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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El Shaddai – Almighty God

 Genesis 17:1 says, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”

I picture Abraham standing there, years deep into the promise and still waiting. He is not a young man anymore. He has tried to help God out a time or two. He has learned that faith can get tired, even when it is sincere. And right there, right in the middle of waiting, God shows up and introduces Himself with a name: El Shaddai, the Almighty God.

God does not start with what Abraham needs to do. He starts with who He is. “I am the Almighty God.” In other words, “I am enough. I am sufficient. I am not limited by your age, your mistakes, or the calendar you are staring at.”

Then God says, “Walk before me.” Not run. Not perform. Not impress. Just walk. Day by day. Step by step. Stay close. Stay honest. Stay present.

And when God says, “be thou perfect,” He is not talking about flawlessness. He is talking about wholeness. A heart that is fully His. A life that is surrendered, not spotless.

Here is the encouragement today. If you feel stretched, delayed, or unsure, remember who is walking with you. El Shaddai has not lost His strength, His timing, or His promise. Keep walking. Stay before Him. The God who called you is more than enough to finish what He started.

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I Am That I Am!

Friend, Genesis 14:20 is one of those quiet porch-side verses that carries a whole lot of weight.

“Blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.”

Picture Abram standing there after the battle. Dust on his boots. Weariness in his bones. And before anyone throws a parade or hands out credit, Melchizedek lifts his eyes and says, God did this.

That’s the reminder we all need.

Victories don’t come from strength alone. Provision doesn’t come from hustle alone. Deliverance doesn’t come from strategy alone. The Most High God is the One who brings us through.

And then Abram does something powerful—he gives God the first and the best. Not because he has to, but because gratitude overflows when you recognize the source of the blessing.

Sometimes we rush past moments like this. We pat ourselves on the back. We explain it away. We say, “I just worked hard.”

But porch wisdom says, Pause. Look up. Acknowledge who carried you, protected you, and delivered you.

If God brought you through it, He deserves the praise for it. And when you give Him the glory first, you’ll find your heart steadier, your gratitude deeper, and your trust stronger.

Sit with that truth tonight. The Most High God is still delivering His people—and He hasn’t missed you yet.

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Ask God!

Friend, Genesis 15:2 opens with a line most of us have whispered at some point: “Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me…?”

That’s Abram on the porch of faith—looking at the stars God promised, then looking back at his empty tent. He believes God. He trusts God. And still, he asks an honest question.

And here’s the good news: God doesn’t rebuke Abram for asking. He doesn’t say, “How dare you question Me?” Instead, God invites him closer. Because faith isn’t pretending you don’t have questions. Faith is bringing your questions to the One you trust.

Abram’s concern wasn’t greed; it was purpose. “Lord, You’ve promised me so much, but how does this work when I don’t see the way forward?” That’s not doubt—that’s dependence.

Some of you are standing right there today. You’ve prayed. You’ve obeyed. You’ve waited. And you’re quietly saying, “Lord, what will You give me now? How will this promise unfold?”

Hear this: unanswered questions do not cancel God’s promises. Delays do not mean denial. God was already preparing a future Abram couldn’t yet imagine.

So if tonight finds you on the porch, staring into the dark, wondering how God will do what He said—keep trusting. The same God who hears your question is already writing your answer.