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.
This morning I am sitting in the cafeteria of the school where Gracie my eight year old attends. I am waiting for awards day to begin. They have an awards day every nine weeks to celebrate perfect attendance, grade improvements and exceptional reading. Gracie and a lot of other kids from our church will be getting some of these awards and they are all very excited!
It is good for all us to remember that as we live life here on this earth that we are getting a grade. The Bible says that God’s eyes are going back and forth across the lands looking for someone/anyone who is being faithful and living in obedience. Let’s remember that all of us are still in school and there is much to learn! What can you learn today? How can you use what you have learned to show God obedience and show others His glory? Let’s get busy and grow our lives today!
Jesus said in Matthew 15: “What comes out of your mouth reveals what is in your heart!” This is such a powerful statement! Think about it: Whatever is in you is coming out of you and whatever comes out of you is going to reveal what is really in you! Have you ever taken the time to really listen to yourself? What are you saying and what is (what you are saying) saying about you and the condition of your heart? I don’t really know about you, but I know that I’ve got some work to do!
I want to share just one more thought before I go to work on myself. Not only do we need to be concerned with what is coming out, but we need to also pay attention to what we are putting in. Think about the destructive words that you allow into you heart and mind everyday through radio, television, gossip and just general conversation. We need to do all that we can to cut out this destructive stuff. And we need to make sure that we are filling ourselves with the positive stuff of God and His Word.
It really is a simple equation: My Life – the bad/negative/physical/self + the good/positive/spiritual/Godly = Power & Blessing! Let’s get rid of the bad stuff of this world and replace it with the good stuff of God, so that when something does come out of us – it gives God GLORY!
If you are a Christian – then do me, yourself and others a favor – start acting like it! According to Romans 6:1-23, you can’t live any ole way that you want to! You can’t be a Believer and continue to live in sin! When you accept Christ, the Bible teaches, that you die to sin. If you died to sin, then you can’t continue to live in sin! We like to place the blame on others for the problems in this world, but we need to take a good, long, hard and honest look in the mirror. What many of us would see in that mirror is a pretender or poser – someone who is just going through the motions without any real commitment! (I know you think you are committed and that you have convinced yourself that you are and that everything is okay! It’s not your opinion that matters – what does Jesus say about your commitment? BE HONEST!)
Jesus Christ came and died for our SALVATION! Salvation is so much more than just getting out of hell and into Heaven. Salvation is about a relationship that last for eternity. Salvation is about living a new and better life. Salvation is about living daily in the forgiveness and power of a relationship that can change your life by allowing your life to matter and make a difference to others!
What this world needs is for people that say they are Christians, to really be Christians by living the life that Jesus has made possible through His death and resurrection! Stop wasting God’s grace! Live the life that you were created to live! Get your eyes off of yourself and others and focus on Jesus!
Michael Joe Harvell 