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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Taking On The Mouth!

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Watch Your Mouth!

Here are a couple of powerful verses from Psalm 141:4-5 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.  Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.”

What A Powerful Prayer! “Set A Guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over my lips.” I consider myself to be a half way decent person and I know a lot of people who are really good people, but I was thinking:  Out of all of the people who I know, including myself – we all have a problem with our mouths.  We say things that we shouldn’t and we get involved in conversations that tear down, rather than build up.

We Need Supernatural Help! David who wrote the Psalms was a good man, but even he knew that he needed God’s help and so he prayed the above mentioned  prayer.  The first step to getting help is admitting that you have a problem.  If you don’t like to admit that you have a problem, then call it a challenge.

Power In Our Words! I want my words to build up and advance the cause of Christ!  I am not talking about religious talk.  I am talking about using the power of the words that we speak for good and not for evil.  I am talking about using the power of the words that we speak for moving life in a positive direction.

Work On This Today! Take some time today to think about your words – what you say and what you don’t say!  Think about your conversations – do people walk away closer to being who God created them to be or do they walk away a little more distant because of a wedge that you may have inserted?

Ask God to set a guard over your mouth and keep watch over the door of your lips!  It will really make a difference in your life, in the lives of others and in the ministry of the Kingdom!

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Chase Or Be Chased!

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Chase Or Be Chased!

You have a choice to make!  Are you going to chase or be chased?  Everyday, you get to make the decision – will you chase the devil away or will you allow him to chase you away from the blessings and growth that God has for you?

It really is simple!  You are chasing him or he is chasing you and you get to decide which it is going to be.  James 4:7 says: “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

If we will submit to God and resist the devil, then he will have to flee – run away from us.   When you get up in the morning, you have a choice to make:  Are you going to be the one chasing the devil or will you be the one running away from the devil?” The choice is yours!  You make the decision for you!

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A Few More Photos!

Hope you enjoy this weeks installment of photos and that you find some blessing that you can share with others!

Life!

The harsh cold of winter has passed and life begins to spring forth.  It is an amazing time of the year and it is an amazing time in our lives.  Winter is a reality and so is spring, so enjoy the life that God has given you and do your best to make everyday count!

Power!

Lights are on, the television is playing and the refrigerator is chilling the sweet tea.  Something that we cannot see is causing all of these things to run and do what they were created to do.  That “something” is power!  Come to think of it, there is something that flows into and through each one of us, enabling us to do what we’ve been created to do.  That “something” is power!  Thank God for His power flowing into and through your life and enabling you to be the something special that you are for Him and His Kingdom!

Chrome!

I have some friends that call this their favorite color!  This is a picture of my 08 Heritage Softail.  I have told people that I was crazy to buy it, but probably would have went crazier if I had not.  Words on paper cannot express the therapy I receive when I straddle this baby and grab some highway.  God blesses all of us with different gifts.  Allowing me to enjoy His creation in the seat of a motorcycle, with the wind in my face and my troubles behind me is a gift that keeps on giving!

Time!

We seem to never have enough, yet we have all been given the same amount.  One of the biggest challenges of life is not wasting what you have been given.  I have always hoped that as I preach, teach and write that it might encourage, challenge and motivate others to get the most out of their time here on this earth!

Tracks!

I grew up on a set of these!  One of my favorite places that I ever lived was in a trailer right next to the tracks in a little town called Williamston.  Tracks are a lot like people – wherever you encounter them, they are coming from some place and going to  somewhere.  Life is a journey – and we are all on it together so let’s enjoy it – together!