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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Take It And Make It!

What Time Is It?

We are so busy!  A lot of us are so busy, that if we are not careful, we will miss out on what really matters.  Most everyone knows and believes that God is the Creator and Sustainer of life and we also know that we need to spend time with Him in prayer and Scripture, but we often fail to take or make the time!

We all have things that we do everyday.  We all have things that we would not dream of cutting out of our schedule.  Spending time with God needs to be one of those things.  If you have allowed other things to crowd God out of the schedule, then I want to encourage you to take the time to make the time to spend a little time with Him.

Time with Him will change your life in so many positive and productive ways.  This is not a “have to”, this is a “get to!”  So go ahead and take a little time right now to be with God.  Talk to Him and share what is on your mind and in your heart.  Be honest with God, He is not going to be surprised!  Ask for His help and you will be sure to get it!

God loves you and He is looking for ways to bless and grow His relationship with you!  Make time with Him a priority and then fulfill that priority – you will be glad you did!  G3!

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A Simple Experiment!

Do Unto Others!

I want to challenge you to try something today!  All day today I challenge you to look for small acts of kindness that you can do for others. Every person that you see or get a chance to talk with today, look for some small thing that you can do for them to make their day better and more positive.

You might let someone in front of you at the check-out.  You might volunteer to do some task at work that no one else likes to do.  You might get them a coffee or treat of some kind.  You could buy someone’s lunch, provide an afternoon milkshake or treat someone to supper.

From the beginning of your day, until you go to bed tonight, take some time to look for what you can do to make a person’s day better and do it! The more you do it, the better!

Start right now!  Find someone other than yourself, look for something you can do to make their day a little better and do it!  Remember:  “Do unto others as you would have them to do unto you!”

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Do You Care Where People Will Spend Eternity?

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Eternity!

“Do you really care where people will spend eternity?” I posted this question on Facebook last week and was a little surprised by the response.  Some responded with a simple yes.  Some responded enthusiastically, but with an excuse attached.  Some responded with the explanation that they have room for improvement.  Most did not respond at all – which may be the most telling of all!

I started thinking about this question last week, because sometimes in my effort to try and care about – where people will spend eternity and in my efforts to try and do something about it, I get bogged down. It’s not that I don’t care, it that sometimes I care so much that my focus gets all messed up, I get lost and become ineffective to really do anything about it!

Just asking myself this question – helps me to get my focus back right. We know what our answer should be.  We should care and the reason that many of us are afraid to answer the question is because we know that following the “yes” answer is another question – “What are you doing about it?” We don’t answer the first question, because we are really afraid of the second question, because the second question may just reveal that our answer to the first question was not true! (Go back and read that three times fast!)

If we really care about where people will spend eternity, then it has to change our lives and the way we live them! When we focus on getting this question right, We are a better people.  This question challenges us and challenge is not a bad thing, if we are willing to change and grow!

In thinking about this all weekend, I finally came to this place.  Maybe we need to start by asking ourselves this question:  “Do you care where you will spend eternity?” If you care where you will spend eternity, then you will care where others spend eternity.  Think about it and let the Spirit grow you in some amazing ways this week!  G3!