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.
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The Blank Canvas Of A Day!

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You Can Do This!

I love how a new day is almost like a clean slate, a blank canvas just waiting to have some brush strokes added.  At the beginning of the day, I am excited about the potential and possibilities that stretch out in front of me and then all of a sudden, I find myself in a hurry and the next thing I know I am halfway through the morning of my brand new day.  It does not take long for something to go wrong, not at all what I had planned and my beautiful blank canvas, rather than being a work of art, has turned into a big ole mess.

What do we do with days like this?  The truth is:  Most days are like this.  And on these messy days, there is really only one thing we can do.  We need to trust in our Creator, Who gave us our days to begin with.  Trusting in Him, allows us to be filled with peace that flows from some where deep within us.  This inner calm is a gift that assures us that regardless of what happens today, our Creator has a plan, because that is what Creator’s do.

You do not have to let a messy day distract you from the gift of peace that Your Creator has breathed into your life.  Don’t let what is going on around you in this world cause you to be shaken, because you are not of this world.  You, “who you really are”, your inner most being is rooted and established in Eternity.

When the stress of living begins to catch up with you, simply decide that you are going to use your supernatural power to detach yourself from these distractions.  Don’t waste your limited human energy on trying to maintain order and control of the chaos.  Instead, take a deep breath, relax and remember the peace of your Creator that resides within you.

Look within and see the face of love and open your mind to hear the things of the Spirit.  You will find that this enables you to see with more than physical eyes.  And with this spiritual insight, you will begin to see things from a high and holy perspective, which will further grow this great gift of peace.

When it is all said and done, you will look back at what used to be a blank canvas and discover that the Master has helped you to turn your day into a MASTERPIECE!

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Simple Man!

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Simple Man – That’s A Good Thing!

My Dad, David Harvell celebrated his 70th Birthday yesterday.  The following is a little something I wrote to share a little of what is in my heart for this man who God blessed my life with:

He was raised out in the country of Cheddar and there is no shame in that, because it is where he learned the basics that make him a kind, gentle and simple man. He was taught and learned the value of hard work and if a job is worth doing, then it’s worth doing right. This is more than a philosophy to him, it has been and is his creed – his way of living life right.

He does not just believe in God, He loves God with all of his heart and while he does not put on big displays of affection for others to see. He knows in his heart that God sees and God knows and that is more than enough.

He may seem kind of quiet at first, but if you listen, then you can hear his mind turning and churning all of the information that a life time allows a man to amass. He listens and he hears and he forms his own opinions, because that is what he was taught to do. And then he acts on behalf of what is best for all involved.

He is gentle in Spirit and firm in resolve. His goal is to do what is right in the sight of God and man will just have to live with that. He is a faithful husband, doing what most men never could or would by lovingly holding the guiding reins on the heart of one of those Davenport Girls. He is a loving Father to a son and a daughter. He taught them more through example than words, an example that always spoke so much louder than any words could have. He is a proud Grandpa or Pops as we like to call him and Grace, Hope and Will put a sparkle in his eyes and a dent in his after dinner naps.

He loves his community and serves it better than well. Most do not understand what they have in this man, who stands in the gap on their behalf. He is not a politician and was probably better at running from the law in his younger days with a fast car, than running for office, which so many want to make just a game. But he cares. He really does care about doing what is right and best, so he steps out of his comfort zone and does what needs to be done, bringing stability over the past several years to what could have been very unstable times.

Today we celebrate his seventy years upon this earth. Years full of challenge and blessing. Years full of growth and accomplishment. Years full of meaningful and on purpose living. Years full of glory for our Creator and Sustainer.

He is one of the greatest men I know and I have lived under the same roof with him and can tell you that the man on the street is the same man under the roof. A simple man – yes! And that is what makes him so special to all of us. Happy 70th Birthday Pops – we love you!

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Just Like Dad!

I was talking with my oldest daughter Gracie on the way to school one day this past week and was amazed at how much she is just like me.  Her observations, horse sense, opinions and judgments.  There are some things that I see her do, or hear her say that rub me the wrong way, until I realize that those things are some of the same things that I continually find myself battling with.

I like to think that I am a good man, but the truth is that I am a sinner saved by grace.  My goodness is not from myself, but from my Creator, Savior and Friend.  Sometimes I find myself getting less tolerant of my family and friends, in what I perceive to be their challenges or weaknesses, but then the Spirit helps me to look within myself and I know that I have more than enough work to do on myself, so I am learning to let the other go.

I was created to love and be loved.  Judgment is above my pay grade and I am not really any good at it any way, so I will leave that to the Creator, Who sees all, knows all and is in control of all.

Father,  Thank You for reminding me that I am just a man, but I am not just any man, I am Your man.  Help me to grow into these big shoes that you have given me to fill and help me to walk on the path that you have marked out for me.  Along the way, as I encounter others, help me to love them as you have loved me – without condition.  Help me to help and bless others with no expectations.  Help me to remember that my service to others, is really my service to You.  Help me to love at all times, be patient in all situations and yielded to you in not just some things, but in everything.

I pray that one day, when You are looking at me as Your son, that You will see some of what makes You so great in me!