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, Growing, life, Personal, Uncategorized

Hello, My Name Is…

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Hello, My Name is Michael Joe Harvell and I decided to try something a little different on my blog this month. I am going to try to write everyday, using pre planned prompts for the month. That means that everyday, I will try to come to this page and write about whatever my prompt is prompting me to write about.

Today, I want to introduce myself and tell you a little about me. I am pretty much an ordinary guy. I get up most mornings around 5 AM and get ready for my day. I like to begin my day with a cup of coffee, outside in a rocking chair, where I will spend a few moments reading Scripture, meditating and then walking around the yard enjoying a little prayer conversation with my Creator.

I am a husband of a beautiful wife, who is a K-5 Teacher, a father to two beautiful and successful daughters. One who is working, pregnant and and about to bless us with our first grandchild. The other who is still in high school and liviing her best life. I am a son of very special parents, who are a blessing and sometimes a challenge. I am a brother to my favorite sister, who has blessed me with two incredible nephews, who I consider my own. I am a friend to anyone who is willing to open their life to me and I do my best to be an open book and sometimes I am probably more open than I need to be.

I am a Minister, so I spend part of my day studying and preparing messages to encourage folks in their spiritual journy. I am a teacher, so I spend part of my day at school working with high school students trying to help them succeed toward the goal of graduating and earning their high school diploma. I am a Master Coach, so I spend time communicating with clients trying to encourage them and keep them accountable to their goals. And I am a Mentor, so I work hard on myself to try to succeed myself so I can be someone worth looking to for advice and counsel.

I have made more than my fair share of mistakes in this life, and I thank God that His grace is more than sufficient. One of the greatest lessons I have learned and try to teach in life is that if we learn from our mistakes, they were an education, but if we fail to learn, they were a waste.

I believe that God is love and that we are created in His image, which means that as we receive His love, we are to return it to Him and one of the best ways we can do that is by loving one another.

At this age and stage of my life, I consider myself very blessed and I am grateful for all that life has allowed me to experience…

Blogroll, Discipleship, responsibility, spiritual enlightenment, Uncategorized

The Living Word!

People who know me, know that I begin most of my days outside early in the morning. After I get up and get ready, I make a cup of coffee and head outside to spend a few moments getting myself focused and headed in the right direction.

One of the first things I do once I get outside is take a few moments to read some scripture and then take a little time to just to think through it, how it applies to my life, what it means to me and in what ways it can make my life better? The Word is powerful and almost always has something to give me in that moment.

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The Bible is not just a book, it is a book that is alive and active. It is sharper than a two edged sword, cutting in both directions, teaching us from our past and preparing us for our future. It penetrates, divides and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It reveals what the real deal is and helps us to build from a place of strength, rather than weakness.

After I spend some time with the Word, I then take a few moments to do a little walk and talk, which is just basically walking and talking with God about what I just read and the day that is getting ready to unfold before me. This really makes a difference and my day just doesn’t seem right if I miss it. How do you like to begin your day?

Blogroll, love, mercy, spiritual enlightenment, Uncategorized

Mercy Me!

The rain has put me back under the barn this morning, reminding me that I am blessed to have sacred places to go and meet my Master. I love this very special time every morning. I really can’t imagine my day without it and it is the perfect start to heading in the right direction.

This morning our conversation is about mercy, which of course flows out of love. God loves us, is patient with us and wants us to to live the blessed life we were created for.

The Bible says: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” -Matthew 5:7

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of the woman taken in adultry. The religious crowd found this woman who had committed adultry and brought her to Jesus. They were trying to trick him. They said: “This woman was taken in the act of commiting adultry, now Moses and the Law says she should be stoned. What do you say Master?” They thought if he said to stone her, then his message of love would be jinxed and if he said let her go, then he doesn’t care about the religious teachings.

Love, grace, hope, mercy and peace are just a few of the precious gifts that God has given to us. Grace is when God gives us what we don’t deserve and mercy is when God does not give us what we deserve.

We deserve judgment, wrath, separation, punishment and death, but God in his beautiful mercy does not give us what we deserve. God instead gives us forgiveness, love, connection, restoration and life.

Because God shows us mercy and grace, we should show others mercy and grace. What are some ways you can open up your heart and life to receive God’s gifts and what are some ways you can open up your heart and life to share these gifts with others??? 🙏🏻