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.
Uncategorized

Chasing The Heart!

Chase It - You Might Catch It!

In the Bible we find that King David was a somebody even when everyone else thought he was a nobody.  As I read through his life, both the failures and the successes, I cannot help but notice that he has a huge passion – a passion for things of this world and at the same time a passion for God.  Often these are in conflict with one another and this gets David into trouble.   The good news is that this trouble ultimately always ends up bringing David back to where he needs to be.

David is described in Acts 13:22 in this way:  “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.”  This is God talking about David.  Only God knows the inside of a man’s heart, but know this for sure:  God knows and it matters!

David chased after the heart of God.  I can relate!  I don’t always feel like I’ve got God’s heart, but I know that I am I chasing after it.  I sometimes head in the wrong direction, but I ultimately turn and head back, because there is nothing in this world that can be compared to the heart of God.  David so wanted the heart of God that he would often run off half cocked and do something totally crazy, that would get him in a big ol mess, but the big mess eventually took him even closer to God and the things of God.

I think I might be beginning to understand what Paul was saying, when he said:  “The things I want to do, I don’t and the things I don’t want to do, I do!”  I don’t always do what is right, but I want to!  I sometimes do wrong and I don’t want to!  This is why I am thankful that God loves me and gives me His amazing grace.

Another thing Paul said that I think I am just beginning to understand is:  “Not that I have already obtained all of this, but this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind, I press toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling of Christ Jesus.”  I have not got there yet, I still have a long way to go, but I love God and I am chasing His heart and I am thankful that He let’s me catch up every now and then.  G3!

Uncategorized

Ordinary Is Good!

I am just a man!  Sometimes I still act like a little boy and I still enjoy doing childish things.  I want to be more than a man, but I usually end up messing that up.  I am learning that I need to be comfortable being a man, because that is who and what my Creator has created me to be.

I don’t have to be extraordinary, I can’t save anybody and a running around with a red cape will just make me look silly.  I just need to be the man – I was created to be.  A husband to my wife, a dad to my kids, a friend to my friends, a faithful worker to my calling and an open vessel for my Creator to use as He sees fit.

While I am often a boy trapped in a man’s body, I also realize that I am God’s creation and He has an amazing plan for my life.  The really beautiful and amazing thing is this:  He has an amazing plan for your life too!

Step outside of the busyness of trying to be whatever it is that you are trying to be and enjoying the simple being of who and what God created you to be.  Ordinary is good and by the way, ordinary is what God uses to make extraordinary!  Blessings!

Psalm 51:10-13  10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Uncategorized

Create In Me A Clean Heart!

Clean My Heart!

The Bible is full of men and women, who had blown it when it comes to living holy lives.  Some of these men and women loved God with an amazing love, but found themselves in a constant and continual battle between the flesh and spirit.

King David was one of these people.  He loved God and was a man after God’s Own heart, but David messed up, not once or twice, but again and again and again.  The beautiful thing about David’s mess ups, his sins, is that even though He messed up – God continued to love Him, care for Him and use Him.

God did not use David because He was perfect and sinless.  God used David because, while He did not have a clean heart, he wanted one!  In Psalm 51 we read these heart spoken words:

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.  5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.  6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.  7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.  9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.  10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.  14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.  15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.  

Keith Green sings a beautiful song that has become a prayer in my life.  It reflects the heart of what I believe David was feeling and trying to express.  It reflects what I am a lot of times feeling and trying to express to our awesome God!  If you want to listen to it, then you can find it on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_4b_9l3GpE

“Create in me a clean heart, oh God
And renew a right spirit within me

“Create in me a clean heart, oh God
And renew a right spirit within me

Cast me not away from Thy presence, oh Lord
And take not Thy holy spirit from me

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation
And renew a right spirit within me.”