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.

What Is Your Purpose?

What Is Your Purpose?

What is the purpose of your life?  Figure this out and you will be well on your way to experiencing fulfillment that will amaze and bless you in ways that will allow your life to be an inspiration and encouragement to others.

Below is a short video to help us start thinking about this very important question:  What is my purpose?  Thanks for watching the video and I hope you will enjoy the journey over the next couple of weeks…

The Flow Of Life!

Let It Flow!

Life as created by God is everlasting.  It is more than just a moment in time, it is more than time.  It is more than the acquiring of stuff and the achieving of goals.  It is infinite, limitless, intertwined and allows us to exist for much more than simply self.

When we begin to see life as it really is, then this changes our lives and their living.  This is why we must take on the ego.  The ego must go, because it gets in the way, corrupts and blocks the flow of life and living.

Real life and living is a paradox!  We give and receive, not receive and give.  We put ourselves last and become first, not first to begin with.  We meet the needs of others and our needs are met.

Ego is never satisfied and always hungers for something more than it already has.  It requires its slaves to seek more of everything, anything, just more.  Learning to live from the center of our created purpose, removes us from chaos and takes us to a higher place of living, where we discover fulfillment and live in peace.

Take some time to practice the discipline of generous thinking toward others, with whatever it is that you have to be generous with.  Practice by serving others above and beyond yourself.  Your service does not have to be big, just simple, random acts of kindness that allow you to move out of the ego of self-satisfaction and into the wide open universe of service.

You can strive or arrive, the choice is yours.  Activate the loving energy that created you by reaching out with your positive thoughts and encouraging behaviors.  Focus on the moments and the opportunity they offer you to do something for someone else.  This connects you to life and allows you to experience satisfaction that lives above and beyond the circumstances.

Open the eyes of your heart.  Be still and see how life comes to you.  You will soon learn that you are life.  Breath!  The air is a gift of life.  Drink!  This water is a gift of life.  Eat!  This food is a gift of life.  Feel!  The warmth from the sun or the coolness of the breeze is a gift of life provided by the Creator for His creation.

Stay appreciative and learn to enjoy the moment, because the moment is life.  Stop the chase and quit wearing yourself out, because life is more that what we make it.  Take the time to witness and enjoy all that comes, goes and flows to, through and around you.  When we learn to live with open hands, our Creator is able to put good things in them for us to use for His glory and other’s blessing!

Created To Create!

Creation Creating!

You are a Divine creation, born of Spirit, before you are born of flesh.  You were created to create.  Your calling is inside of you, it makes you alive, excited and causes you to experience fulfillment and purpose.

You are unique and have been blessed with a unique gift to apply to the human life that you are getting to experience right here and now.  In order to live in the power of creation that creates, it is important that we learn to trust our inner calling, while growing our ability to ignore criticism.

We each have natural talents that have become blocked by the judgments of others.  We need to learn and accept that true perfection is not about being perfect, but it is about being you, yourself, just as you were created to be.  When we get this, we will shake of the enslaving chains of fear and doubt.  We will learn to harmonize with creation and the power that flows to and through it.

Little babies do not have to do anything, but be little babies.  Life simply and beautifully unfolds without any interference or assistance from the baby.  Be who you were created to be, a co-creator with God of miraculous movements that allow the life of life to flow and grow.  Create as creation creates in you and don’t simply exist, but thrive in the alive place of genesis.