a lot of searches for information about AYAF? at Northwood, so I thought I would shoot a little description and invitation – hope you enjoy!

This Box Ain't For You!

I have a friend that bought one of those little computers and it got messed up, so we have been trying to figure out how to fix it.  I gave up on it about a month ago and just put everything back in the box and sat it on a shelf.  I took the box down yesterday and pulled the computer out and thought what a waste for this thing to sit in the box on a shelf!

Later I got to thinking about my life and ministry.  I work hard to be outside of the box.  There is not much that I can do inside the box to be a blessing to others.  There is not much that I can do inside of the box to bring glory to the One Who gave me life!  To be a blessing to others and to bring glory to God, I have to get out and stay out of the box.

The Bible says that we were created in the image of God.  You can’t put God in a box!  There is not a box big enough or strong enough to hold Him and His glory!  If we are made in His image, then it stands to reason that we were not made for the box either.

Stop putting yourself in the box!  Don’t allow other people to put you in the box!  Be who God created you to be!  Do the awesome things that God created you to do.  Be a blessing to others and bring glory to God by getting out of the box if you are in it and by staying out of the box if you are out of it!  G3!

How Many Of You Loved This Show?

We are getting ready to begin a new series at Northwood called BFF! – Building Faithful Friends! In preparation for this series, I have been searching the scriptures, reading everything I can get my hands on and observing the lives of others while reflecting on my own, to try to better understand friendship.

I have discovered several principles that we need to consider and reconsider on an ongoing basis, if we are to be a friend and have a friend!  The first principle is what I call The Principle Of Priority! It basically says that “If friendship really matters we will recognize it as a priority that touches every other area of our lives!”

We have a decision to make!  “Does friendship matter?” If it matters, then the next question is: “Is it worth the effort?” If it’s worth the effort, then we must make it a priority, which means that we give it “top shelf” attention, time and effort.

I have to admit that with a lot of my friendships, I have not given them the priority that they need and deserve.  (The truth is – I have not given any of my friendships the priority they need and deserve!)  This is an area of my life that I am right now working to fix, so that my life might bring God greater glory and my friends more special blessing!

If our friendships are right and growing, then every other area of our lives is better!  Thank you for being my friend and know that I look forward to growing our friendship in the days, months and years ahead!

Let The Wind Blow!

Like A Ship! Someone said that being a real believer is like being a ship that God wants to send out to sea to sail wherever the wind might carry us!  Often times when the strong winds of adversity blow into my life, I don’t like them and I begin to have a “woe is me” complex.  The thing that I have to keep reminding myself of is that wind (adversity, hard times, frustrations) is not a bad thing, it is a good thing that is going to blow me into a new and better direction, if I will let it.

Learn This! The important principle to learn here is:  Don’t fight against the wind, instead learn to harness the power of the wind and you will discover that it will take you to places that you could never get to on your own.  I like to think of the wind as the Holy Spirit, when I pull up my anchor and adjust my sails – He takes me through the tough spots and into amazing places of blessing.

Ask God! Next time you find yourself going through a difficult time because the winds of adversity are blowing into and through your life, just take a moment to pray to God and ask Him to help you to pull up the anchor and set the sails and then get ready to enjoy the ride of a life time!

Got Courage?

“Courage is a gift of God that is given to each of us! Our problem is our failure to use what God has given!”

Another Amazing Gift! In my quiet time this morning, the Holy Spirit hit me with this thought!  God has given amazing gifts to all of His creation.  One of the amazing gifts that He has given to you and me is the gift of courage.  The dictionary says that courage is strength in the face of pain or grief.  Courage is the thing that allows you to take one more step in the right direction.  Courage is the thing that motivates you to go on when everything and everyone else tells you to stop.  Courage is the thing that takes you to amazing and incredible places.

Sad Reality vs. Happy Outcomes! Without courage, we would never go anywhere and never accomplish anything of real and true significance, but with courage we attempt to accomplish the impossible and often succeed and learn valuable lessons, even when we fail.

How To Grow Your Courage! How do we activate and live in the power of this great gift that God has given to us?  It actually is very simple!  Courage is activated by our faith! We need to continually remind ourselves that God is Who He says He is and He is faithful!  This simple reminder will allow Him to do great things in and through our lives.  Have faith in God, trust in Him, watch your courage grow and begin to go places and experience things that you only dreamed of before!

It has been another great Sunday! I am slap worn out, but worn out in a very good way! Looking forward to getting some good rest tonight!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers over the past couple of days. Your prayers and encouraging notes mean more to me than words can say!

I am very excited about what God is up to in my life. I am learning so much and really feel that I am experiencing some amazing personal growth. Can’t wait to see what God is going to do next! Your prayers and this journey that I am on with God has me standing in a very new, powerful and exciting place!

I want you to be able to enjoy the journey that God has for you. Do not be satisfied with the man or woman that you think you can be! Seek to become the man or woman that God knows you can be! I hope you have a good night and blessed week! G3!

A good friend is trustworthy and comfortable!

A good friend is a friend that you can and do trust with anything and everything. You do not have to and you do not want to hide anything! You are willing to share it all and the sharing goes both ways!

A good friend is a friend who you are comfortable around and who is comfortable around you! It does not matter how you look, smell or sound. Mistakes are made and forgiven and life goes on regardless!

You may not realize it, but you have a good friend! Don’t take your good friend for granted. Appreciate your good friend by being a good friend back!

Clean Out The Clutter Of Your Mind!

Mind Block! I have had so many things on my mind lately, that I have not been able to get a clear focus on what to write about on this blog.  I have sat down several times to write and just gotten up without a word written and walked away with a lot of frustration from all of the distractions that are floating around in my head.

What’s My Problem? My goal in writing this blog is to try to encourage people to live in the Power Of The Spirit, which comes from being and growing in a real and right relationship with God!  I think that I have a pretty worthy goal for writing, so why am I having this problem?

Could It Be? Could it be that I am concerned about some things that I don’t really need to be concerned about?  Could it be that I am thinking and holding onto some things that I can do nothing about?  Could it be that I need to ask for the help of some other people?  Could it be that I have put some things on my plate that God never intended to be there?

You Got It! Yes it could be and it is!  When I stopped and began to ask myself the above questions, I began to let go and lay aside many of the things that were distracting me and the words and thoughts began to flow!  It was way past time for me to clean out the closet of my mind!  Just like our clothes closets – we have things that don’t need to be there and that we need to get rid of to make room for new, better and more appropriate stuff!

What Can You Do? It may be that you are having a hard time getting focused.  You may discover that you are not focusing on the things that really matter and make a difference.  Take some time to take a look at everything that you have floating around in your head and heart and do a little “clutter cleaning” that will help you to get rid of the distractions!  (You have to take the time and you have to be honest for this to work!)  (And the best filter is God’s Word And Will!)

Right Track! Before you know it, things will be on the right track and you will find happiness and fulfillment in the moment by moment daily living of your life!  And you will be glad you did!