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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Mirror Time!

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We spend so much of our time looking at others and judging what they do or do not do, that we neglect to take time to think about our own lives and what they need and are missing!  We are taught all through the Scriptures that we are not to JUDGE!  The Bible makes it pretty clear that JUDGING is God’s job!  But we live in a world that is constantly judging!  About the only time that we are not judging is when we are sleeping and some of us have even learned how to judge in our dreams!  The really big problem with all of our judging is that it gets in the way of our own personal growth and keeps us from becoming what God created us to become!

When we are expending our energy looking at and over-analyzing someone else’s life, we cannot truly be focused on ourselves and our life!  Sometimes it might seem a lot easier to get into someone else’s business, rather than deal with our own,  but the truth is that when we are in someone else’s business, we cannot help but to neglect our own and neglecting our own lives will not cause them to automatically get better.  The fact is:  Everyone of us have room for improvement and growth!  We need to take our eyes off of everybody else and what they are or are not doing and take a look in the mirror at ourselves!

Go and take a look in the mirror!  What do you really know about that person that is staring back at you?  What is that person’s strengths and how are they using them for good in this world?  What is that person’s weaknesses and how are they dealing with them so that ultimately their weaknesses make them stronger?

What does that person staring back at you need to do with their life?  What will really bring them happiness and fulfillment?  Has that person in the mirror settled for less than the very best that God desires for them?  What does that person need to do today to start making their life better?

Spend some time with that person in the mirror and you will discover that they really are special and that they have a life filled with promise!  Start dealing with your stuff and you will be amazed at how it not only will change your life, but make a difference in the lives of the people around you as well!

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You Are Never Alone!

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Tenth Avenue North is the group and their album is “Over And Underneath” I really enjoy the music from this group – this song (By Your Side!) expecially has been special to me during the last month!  I hope it ministers to your Spirit, as it did to mine!  God bless, enjoy the journey and remember:  God is always by your side!