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.

Words!

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Now that’s a mouthful—and a heart-check. Because let’s be honest, it’s easy to let our words run wild. It’s easy to join the gripe train, to tear down, to vent without a filter. But Paul says, “Don’t.” Not just because it’s wrong—but because your words are meant to be tools of construction, not destruction.

You and I—we’re called to be builders. And not with bricks or boards, but with blessings. Every word that leaves your lips carries power—life or death, hope or harm. So what if, today, you made it your mission to speak only what lifts up, heals, and helps? What if your words became the kind of words people lean into instead of walk away from?

So go ahead—take a deep breath. Slow down. Choose words soaked in grace and seasoned with love. Speak like your voice is a hammer in the hands of the Carpenter—building something eternal.

Because when you speak life, you’re doing more than talking. You’re giving folks a glimpse of Jesus. And that, my friend, is worth every syllable.

Becoming!

Blessed is the one who doesn’t give up when life gets hard. That’s the heart of James 1:12. It says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Now, I don’t know what kind of trial you’re walking through today. Might be trouble in your home, your health, your heart, or maybe even your head. But I do know this—God sees you. He knows what you’re going through, and He hasn’t forgotten His promises.

This ain’t about just hanging on by your fingernails, either. This is about leaning into Jesus, drawing strength from the One who’s already overcome it all.

 Perseverance isn’t about being perfect. It’s about trusting when it would be easier to give up.

 It’s about showing up when quitting looks like the better option.

And it’s about remembering that there’s a crown of life waiting on the other side—not a plastic trophy, but real, eternal reward from the One who loves you.

So today, take heart. You’re not just surviving—you’re becoming. Keep pressing in, keep holding on, and keep walking in love. The trial you’re facing may be tough, but the crown He’s promised is tougher. And so are you—with Him.

God’s Creation!

You are not an accident. You’re not just some random combination of dust and breath, wandering aimlessly through time and space. No, according to Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

That word masterpiece—don’t miss it. It means you are handcrafted by the Creator of the universe. Not mass-produced. Not copy-pasted. You are a one-of-a-kind work of divine art.

And get this: God’s not done with you yet. He’s got good things—kingdom things—already lined up with your name on them. You’ve been redeemed not just from something, but for something.

So stop letting fear call the shots. Quit letting the world tell you who you’re not. Stand up, dust off your doubts, and walk in the purpose God wrote into your bones. You were made on purpose, with purpose, for a purpose.

God’s not waiting on you to be perfect. He’s just waiting on you to believe that you’re His. Now go out there and live like the masterpiece you are.

You are loved. You are chosen. You are created for good.

Now don’t waste it.