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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A Magic Pill!

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DSC_0034If you are over weight, you can still eat whatever you want, stay planted in that recliner and do absolutely nothing and still lose weight! How?  Just take this tiny green pill and you will be amazed at how the pounds will melt away like ice on a hot sunny day!  Before you know it you will have that buff beach body that everyone envies!  Call now and your first months supply is free!

You know better! I know better!  But we still watch and listen to these ads with the hope that it could be just as simple as a tiny green pill.  The truth is:  It never has been that simple and it never will be that simple!  Life is not simple!  It is complicated, tough and a challenge.

Everyone wants to think that there is a simple solution or a quick fix to whatever problem they are facing, but there usually is not! There is a solution and there is a fix.  But the solution and fix do not usually happen over night and it certainly can’t happen without you investing your fair share of the energy.

I don’t know what problem you are facing today, but I do know that there is a solution to that problem and I also know that the solution to your problem will flow out of your being in a right relationship with your Creator.

Being in a right relationship with your Creator takes time and effort on your part. God has already done and is doing His part!  We all need to make sure that we are investing time to build and grow our relationship with God.  He created you!  He loves you!  And He has an amazing plan for your life!  If you are not experiencing His amazing plan, then you have some work to do!

You need to start by getting to know Him! Start spending a little time with God everyday!  During this time with God – make sure that you are taking some time to talk with Him.  Just talk to Him like you would a friend.  Tell God what’s going on in your life, how you feel about it and how you would love some help.  Then make sure that you are listening!  What is God speaking back to you and what are you going to do about it?

Start thinking about what God thinks and realize that He has a plan for your life. Instead of just living life and getting by from day to day, start seeking to discover and live according to God’s plans!  The only thing that will fix what is broken in your life – is God and a right relationship with Him.  This relationship is hard work, but it’s worth it!

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Pray For What???

Photo 3Everybody knows that they should pray, but very few actually take the time to do it! Most people pray when they are in trouble or when life fails to work out the way that they had planned.  I think that one of the things that gets in the way of our praying on a regular basis is not knowing what to pray for.  So, I thought that I would share a few suggestions to hopefully encourage us all to take some time today to pray!

Remember that prayer is conversation! Prayer is simply you talking and listening to God.  In the same way that you would have a conversation with a friend, you can have a conversation with God.  You have to learn to listen in a different way, but with a little practice – you will be hearing God in the Spirit in no time!

Pray For People! God loves people!  God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross, so that people might be able to have relationship with their Creator.  Pray that your family, friends, neighbors and even enemies might get into this amazing relationship!  If you have not gotten into this relationship, then pray and ask God to help you!  If you need help getting into relationship with God, then drop me a line!

Pray Against The Enemy! Ask God to tear down the works of Satan.  Pray that Satan’s thoughts will be taken “captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ!”  Satan is at work all around us and one of the greatest weapons that we have against his evil schemes is prayer.  Make sure that you are using this weapon and using it wisely!

Pray For The Holy Spirit! Ask for the Holy Spirits conviction of sin and leading into freedom.  Ask the Spirit to help you hear, receive and become obedient to God’s Word, so that God’s will and purposes might be accomplished in and through you!

This is just a few of the things that you and I can and should be praying for! Take a few moments right now to have a little conversation with God – just share your heart.  You will be surprised at what a difference it will make!

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Tomatoes!

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tomato8oz_Duke's_MayoOne of my favorite things about this time of year is tomatoes! I love tomatoes!  I especially love them ripe, sliced and in between two slices of bread, smothered with Dukes Mayo and sprinkled with pepper!  I also like them green, battered and fried crispy brown!

Another thing that I like about tomatoes is watching them grow! One day you have a little yellow flower and the next a small green ball.  The green ball continues to grow and change it’s shape and then it starts to change it’s color.  It eventually turns into a big, red, ripe and juicy tomato.  When it turns red, ripe and juicy, you better pick it and use it or it will rot!

We are a lot like tomatoes! We are green and growing or ripe and rotting! The difference between us and the tomato is that we get to make the choice!

What are you? You are green and growing when you realize that you don’t know everything and there is still much for you to learn!  You are ripe and rotting when you think that you have arrived and simply seek to live life on cruise control!

I want to be green and growing! I want to learn all of the amazing new things that God puts in front of me everyday!  It is exciting to think that everyday is another day for me to grow and change!  God is still working on me!

I have changed a lot through the years and the most incredible thing is this:  Some of my most amazing change and growth is still in front of me!  Enjoy letting God grow you today!