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, Enlightenment, Growing, life, Uncategorized

Breaking Free Of What Holds You Back!

Every day of my life I get to make a choice. In fact, every moment of my life I get to make a choice. Am I going to be judge and jury or am I going to leave the heavy lifting to our Creator and Giver Of Life – God? I know it surprises us sometimes, but we do have a choice!

We get to choose if we are going to be upset, mad, disapponted, frustrated, angry or mad. We get to choose if we are going to judge and what our judgement is going to be. We get to choose our focus and this power of choice makes all the difference in the direction of our life.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” -Matthew 7:1-5

I choose not to focus on what is bad, but to look for and find whatever good there is. I choose to focusing on how to bring blessing and not curses into this world. I choose not to place blame, but to work for the discovery of solutions that make a difference.

I have discovered that the choices I make have the power to determine my own experience of myself and the world in which I am living. What I choose to see in others is what I feel in myself. When I release my need to see what is wrong with others, I am able to let go of what is wrong in myself and experience healing that brings wholeness which empowers me to live at a higher place and experience greater breakthrough and blessing.

There is A God and God does not need us to do His job! God only needs for us to rceive His love, so that we can share His love with others. This brings glory to God and all of us blessing!