All posts by mjharvell

Welcome, friend—I’m glad you’ve pulled up a chair on the front porch of my little corner of the internet. My name is Michael Joe Harvell, and I live my life with one simple mission: to glorify God, encourage people, and leave this world a little better than I found it. I’m a husband, father, pastor, writer, Jeep enthusiast, and front-porch thinker who believes that life is best lived on purpose. I serve as pastor of Eureka Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina, where I get the joy of preaching, teaching, and walking with people through the ups and downs of everyday life. Over the years, I’ve discovered that faith isn’t just about Sunday mornings—it’s about living every single day in the presence and power of God. I’m also an author. My books—including The Grace Exchange: How Forgiven People Forgive People and The Word Works—grow out of the sermons, stories, and lessons I’ve learned on this journey. I write in a style that’s conversational, a little front-porch-rocking-chair, and full of stories, quotes, and Scripture that point us back to the goodness of God’s Word. When I’m not writing or preaching, you might find me sitting outside with my Bible and journal, cruising the backroads in my Jeep Gladiator, or sharing a meal and some laughs with the good folks God has put in my life. I love helping people find peace in their spirit, strength in their body, and encouragement in their soul. This blog is simply an extension of that mission. Here you’ll find devotions, encouragement, reflections, and practical insights for living a life of purpose, peace, and joy. So grab a cup of coffee, pull up a rocking chair, and stay awhile—I’d be honored to walk this road of faith with you.

Don’t Waste What God Gave You!

“Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.”

Friend, God has placed something special inside of you.

Maybe you can sing, teach, build, organize, encourage, cook, create, lead, listen, or simply make people feel loved. Your gift may never put your name in lights, but when it is surrendered to God, it can bring light into somebody’s darkness.

First Peter 4:10 says, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another.”

Notice that the Bible says every person has received a gift. That includes you!

Your talent is not an accident. It is a God-given opportunity to serve others and bring glory to Him.

But gifts were never meant to remain unopened. Talent must be developed. Ability must be used. Opportunity must be embraced.

Don’t waste your time comparing your gift to somebody else’s. God didn’t ask you to be them. He asked you to be faithful with what He placed in your hands.

You may not believe your contribution is important, but somebody needs what God has given you.

So use your voice. Share your story. Offer your hands. Open your heart. Serve where you are, with what you have, while you can.

Your talent is God’s gift to you.

Using it for His glory is your gift back to Him.

Help Carry The Load!

Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Everybody you meet today is carrying something.

Some burdens are easy to see. Others are hidden behind a smile, covered by a Sunday suit, or carried quietly into an empty house at the end of a long day.

The truth is, we’ve gotten pretty good at saying, “I’m fine,” when we are anything but fine.

But God never intended for us to walk through life alone.

The Bible says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens.”

It doesn’t say gossip about their burdens.

It doesn’t say judge their burdens.

And it certainly doesn’t say add to their burdens.

It says bear them.

That means we are willing to get underneath the load and help someone carry what has become too heavy for them to carry alone.

Sometimes that means praying with somebody.

Sometimes it means sitting quietly and listening.

Sometimes it means making a phone call, sending a note, preparing a meal, or simply saying, “I’m here, and you don’t have to face this by yourself.”

You don’t always need the perfect words.

Sometimes people simply need to know that somebody cares.

Christianity is more than singing about love on Sunday. It is showing that love on Monday.

Jesus never stood at a safe distance from hurting people. He stepped into their pain, touched their lives, and helped carry their burdens.

And when we do the same, we are walking in the footsteps of Christ.

So look around today.

Ask God to help you notice the person who may be carrying more than you realize.

You may not be able to remove their burden completely, but you can help make it a little lighter.

And sometimes, friend, a shoulder placed beneath the load speaks louder about Jesus than a sermon ever could.

Bear one another’s burdens.

That’s more than good advice.

That’s the law of Christ.

Blessings Or Burdens? (Encouraging Word – Evening Edition)

“Make it a habit to talk about blessings more than burdens. Where focus goes, energy flows.”

Now, that doesn’t mean we pretend our burdens aren’t real. Life can be difficult. There are bills to pay, problems to solve, people to worry about, and prayers we are still waiting for God to answer.

But we get to decide where we will place our focus.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely… think on these things.”

Friend, your thoughts will eventually influence your attitude, your words, and the way you live. If you constantly talk about what is wrong, your burdens will begin to look bigger than your God. But when you start talking about God’s goodness, His faithfulness, and His daily blessings, your perspective begins to change.

You may still have problems, but your problems do not have to control your praise.

So today, pause and count your blessings. Thank God for the prayer He answered, the door He opened, the strength He provided, and the mercy that met you this morning.

Your burdens may be heavy, but your blessings are still many.

Focus on the goodness of God and let Him take you into the blessed life!