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.
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Don’t Let Yesterday’s Hurt Steal Today’s Peace!

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” -Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)

Friend, one of the heaviest burdens you’ll ever carry is the burden of unforgiveness. It doesn’t just weigh down the person who hurt you, it weighs down your own heart.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:32, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Notice that our ability to forgive isn’t based on whether someone deserves it. It’s based on the fact that God forgave us when we didn’t deserve it.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending the hurt never happened. It doesn’t mean what they did was right. It means you’re choosing not to let yesterday’s pain keep stealing today’s peace.

Someone once said that refusing to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer. God wants something better for you. He wants your heart to be free.

Maybe today there’s a name or a face that immediately comes to mind. Rather than replaying the offense one more time, bring that hurt to the Lord. Ask Him to help you release what you cannot change and trust Him with what you cannot control.

The cross reminds us that mercy is stronger than bitterness, grace is greater than guilt, and love has the final word.

Don’t carry into tomorrow what Jesus is willing to carry for you today.

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Worry Can’t Win Unless You Let It!

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” -Matthew 6:25 (KJV)

Friend, if we’re honest, worry has a way of showing up uninvited. It whispers, “What if?” It keeps us awake at night, steals our joy during the day, and convinces us that somehow everything depends on us.

But Jesus says something remarkable in Matthew 6:25: “Take no thought for your life.” He isn’t telling us to ignore our responsibilities. He’s reminding us not to carry burdens that belong to God.

Think about it. The same God who gave you life is more than capable of taking care of your life.

He has already seen tomorrow. He knows every need you’ll have before you ever ask. Not once has God been surprised by your circumstances, and not once has He failed to keep His promises.

Worry cannot change yesterday, and it cannot control tomorrow. All it can do is rob you of the peace God wants you to experience today.

So instead of feeding your fears, feed your faith. Instead of rehearsing every possible problem, remember every time God has already brought you through.

If He has been faithful before, He will be faithful again.

Today, take a deep breath, place your concerns into the hands of your Heavenly Father, and keep walking by faith. The God who holds the universe in His hands is holding you too.