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.
It does not matter who you are, where you come from or what mistakes you might have made, you are loved! You are loved by the One Who created you and His name is God!
That very popular verse of Scripture that almost everyone can quote by heart – John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world (that’s you) that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him (that’s how you receive His love) shall not perish but have eternal life (that’s what you get when your receive His love)!”
God loves you! You are special to Him! So special that He gave His Son. Why? So that we might be able to have relationship with Him. God does not love you because you are a good person. God does not love you because you do everything right. God loves you because God is love. Love is not what God does, love is what God is!
God’s love can never be earned or deserved, but it can be received by faith! You can’t give to anyone else what you do not have for yourself. If you want to give love, then you must receive love. God loves you! Open up your heart and receive the gift of His love today and begin to share that love with everyone in every way that you can!
When I was a teenager there was a popular song that said: “I always feel like somebody’s watching me!” And the truth is: There is someone always watching you, but it’s not to try to catch you doing something wrong. God is watching because He cares for you and wants to bless your life!
Psalms 34:15-16 says: “15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.”
God created us and He created us for good! He wants to catch us doing something right, so that He might flow His blessing into and through our lives! Remember today and this week that God is watching and waiting for you to get it right and let that motivate you to get it right for His glory and all of our blessing!
I know that God has filled my life with this incredible potential. There are some days where I actually get close to seeing and feeling it at work! I want to have more of those days during 2011. I want to get the most out of everyday!
I believe and claim the promise of Ephesians 2:10! “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God created me to do good things for His glory and everyone’s blessing. He made you for the same purpose and gave you the same potential!
Let’s help each other to live up to this High Calling! Today is the first day of the rest of our lives! We can do this – so let’s get started!
Michael Joe Harvell 