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.
Everyday we are tempted and temptation is not optional. Think about it: everyday, multiple times throughout the day, you are tempted. You are tempted to do something or you are tempted to not do something. There are some things that we should not do, but we do them anyway. There are some things that we know that we should do, but we fail to ever get around to doing them.
Tybee Island Light House 08 Georgia State Hog Rally
Temptation is a door to victory or defeat – you get to make the choice!
The things that we should not do, that we end up doing anyway – almost always cost us more than they are worth. And the things that we should do, that we never get around to – almost always keep us from experiencing some amazing blessing that God has in store for us!
As you are tempted today – remember that the temptation is a door and you get to decide where it is going to take you – to victory or defeat!
The message of Jesus was very simple: REPENT! To repent means to change – we cannot stay the same! Jesus was not telling us to change for change sake. Jesus challenges us to change because He knows things and can see things that you and I cannot! Jesus knows that our lives can and should be better. Jesus knows the great things that God has in store for those that love Him. Jesus knows the change that you need to make and the great difference the change will make in your life!
Change is a good thing, especially when it is the right change! We are resistant to change because we tend to think in a negative way about change. Not all change is negative. And a lot of the change that we look at as negative is not really negative – it’s just hard! Just because it is hard does not make it a bad thing, especially if it is going to lead to good things! The key is to make sure that we are not changing just for change sake!
Everyone of us have some changes that need to be made in our lives. You know what I am talking about – you have been thinking about and fighting against some changes that you have been needing to make for a while now. Take a few moment right now to stop and pray. Just talk to God and ask Him to reveal to you the areas of your life that need to be worked on and worked out! Now take just a little more time to do what needs to be done! See – that was not so bad after all – was it?
My Daughter Gracie WalkingThe Tracks That I Grew Up On!
I was reading through Matthew 2 this morning about the birth of Jesus and it was amazing to see how God had everything mapped out! The Magi, the star in the east, the prophecies, the dreams and the moves! Does God have a plan for your life? The answer to the question is pretty obvious – most of us believe that God does in fact have a plan for our lives. But the “yes” answer is the easy part. What kind of plan? How much of a plan? Do I get a choice in the plan? These are all very important questions and help us to realize that while God has a plan for our lives, we still have responsibility!
Are you taking your responsibility seriously? Are you doing your part to discover and live in the blessing of God’s plan? It is one thing to know that God has a plan for our lives. It is another thing altogether to believe that God has a plan for our lives. To know and believe means that you are going to live life differently. To know and believe means that you want to make sure that you are doing your part to stay in step with God’s plan. To know and believe means that you will live life on purpose and for a purpose!
God does have a plan for your life and it is an amazing and beautiful thing! Take some time today to think about His plan and how you can walk in step with it! And then take your thinking one step forward by doing your part – whatever your part is that God has shown you!
Michael Joe Harvell 