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.
18 If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your loving kindness, O LORD, will hold me up. 19 When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. Psalms 94:18-19
A lot of mornings I get up feeling great and ready to go, but then something happens to mess up my great feeling and instead of being ready to go, I am ready to quit! This is one of those “foot slipping” moments that the above Scripture is talking about. It’s not possible to not have these foot slipping moments, they are a reality of life, but just as sure as we are to have foot slipping moments, we are also sure to have God’s love, mercy and redeeming power at work in and through our lives.
So the next time your foot slips, remember that God’s got you and He will not let you fall! Take a moment to gain your composure and go back after life – knowing that you and God equal a majority!
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
I grew up working in the body shop with my Dad. A major part of my job was getting the cars ready to be painted. One of the jobs that I hated was “water sanding!” I always had the hardest time trying to get it just right. I knew that if I did not get it right, that it would show when the paint was applied to the car.
Making It Smooth!
My Dad had a philosophy that said: “If it’s worth doing, then it’s worth doing right!” He always added to that: “Do it right the first time and you won’t have to come back and do it again!” I have had to learn this lesson the hard way, but the older I get, the easier it is to see the wisdom in what my Dad was trying to teach me.
In the verse above, God our Heavenly Father is encouraging us to “do it right” when it comes to the things of the Kingdom! What have you done for your Creator? What will you do? Remember: If it’s worth doing, then it’s worth doing right and if you do it right the first time, then God will get the glory and we will all live in the blessing!
Michael Joe Harvell 