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 Night Rewind!

Today was another amazing Sunday! I don’t know why we had never thought of combining tailgating and worship before! Today, we not only thought about it, but we also accomplished it and had a blast doing it! Here are just a few thoughts that I am taking to bed with me tonight!

*We have a great core group of people who bless me with their willingness to give of themselves to make the dream a reality!

*God is teaching all the time and there is still much for me (all of us) to learn!

*Friendship with God is possible and should become a major focus and ambition of our lives!

*When our friendship connection with one another is right, our community brings glory to God!

*I really do love my congregation and desire to grow our friendships!

*Believe we’ve got a lot of work to do and will have to battle through some major spiritual warfare to make progress to the amazing place that God created us for!

*Know that it’s worth it and look forward to doing the things that bring a smile to God’s face!

I love you all! I am glad that I get to be your pastor, and I am even more thankful that God allows us to grow our friendships! Good Night & G3!

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That’s My Excuse!

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Excuses!  We make them so easy and if we are not careful we will find ourselves making them every day all throughout the day!  They come in all shapes and sizes and from every direction you can imagine!  Excuses do not have to be a bad thing!  The problem with an excuse is not the excuse, but getting stuck in it!

If you want to turn an excuse into a good thing, then learn to use the excuse as motivation for moving forward!  The circumstances of life are what they are and you have what you’ve got, but you are not stuck with it!  Even with a “truck load” of bad circumstances, you still have the opportunity to make the choice of how you are going to respond!

Think about this:  The things that hold some people back or the very same things that push other people forward!  The difference is not the circumstances, but the people and their responses!

You don’t have to stop making excuses, but you do need to stop getting stuck in them!  Listen to your excuses and decide what you can do about them and do it!