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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Believing And Living!

Your Best Gift Ever??? What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten?  Now think about it, don’t just blurt out an answer!  Out of all of the gifts that you have ever received – what is the best gift?  Who gave it to you?  How did they present it?  What did you do when you got it?

The Gift Of God! God has given us the gift of His Son.  Jesus God’s Son has given us the gift of Himself!  Of all the gifts that we will ever receive, this has to be the greatest.  The giving of self!

Belief Is Powerful! In John 11:25-26   25 Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Do You Believe? Jesus said:  I am all you need me to be and so much more!  The person that believes it will live.  He did not say the person who understands it, or who can explain it.  He said the person who believes it – will live!

G3! God has given you the gift of Himself – Do you really believe it?  If you do really believe it, then live, enjoy your living and give God glory!

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Choose Humility!

 

All during the month of December at Northwood, we have been studying Philippians 2:5-11 in an effort to get a better understanding of INCARNATION – Divinity wrapping Itself in humanity, God becoming flesh and dwelling among us!

Listen to what these verses say:  “5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!  9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There is a phrase in verse 8 that really caught me!  “8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Did you catch it?  “HE HUMBLED HIMSELF!”  Humility is a choice that we make!  Humility is the choice that Jesus made for us and the choice that we can make for each other!

Over the next several days, you and I are going to have an abundance of opportunities to choose humility!  I have to keep reminding myself that it is my choice and I want to choose following the example of how my Savior chose for me!  I hope this helps us all to live a little better in step with Him and His plans for our lives!  Be blessed and G3!