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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Life Worthy of the Gospel!

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.  -Philippians1:27-30

The challenge is to live life in a manner worthy of the Gospel, regardless of what you are going through.

We do this by standing firm in the one Spirit and by striving together as one for the faith.

We do not have to be afraid or worried about those who oppise us, because God has got all of that.

Because we believe in Him, we will suffer for Him and He will get the glory as we grow into the blessing!  Live blessed, it’s what you were created for.

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Satisfaction!

Have you ever found yourself hungry for something, but you were not really sure what it was?  You try a bag of chips and that does not do it, so you try the left over pizza and that does not do it, so you keep going through the kitchen trying to find something that will satisfy.

This is the way we often find ourselves walking through this thing we call life.  We are hungry for something, but we are not really sure what will satisfy, so we try all sorts of different things.

King David went through the same thing and shares with us, what we need to live a satisfied life:

“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.”  Psalm 63:1-5

Are you searching, thirsting, longing for your Creator?  You can see Him, hear Him, feel Him in all of His power and glory.  You can experience His love that never fails and experience the greatest satisfaction known to man, if you will just open yourself up to Him and His ways.

Go ahead, give it a try and live blessed!