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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Keep It Steady!

Once you decide that you are going to make forward progress with your life, the key to making it work is sticking with it and staying focused!  It is easy to make the decision that you need to change this or that!  The hard part is the follow through of actually doing and continuing to do what you know you need to do.

As you seek to implement your master plan this week – make sure that you take time everyday to get focused on the things that really matter!  Nothing can be more important than your relationship with God!  When you spend time with God, it helps to get all of your life lined up in the right direction!

Remember:  It is not the giant steps that lead to progress, it is the small, steady and consistent steps that stay on the path laid out for you by your Creator!  Stay on the path and keep your eyes on the prize and you will be amazed and blessed at how your life takes on new meaning, significance and growth!

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My “MASTER” Plan!

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It is obvious if you look around and practice just a little bit of observation, that there is a God and that He cares for you!  If we are going to get the most out of this life on earth, then we must make and take time to be with the One that created it all!  We need to spend time with the Master!  Today I want to challenge you to take three steps as a part of your “Master” Plan!

First, I challenge you to actually spend time with God this week!  Don’t just think about it!  Don’t say you will, but never get around to it!  Right now make a plan to spend some time with your Creator.  Pick a time, place and make a plan about what you will do when you get there!  Give God some good time in your day – some time when you are alert, awake and ready for whatever!  Find a place where you will not be disturbed, a place where there is not a lot of distractions or competition for attention.  As a part of you plan take your Bible and read it with the purpose of hearing something from God.  Take a pen and journal and write down some of what you are thinking and feeling and what you plan to do about it!  You goal is to start spending time with God and in this time to share your heart with Him and in the process get to know His heart and will for your life!  God loves you and believe it or not, He does have an amazing plan for you and the life that you are living! 

The second step of our “Master” plan is we want to identify and start to work on some real issues.  All of us have issues and if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit it and begin with the strength of God to do something about them!  Take some time this month to start identifying issues that you need to take on in your life!  Start a list of things that you want to work on and need to work on and then during your times with God ask for His help and look for His insights!

The third step of your “Master” plan is to really grow and develop!  If you will commit to spending time with God on a regular basis and if you will in that time start to identify and work on real issues, you will grow and develop in every area of your life!  You will be happier, people around you will be blessed and God will get the glory!  Take some time to think about and walk through the three steps above and you will be well on your way to living a better life – not by accident, but because you planned to!

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Do You Have A Plan?

WHAT REALLY MATTERS?  I began the month at Northwood by talking about how this one question can change your life!  As we come to the end of this series, I have come to realize that it is not the question that has the potential to change our life, so much as it is our answer to the question.  Our honest answer to the question:  “What Really Matters?” can and will change our life.  It will change it in a positive way by getting us into a closer and more meaningful relationship with God or it will change it in a negative way by getting us more involved in ourselves and our games of personal justification!  If we will ask and answer the question honestly – it will bring us into reality – and reality is the best place to plan and live your life from!

I don’t have a problem asking or answering the question – that is the easy part for me!  My problem is sticking with the answer!  It seems that just when you get the question answered, it is time to ask it again!  We need to keep asking and answering the question:  “What Really Matters?” for three reasons:  1.)  Because Jesus is coming again!  2.) There will be a judgment!   3.)  In the final analysis everybody will spend eternity somewhere!

Knowing that we are going to spend eternity somewhere – should motivate us to get our priorities in order.  Knowing that we are going to spend eternity somewhere – should motivate us to keep our priorities in order!  But priorities are pesky little creatures and just when you get them to where they need to be – they go scampering off in all other directions!  Where priorities are concerned remember:  Actions speak louder than words!  What do your actions say about your love for God?  Do you really love God?  If you really love God, then the actions and reactions of your life will prove it!  What do the actions and reactions of your life say about your love for God?  Think about it and let reality motivate you to do something about it!

Tomorrow we will start to work on a plan that will help you answer the question:  WHAT REALLY MATTERS?