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.

Life Has Two Sides: Which Will You Choose?

Every day, life gives us a choice about which side we will live on.

Hate has four letters, but so does love. Enemies has seven letters, but so does friends. Lying has five letters, but so does truth. Cry has three letters, but so does joy. Negativity has ten letters, but so does positivity.

Life has two sides, and while we cannot always choose what happens to us, we can choose which side will shape our hearts.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely… think on these things.”

You cannot stop every negative thought from knocking on the door of your mind, but you do not have to invite it inside and give it a place to stay.

You can choose love instead of hate.

You can choose truth instead of lies.

You can look for joy even while tears are still falling.

You can choose to believe that God is working, even when life is not going according to your plans.

My friend, the side you focus on will eventually influence the direction you travel. So today, choose the better side. Choose faith. Choose hope. Choose kindness. Choose joy.

Most importantly, choose to walk with God, because with Him by your side, even the darkest day still holds the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Don’t Borrow Trouble From Tomorrow!

Have you ever lost today worrying about something that might happen tomorrow?

Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”

In other words, don’t borrow tomorrow’s trouble and bring it into today.

My friend, God has given you grace for today.

He has given you strength for today.

He has given you what you need to face today.

But when you start carrying tomorrow’s problems today, you are trying to carry a burden God has not asked you to pick up yet.

Some of us are worried about conversations that haven’t happened, problems that haven’t developed, bills that aren’t due, decisions that haven’t been made, and situations that may never even come to pass.

Meanwhile, we are missing the blessings God has placed right in front of us.

Remember how God provided manna for Israel? He gave them enough for each day.

And that is still how God works.

Tomorrow may have some challenges, but tomorrow will also have fresh mercy, fresh grace, fresh strength, and fresh provision.

So don’t spend today living in tomorrow.

Do what you can do today.

Pray today.

Trust God today.

Love the people around you today.

Enjoy the blessings He has given you today.

And when tomorrow gets here, the God who took care of you today will already be there.

You don’t have to figure out tomorrow.

You just have to trust the One who holds it.

One day at a time, my friend. God will give you the grace when you get there.

When The Burden Gets Heavy!

Have you ever found yourself carrying something God never asked you to carry?

Maybe it is a problem you cannot solve, a person you cannot change, or a future you cannot control. You have thought about it, worried about it, and lost sleep over it, but it has only grown heavier.

“When it starts to feel heavy, that means it’s not yours to carry anymore. Give it to God.”

First Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Giving it to God does not mean you stop caring. It means you stop trying to do God’s job. You pray, obey what He tells you to do, and then trust Him with what only He can do.

Sometimes we ask God for peace while still holding tightly to the very burden He has asked us to release.

My friend, open your hands today. Tell Him, “Lord, this is too heavy for me, but it is not too heavy for You.”

He may not change the situation immediately, but He will give you the strength and peace to walk through it.

You were never meant to carry everything alone. Give it to God. He can carry what is crushing you, and He cares for you.