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.

God Says!

Psalm 68:5 says our God is “a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” What a picture of the heart of God! When this world leaves you feeling forgotten, overlooked, or abandoned, the Lord Himself steps in and says, You still belong. You’re still Mine.

If you grew up without a dad, or maybe you had one but he wasn’t what you needed, God says, I’ll be your Father. If you’ve lost your spouse, or you’re carrying a loneliness you don’t even have words for, God says, I see you, I’ll defend you, I’ll be your strength.

Life may not always be fair, but God is always faithful. He doesn’t just sit high and look low—He steps down into our mess and wraps His arms around us with a love that never quits.

So today, take courage. You are not alone, you are n

Love One Another!

Friend, Jesus said in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” That wasn’t a suggestion—it was a command straight from the heart of our Savior.

Now here’s the part that grabs me: He didn’t just say, “Love one another.” He raised the bar. He said, “As I have loved you.” That’s a tall order, because His love is patient when we’re stubborn, forgiving when we’re guilty, and steadfast when we’re wandering. His love doesn’t keep score. His love doesn’t walk away. His love goes all the way to the cross.

And that’s the kind of love He asks us to show. Not just when it’s easy, not just when they deserve it, but always. Friend, when you love like Jesus, you shine light in a dark world. You offer hope to the hurting. You make forgiveness believable.

So today, let’s put this verse into practice. Look around. Somebody near you needs encouragement. Somebody near you needs grace. Somebody near you just needs to know they’re loved. Be the one to show it. Because when you love like Jesus, you don’t just change their day—you may just change their eternity.

God’s Way!

Friend, Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Isn’t that a breath of fresh air? We live in a world that tells us to hustle harder, plan smarter, and push longer—but God says the secret isn’t in striving, it’s in surrendering. When you roll your plans, your dreams, and even your daily to-do list over to Him, He takes the weight off your shoulders and straightens out the path before you.

It’s like setting out on a long trip in your Jeep without a map. You can drive, guess, and waste a lot of fuel—or you can plug the destination into the GPS and follow the guide. When you let God be the Guide, He gives clarity where there was confusion, peace where there was pressure, and direction where there was just distraction.

So today, don’t just grind through your work. Give it to the Lord. Whisper a prayer before you send that email, start that project, or walk into that meeting. Put it in His hands, and watch Him establish your steps. Because when God writes the plan, you don’t just survive the journey—you arrive at the destination He designed for you.