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.

Take The Next Step!

“The distance between what you want and what you get is what you do.”

That’s a powerful reminder, friend. We can have good intentions, big dreams, and prayers for a better tomorrow, but sooner or later, we have to take a step.

The Bible says, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” — Ecclesiastes 9:10

You may not be able to change everything today, but you can do one thing. Make that phone call. Open your Bible. Take the first step toward healing. Offer forgiveness. Keep showing up, even when progress feels slow.

Don’t let fear convince you that small steps don’t matter. Every faithful step moves you closer to where God is leading you.

So today, don’t just wish for change. Do the next right thing. Trust God with the outcome, and keep moving forward.

When Your Heart And Words Match!

You can say the right thing and still have the wrong thing going on in your heart.

Good morning, my friend!

Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

David understood something important: God is concerned with more than what comes out of our mouths. He also cares about what is going on inside our hearts.

Because eventually, what lives in your heart will find its way into your words.

If bitterness lives there, it will come out.

If fear fills your thoughts, it will affect how you speak.

But when your heart is filled with God’s Word, His grace, and His goodness, that will come out too.

So maybe our prayer today should be more than, “Lord, help me watch what I say.”

Maybe it should be, “Lord, change what I’m thinking about. Clean up what I’m carrying. Make my heart pleasing to You.”

Before you speak today, pause.

Before you send that text, pause.

Before you respond when somebody gets on your last nerve, pause.

Ask yourself, “Would these words be acceptable to the Lord?”

And don’t miss how David ends the verse: “O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

You don’t have to change your heart by yourself.

He is your strength.

He is your Redeemer.

Let Him work on the inside, and it will begin to show on the outside.

Today, ask God to make your thoughts and your words pleasing to Him.

Keep your heart close to Jesus, watch your words, and take life one step at a time!

The Promise Keeper!

People may disappoint you. Plans may change. Feelings may rise and fall. But there is one truth you can build your life upon: God will always be faithful.

Deuteronomy 7:9 says, “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.”

Moses reminded Israel that their future did not depend upon their own strength. It rested in the hands of a faithful God.

And friend, the same is true for you.

God is not only faithful when life is good. He is faithful in the valley, faithful in the waiting, and faithful when you cannot understand what He is doing.

The Bible says He “keepeth covenant and mercy.” That means God remembers every promise He has made. If He said it, you can trust Him to fulfill it.

His faithfulness also deserves a response. Love Him. Trust Him. Obey Him, not to earn His mercy, but because you know His way is always best.

Your faithfulness today may even become a blessing to generations you will never meet.

So when uncertainty surrounds you, hold tightly to what you know: God was faithful yesterday, He is faithful today, and He will still be faithful tomorrow.

Keep trusting. Keep obeying. Keep moving forward.

God is faithful, my friend. Press On!