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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Show And Share Love!

1 John 3:16 says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

That verse reminds us that love isn’t just a feeling—it’s an action. Jesus didn’t just talk about love, He showed it. He stepped out of heaven, walked into our broken world, carried a cross on His back, and laid down His life for you and me. That’s not convenient love, that’s costly love.

And John says, if we really understand that kind of love, it changes how we live. Love becomes more than words on a greeting card—it becomes sacrifice, service, and showing up for people when it costs us something.

So today, ask yourself: Who needs you to show up with the kind of love Jesus showed you? It might be a neighbor who needs a listening ear, a family member who needs forgiveness, or a friend who needs your presence more than your advice.

You don’t have to change the whole world in one day—but you can change somebody’s world today with love. Because when we live like Jesus, the world gets a glimpse of Him through us.

That’s the grace exchange: receiving His love and passing it on.

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Give Thanks To The Lord!

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34

Now that’s a verse worth holding on to. Life has its ups and downs, its sunshine and its storms. Some days you feel like shouting from the rooftops, and other days you feel like crawling back under the covers. But right in the middle of it all, this verse reminds us of two unshakable truths: God is good, and His mercy never runs out.

Think about that—God’s goodness isn’t seasonal. It doesn’t expire when you mess up or when life gets messy. His mercy is a well that never runs dry, a sunrise that never fails to show up in the morning. When you can’t depend on your circumstances, you can depend on His character.

So today, no matter what you’re facing, pause and give thanks. Not because everything feels perfect, but because you serve a God who is perfect. His goodness is constant. His mercy is forever. And that’s more than enough reason to lift your head, whisper a prayer of gratitude, and keep walking forward in faith.

Friend, when you give thanks, you shift your focus. You stop staring at the problem and start seeing the Provider. And that changes everything.

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The Lord Is My Shepherd!

Isaiah 40:11 says, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

Friend, that’s a picture of the tender heart of our God. We live in a world that feels rough and rushed—always pulling, always pushing, always demanding more. But right here, God says He is not just a King on a throne, He is a Shepherd with His sheep. He knows when you’re weary, when you feel scattered, and when you’ve got nothing left to give. And He doesn’t drive you with a whip—He draws you with His arms.

Think about it—when a shepherd carries a lamb, it’s not because the lamb is strong, it’s because the lamb is too weak to walk. That’s you and me sometimes. We don’t have to fake strength; we just need to rest in His arms. He’s got you close to His heart. He knows the way ahead, and He will gently lead you step by step.

So today, let this be your encouragement: you don’t have to have it all figured out, and you don’t have to carry yourself. The Shepherd is carrying you. Trust His strength. Lean into His love. And let Him lead you one step at a time.