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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Looking In The Mirror!

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

Do you see someone who is successful?
Do you see someone who is a failure?

Do you see someone who is brave?
Do you see someone who is scared?

Do you see someone who is confident?
Do you see someone who is apprehensive?

Do you see someone who is living?
Do you see someone who is dying?

Do you see someone who is God’s special creation?
Do you see someone who is an accident of randomness?

Do you see someone who has a future?
Do you see someone stuck in the past?

Look in the mirror and ask God to help you to see what He sees!

God sees you succeeding and bringing glory to Him as you bravely face whatever it is that this world has to throw at you.  God sees you walking confidently into every new day enjoying life, while you are living this life to it’s fullest potential.  God sees His special creation that He created to prosper and hope as you grow toward the amazing future that He has for you!

 

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It’s Who You Know That Counts!

One of the most valuable lessons that I learned in High School was this: “It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know That Counts!” I learned this lesson the hard way and had to suffer some embarrassment and a good bit of frustration along the way.  I want bore you with the details, but I will tell you that this one of the things that changed my life in a very big way!

I was thinking this morning about this lesson learned and how it allows the spiritual to unfold into our physical!  Think about it:  It’s not what you know, but WHO you know that counts! God is the Creator and Sustainer of life and if we know Him, really know Him, then that has to make a difference in our lives and our eternities.

When God knows you and you know Him, and because of your knowing Him, you live a different life, then your life is lived in a place of favor and blessing.  We are children of the Most High God.  Our Heavenly Father created the universe and everything in it.  His favor rests upon us, blessing flow through us and we can and should expect that this relationship changes things and makes a difference.

Psalms 8:5 says that God has “crowned us with glory and honor”.  God wants you to succeed in this life and throughout all eternity!  We need to believe, and if we believe, then we will expect, and if we expect, then watch out – MIRACLES ARE ON THE WAY!

I want to encourage you to live with confident assurance that you are God’s and God is yours!  Believe this and realize the great difference that this makes in your life!  Expect good things!  Believe that God will use even the bad for your good as you love and trust Him.  Determine to know Him more and to know Him better and with this renewed attitude of faith watch as God accomplishes incredible things in and through your life!