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.

Don’t Let Others Mess You Up!

Who's The Boss?

A lot of people today want to tell you what to do.  A lot of people who want to tell you what to do, want to tell you what to do just because they want to tell you what to do.  (Go back and read that slowly – you will get it!)  They want to put their rules and regulations on others, while often times they ignore for themselves, what they are trying to saddle someone else with.

I am a follower of Christ!  I love Jesus and believe that out of his love for me that he died on the cross, so that all of my sins could be forgiven and I could be restored to right relationship with my Creator and live in a forever spiritual connection that changes everything.  I desire for other people to experience this relationship, because it has made all of the difference in my life.

I have some guidelines that God has provided for me in His Word.  Because I love Him, I try to live according to these guidelines.  People are going to do what they want to do, but if we could and would experience the love of Christ, then I believe that doing what we need to do gets a whole lot easier.

Jesus put it this way in John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command!” Jesus does not command, just to command.  Jesus commands to lead us into victory and blessing.  It’s not because you have to, but because you get to and what He commands is best.  What he commands is best, because he really has our best interest and our blessing at heart!

Don’t allow others and their trying to put something on you to get in the way of your having a real and meaningful relationship with the one who loves you more than words can even describe!  Get to really know Jesus – you’ll be glad you did!

Getting Caught!

Here is a really simple thought, that when remembered will really change the way that we live our lives!  Are you ready for it?  “God sees everything and will give an account!”

Hebrews 4:13 says: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Plain and simple – this ought to challenge and change the way that we live our lives!  Now before you focus on the negative, think about this:  God also sees the good.  I am going to try to get caught doing something right today – how about you?

You Got Attitude?

Got Attitude?

Do you ever get a crummy attitude? There are some days, when everything just sorta goes south and it seems that life has had a bad night and decided to up-chuck you and everything that matters to you. It is hard to have a good attitude when life gets this way, but this is when we need to really make sure that our attitude is right, because if we are to get out of the mess and experience success – our attitude makes the major difference!

The Bible talks about the attitude that we need to possess! In Philippians we are told : “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11

Jesus was not just somebody, He was THE SOMEBODY! But He did not allow who he was to get in the way of what he had been called to do. I think that dying on a cross would make for a pretty crummy day, but Jesus, who did not have to die on a cross, humbled himself and died on a cross, so that we (you and me) could have a life that is blessed with God’s presence and power!

We need the attitude of Jesus! The attitude that does not focus on self, but others. The attitude that is more interested in what I can give, than what I can get! The beautiful thing is this: When we get this attitude right, God EXALTS US! God puts us where we need to be, where He wants us to be – right in the middle of His blessing!

Let’s work on our attitudes and get them out of our mess and into God’s success!