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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Got A Goal?

Achieve Your Dream - Accomplish Your Goals!

Do you have a dream?  Do you have any goals that can help that dream become a reality?  Many people who I talk to have lost their dream and given up on their goals.  Today – I want to challenge you to dream again!  I want to encourage you to set, work toward and accomplish the great things that God has in store for you!  So read on, dream on and get to work on some goals!

Don’t Give Up! It is really hard to believe, but there are a lot of people living in our world today that have never set a goal.  So many people have given up on dreams, so they just don’t dream anymore.  The challenges and frustrations of the world that we live in, have caused many people to throw in the towel and just take whatever life may bring their way!  There is nothing wrong with learning to be content, but at the same time, we should know, trust and believe that God has something better!

Goals Matter! Having a goal is a natural part of life!  God has goals!  Look around you at His creation and you will see that He has short, medium and even long-term goals!  God’s ultimate goal is that man will come to know Him in a real and personal way.  It is God’s goal that each and every one of us might know His love and enjoy His friendship.

Blessing! God wants to bless you!  Part of you’re getting to the place of receiving God’s blessing is wrapped up in your setting and working toward the accomplishment of goals!

A Few Steps: First – Talk To God! Ask God to help you discover and develop some worthy and meaningful goals.  Ask God to help you in working toward the accomplishment of these goals.  Second – Get a blank sheet of paper and dream a little bit! What would you like to see happen in your spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social and financial life?  Third – Get To Work! “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step!”   Start taking the steps!  And as you begin to accomplish and achieve the things that God has put in front of you, make sure to give God glory as He works to feel your life with His blessing!

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Did You Say Free Easter Egg Hunt???

Free Easter Egg Hunt!

Easter is just around the corner and that means that it is time for Northwood’s Annual Family Easter Egg Hunt.  This hunt started years ago as a small get together for our church family and has grown into a full-blown outreach event to the community.  Last year we had well over a thousand people who attended and we are expecting an even bigger crowd this year.  It’s going to be a whole lot of fun and I hope that you will bring all of your family and friends!

Love In Action! Someone ask me:  “Why does Northwood do these big events for the community and for free?”  The answer is very simple:  “We love Jesus and we love you!” This is just one more way that we can share the love of Jesus with the community that God has allowed us the opportunity and priviledge to minister in.

Hard Work – But Worth It! It is a lot of work that takes a lot of people and a fair amount of money to provide the free food, prizes, eggs, candy, inflatables, games and a lot of surprises, but it is worth all of the time and every penny to know that we are planting a seed to help people find the right direction in life!

Working Together For God’s Glory! We are very honored this year to have Ridgeview Church in Taylors partnering with us for our annual Easter Egg and Candy Grab at the Lake Cunningham Picnic Shelter in Greer!  The Easter Egg Hunt is this Saturday, March 27 from 2:00-4:00 pm!  It brings God greater glory when congregations work together to share His love!

For More Info! If you need more information, then please visit us at http://www.rightdirections.org. or give us a call at 864-877-5417!

Directions to the picnic shelter:  From Hwy, 29 (Wade Hampton Blvd), take Hwy. 101 to McElhaney Road.  Turn right on McElhaney Rd, just past the Lake Cunningham Fire Department.  The Picnic Shelter is on the right.

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So You Had A Bad Day!

So You Had A Bad Day?

What do you do when the phone rings and the person on the other side of the line gives you bad news?  It may be a call from a family member sharing with you the news of a loved one that has passed.  It could be the scary call from the Doctor with the results from the test that don’t look very promising.  Or it could be any number of different scenarios giving you the news that you have always dreaded to hear!  If you live long enough you will experience some of these dark times of life.  Times where the bad news of circumstances seem to be bigger and heavier than the good news of daily living.

Dark Times! During the dark times of life it is very important that we take the time to remind ourselves of some very important truths.  These truths will shine as a light in the darkness and guide us through to the other side, where we will find blessing for having made it through the challenge.

Remind Yourself That God Loves You! That’s right!  We know it, but we take it for granted and we often forget about it!  It is somewhere in there, but not where it needs to be.  Put right up in the front of your mind and heart the reminder that “GOD LOVES ME!”  God does love you – more than you can dream or imagine!

Remind Yourself That All Things Work Together For The Good Of Those That Love God And Who Are Called According To His Purpose! God is always at work.  And God is always working for our blessing.  When we love God and live in obedience to Him and His calling, then His blessings are able to flow to and through our lives.  God can use even the bad for our good, if we will love, trust and obey Him!

Remind Yourself That God Has A Plan And It Is Better Than Any Plan That You Can Come Up With! Look around you – everything that God has created has a purpose!  God has a plan and purpose for your life and if He has allowed some challenge to come into your life, then you can bank on the fact that He is going to use it to grow you and use you for His glory!

Remind Yourself To Deal With Any Sin That Might Get In Between You And God! We don’t like to admit it, but the truth is:  WE ARE SINNERS AND OUR SIN GETS IN THE WAY!  Don’t beat up on yourself for being a sinner.  Just admit it, asked for God’s forgiveness and strength to overcome!  Don’t allow sin to block the flow of God’s blessing to and through you!

Remind Yourself Of The Reality That God Has Been With Me, Is With Me Now And Will Be With Me For Always! God has been with you always and will be with you always.  He was with you before you were born and desires to be with you after you die.  There may be times that you feel like you are all alone, but God is always just one prayer away.  Take some time to talk with Him today and thank Him for what you’ve been reminded of!