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.
Blogroll, Control, Enlightenment, faith, Uncategorized

Learn The Power Of In!

I begin most of my mornings outside with a cup of coffee, the Scriptures and a favorite chair. Every morning is different and reminds me that each day has a personality all it’s own. Today it is a cool 31 degrees with little to no wind and is what I would call a still morning.

Still mornings make for great conversation. I find that on mornings like this, I do a little less talking and a lot more listening. And if I’m honest, then this “less talking and more listening” should be a standard practice, but it is not always my way of operating.

As I was listening this morning, God reminded me that my strength is in Him. Now this is not what I would call a new revelation, but it is something that is good to be reminded of. A reminder helps bring it to the front of my mind, which is where I need to keep this kind of amazing truth. Everyday, there is so much other stuff that enters in, which at times can cause this amazing truth to get pushed to the back. A reminder brings it to the place it deserves to be – front and center.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power…” Ephesians 6:10

The key word after “STRONG” in that verse is “IN”. We are not really strong in our own strength, not the way we could be and should be, but when we get “IN” God and “IN” His mighty power, then the miraculous happens…

Without God, I am nothing, but a big ole hot mess, but with God I am anything and everything that matters… Love you guys and gals, praying for all of our blessing and growth today! 🙏🏻

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Inside-Out!

In The Morning When I Rise…

The outside is one of my favorite places to begin my day. I usually get up early, get ready, make a cup of coffee, head outside to one of my favorite rocking chairs, open up my Bible and start my dday under the great big, wide open sky.

To end my day, I like to head out in the evening under the canopy of darkness and look up into the night sky at the moon and the stars. It is a great reminder at how big my God is and how small my challenges are.

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” -Psalms 8:3-4

The awesomeness of God is all around us and cannot be denied. When I begin and end my day by observing God and His wonders and amazement, I find that I am even more moved to know that God thinks of me. As the classis hymn puts it: “He walks with me and talks with me and He even calls me by name.”

Take some time today to get outside and allow God to get inside your heart, mind and soul…

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Wake Up To The Light!

If you get up early enough in the morning, it will still be dark. I usually get up somewhere between 5:30 AM and 6:00 AM, get ready, make a cup of coffee and head outside, where it is usually dark, still and quiet, to spend the first moments of my day with my Master.

I take a little time to pray, read some Scripture and just meditate. In the process of taking this time, I am blessed with the added benefit of watching as the sun comes up and the light chases away the darkness and presents us all with the gift of a brand new day.

During these mornings, I am blown away by what a special gift “light” is. I mean just think about it: The light not only chases away the darkness, but reveals blessings we couldn’t see. When we open the eyes of our heart, mind and soul to the light that is all around us, we will receive the blessing of living an amazing life.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12

Wake up to the light and enjoy the life of freedom you were createf for! 🙏🏻