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 as I was on my way to visit the hospital, I could not help but think about the amazing love of God! When the sun first begins to come up – it is just an amazing picture of how much God loves us. I mean just think about it: He does not have to make everything so beautiful and amazing, but He does and I believe that He does it for us. In the sunrise and the sunset we see the beauty of our God who loves us and has a plan and purpose for our lives.
Just walk outside today – can you feel it? The warmth of His love is all around you! Just walk outside today – can you hear it? The gentle whispers of His love are all around you! Just walk outside today – can you see it? The new life of His love is popping up and out all around you!
No matter what you are going through or facing today – remember this: God loves you and if you are paying attention you can feel it, hear it and see it everywhere!
Have you been outside this morning? It is an absolutely amazing and beautiful day here in the upstate! The sun is shining an comforting warmness! The breeze is blowing a gentle coolness! The birds are singing and if you open you eyes and look around, you will notice that everything is beginning to come back to life! I love this time of year, because you see Resurrection all around you!
Go outside today and enjoy some of the Resurrection reminders that God has placed all around you! And don’t forget to set you clock forward tonight. We are going to have a great day at church tomorrow and I can almost guarantee that there will be no snow this Sunday! So the only thing to keep you from being here is the devil and I know that you want let Him win!
Remember that prayer that became popular a few years ago? Still need a little help? The Prayer of Jabez found in 1 Chronicles 4:10! I thought about it today and it has always been a good prayer and still is today! It goes: “Bless me indeed, enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.”
Remember: God wants to bless you! Everything belongs to God and He has given you a great big universe to run around and serve Him in. He wants His hand upon you – so stop running away from Him. He is here to help you, not to hurt you! He wants to keep you away from evil, but you have to remember to help yourself. And when you do help yourself by obeying Him, you will free yourself, as well as others from a lot of pain!
Michael Joe Harvell 