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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Sunday Rewind!

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It’s been another sweet Sunday at Northwood!  God blessed us with a very meaningful and thought-provoking time of worship!  We then took a look at the Word and were reminded of some of the great blessings that God allows to flow into our lives!

We are blessed with Transformation!  God changes us from the inside out, from physical to spiritual beings.  God helps me to become something better than I could ever dream or imagine!

We are blessed with Love!  God is love and He loves us by giving us the ability to receive and share His love!  We share His love by loving Him back, by loving each other and by loving others!

We are blessed with prayer!  We get to have conversation with God.  We can talk with Him and we can listen to Him.  We have to step out of the flesh and into the Spirit to take part in this conversation!

Tonight we had a great time remembering the seven membership commitments, taking time to meet our deacons and enjoy some great food and fellowship with one another!

We are blessed to be a part of an amazing fellowship!  God is good!  Be sure to G3!  GIVE GOD GLORY!

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Created For What?

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Created For Relationship!

Out of love  – You were created to love and be loved!  In happiness – You were created to get and give happiness!  Through generosity you were created to give and receive generously!  You were created to be forgiven, so that you might forgive!  You were created to trust and be trusted!   You are not an accident or a freak of nature.  You are a living, breathing, special creation of God.

The world that we live in causes us to miss these grand simple pleasures of our Creator.  We are confused about who we are and what we are to do, but get so caught up in our own egos, that I pride keeps us from doing anything of merit!

If we are not careful, we become isolated and begin to devalue the most basic of human values.  We were created for relationship.  We need to do life with others.  Scientific fact had revealed through reams of data that intimacy with others is necessary to sustain a good and productive life.

There is an amazing healing available in relationship.  Taking the time to laugh with others, cry with others, touch and be touched by others can bring physical, mental and spiritual well-being.  We were created to relate.  We were created to take care of one another as family.  We were created to walk through life in meaningful friendship.  We were created to come together with others and blend into something more meaningful and powerful, as we live in commitment to one another’s well-being!

You were not created for hate, for hate is the absence of love!  You were not created for fear, for fear is the absence of faith!  You were not created for loneliness, for loneliness is the absence of togetherness!  You were not created for hurt, because hurt is the absence of healing!

You have a choice to make!  You can do what you were created to do, or you can keep going wherever the world pushes you.  You can experience the blessing and fulfillment that flow from living according to a higher purpose or take what you get from being manipulated by the world that you live in!  It’s your choice – you decide!

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Do It!

Don’t just think about it do it!

That good deed that you’ve been thinking about doing, don’t just think about it – do it!

The forgiveness you’ve been thinking about asking for, don’t just think about it – do it!

The love you’ve been thinking about sharing, don’t just think about it – do it!

The encouraging word you’ve been thinking about giving, don’t just think about it – do it!

The ministry you need to give to and get involved with, don’t just think about it – do it!

The thing you’ve been putting off, don’t just think about it – do it!

The thing you are thinking about right now, don’t just think about it – do it!

Action creates results.  Right action creates success.  God created you to act and be successful, so do what God created you to do today.  Don’t wait – do it!