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.
I just finished writing what I thought was one of the best blog post that I have ever written, and then while trying to use the new format on WordPress, lost the blog and cannot find it anywhere. I am tempted to be frustrated, but it is too early in the morning and I have too many important things in front of me today to be taken off track, so here I am!
Here I am, writing about frustration, disappointment and challenge. We all face it, almost everyday of our lives, but we do have choices: We have the choice of action! Am I going to do something about it or let it do something about me? The easy thing would be to complain, but that would only waste time and energy and in the end, I still would not have my blog post back. The not so easy thing is to move on, do what I need to do and look for the victory that is somewhere in front of me for today!
I make the choice to look for the victory and I hope that my sharing this little story, will help you to make the choice to look for the victory God has for you as well! If I can pray for you, please let me know how? And until next time – Be Blessed Because You Are Blessed!
We live in a world of excuses! It is never anyone’s fault and if it is someone’s fault, then it had to be someone besides me. Because of this attitude, many people today are walking around with bitter attitudes that pollute life for all of us. Everyone has negative things happen in their life. If you want to walk through life with a bad attitude, then you probably will not have to look to far or hard to find a reason. But that is the easy part, looking for something to excuse my poor choices, bad attitude and bitter temper.
It is possible that you have some very good reasons for having a bitter attitude. Maybe you have had to face some terrible abuse, chronic illness or a big problem that never seems to go away. It is possible that someone took advantage of you, used you and left you with nothing. I am not suggesting that everything that happens in life is all roses. I know that every rose has its thorn and some roses have more than others. What I am suggesting is that you have a choice! You make the choice as to where and how you will live your life! You will live in victory or you will live in defeat.
I want to challenge you to let go of the past. Learn what you need to learn from it and let it go. Stop using the past as an excuse that causes you to miss out on the amazing future that your Creator has for you. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get out of the victim mind-set. You make the choice – I am a victim or a victor? Stop looking at other people’s lives and get stuck in the game of comparison shopping. Don’t dwell on what could’ve, should’ve and would’ve been. Quit asking why and start looking for how!
You may not be able to do anything about the things that have happened to you, but you can do something about what you allow them to do to you from this day forward. Let go of and get rid of anything that hurts you or brings you pain. Chase away the poison of bitterness and resentment. Forgive and forget and you will begin to walk in the amazing power of freedom.
In John 5 Jesus saw a man lying on the ground and learned that this man had been in this lame condition for a long time. Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to get well?” The man responded with excuses as to why he was still in his condition. Jesus told him, “Get up, take your mat and walk!” and the man got up, took his mat and walked! There are many times in life, when you need to stop making excuses and you need to start experiencing miracles! Don’t miss the miracle that God has for you! Get up out of your excuses and walk into the blessings of God!
Sleep is gone! A new day awakes!
Darkness is chased away by light revealing a kaleidoscope of colors.
The sleepy sounds of night have gone and the sounds of productivity have come alive.
Eyes open, mind engages and the work of life begins.
Life is lived, goals are accomplished and memories are made.
Michael Joe Harvell 