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 know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 God has an amazing dream for your life! If you really want to accomplish and achieve the great things that God created you for, then take some time to think about and look for His dream and plans!
Looking for God’s dreams and plans, may mean that you have to lay down your dreams and plans, but it is a trade worth making. Remember: You cannot head in two directions at once, so look for the direction that God has for you, knowing that He will prosper and not harm you, that He will give you a hope and a future! God Bless And Press On!
You are special, don’t allow anyone to tell you any different! God created you as you and that makes you very special. God not only created you, but He also gifted you! God has given each of His special creations – special gifts! You have a special gift from God!
The Scriptures teach us to “Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you.” 2 Timothy 1:6 What does this tell me? It tells me that I have a gift in me that God has given to me and I need to “kindle afresh” (fan into flame, stir up, readjust the embers) that gift, so that I can do the thing that God has given me to do and be the special creation that God has created me to be!
You have a gift in you that God has given you! Adjust the embers, stir up, fan into flame and kindle afresh this amazing gift and do what God created you to do. As you do, you will accomplish great things and discover the joy of being one of God’s special creations!
Like A Ship! Someone said that being a real believer is like being a ship that God wants to send out to sea to sail wherever the wind might carry us! Often times when the strong winds of adversity blow into my life, I don’t like them and I begin to have a “woe is me” complex. The thing that I have to keep reminding myself of is that wind (adversity, hard times, frustrations) is not a bad thing, it is a good thing that is going to blow me into a new and better direction, if I will let it.
Learn This! The important principle to learn here is: Don’t fight against the wind, instead learn to harness the power of the wind and you will discover that it will take you to places that you could never get to on your own. I like to think of the wind as the Holy Spirit, when I pull up my anchor and adjust my sails – He takes me through the tough spots and into amazing places of blessing.
Ask God! Next time you find yourself going through a difficult time because the winds of adversity are blowing into and through your life, just take a moment to pray to God and ask Him to help you to pull up the anchor and set the sails and then get ready to enjoy the ride of a life time!
Michael Joe Harvell 