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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Personal!

Tools Of The Trade!

I love to journal, but must admit that I do not take the time to do it as consistently as I should.  I want to do it and I even find that it is something that I enjoy, yet I sometimes fail to make and take the time for it to happen.

Blessed! God is incredible and has been very good to me.  It is a great blessing to be able to serve Him as a pastor, shepherd, leader through the ministry of His Church.  I can honestly think of nothing else that I would fulfill me.

God’s Amazing Grace! And while I love serving Him, the truth is that there are days that are frustrating and often the load is more heavy that I care for, but God’s grace is always has and continues to sustain me.  I have to come to a place that I wish all of us could come to.  The place of realizing that God has gifted and equipped me for this very thing.  It’s not just that I am good at something – this is who I am and who I was created to be.

Thankful For God’s Calling! My life would be empty and void, if I had to get up in the morning and face life without a calling from God.  I don’t even want to think about it!  The thing that God is teaching me this week is that “He in me is all that I need!”  E Stanley Jones said it best when he said:  “I need no outer props!”  This is the life I want to live – a life so full of Jesus on the inside, that there is no need for props of any kind, shape or size on the outside.

My Prayer! I pray that God will continue to bless me, by allowing me to serve Him in preparing His Bride – the Church to get ready for His return!

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Treasure Map!

Got Your Treasure Today?

As you wander though this life, you will stumble across many treasures!  Some will be found very easily, while others will take solid and continued effort.  These treasures are not placed upon life’s path by accident.  They are placed there by our Creator and are intended for out blessing and our growth.

Missed Any Lately? How many treasures have you missed out on?  Missed out on because you were not paying attention, or because what was a treasure did not look like a treasure to you?

Life Changing! When you come upon one of God’s treasures and you know it’s one of His treasures, from the very moment of it’s discovery, your life begins to change.  Your focus changes, your dreams increase and your goals grow!  Treasure is important, because it always carries with it the capacity to change our lives.

Matthew 13:44 says:  “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.  When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

Kingdom Relationship! One of the greatest treasures that God has given us, is the treasure of a Kingdom Relationship.  He does not give it to us because we deserve it.  He gives it to us out of His grace, mercy and forgiveness.  Because He gives us this Kingdom Relationship, it should change our lives – who we are, how we live, what we do, where we go and the why of everything that we do.

Don’t Waste It! Don’t waste your Kingdom Relationship!  Do whatever it takes to protect it, grow it and share it!  Remember:  It is a treasure and a treasure should bring blessings!

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Figure Out Love?

Me With My Nephew "Willie Joe"!

I have spent a good bit of time during the last couple of months thinking about love.  And I have discovered that love is the solution to so many of our problems.  Love is the answer to so many of our questions.  When we learn to receive love and return love, then we are living according to our created design.  Love is the key that unlocks the door to the possibilities and potential that God has put in each one of us.

When we experience love and express love, we are living in the flow of Who God is!  God is love!  We know Him and experience Him as we allow ourselves to be loved by Him and as we express this love back to Him and others.

Love is one of those words that we throw around with a lot of carelessness.  It is one of those words that we love to go running to for comfort.  Real love is so much more than a word.  Real love is action!  It is the action of getting from God and giving back to Him and others.  If we love God, then we will love others!

I’ve got some work to do on experiencing and expressing love!  I have not got it all figured out, but that is okay because He loves me anyway!  And because He loves me, I am going to work to try and figure this thing out!