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.
What is on the heart and mind of God? This is one of those questions that we fail to even try and answer because it seems way to big and impossible to answer, but the truth is: God wants us to know His heart and mind and this is why He has given us His Word! When I read and study the Word – I realize very quickly that love is on the heart and mind of God, because God is love! God loves you and me and He desires for us to love Him back, while loving and caring for one another. It is really a very simple truth. One that I know and have known for some time and one that I often forget – while allowing my mind and life to become full of so much other stuff.
If love is on the heart and mind of God, then love needs to be in my heart and on my mind! If I am going to fit into God’s plan and work to touch and change this world, then I must have His heart and mind. To make sure that I have the heart and mind of God, I need to make sure that I am spending regular and meaningful time in prayer. During this time, I need to make sure that I am listening for and yielding to the plans of God. This will require that I am continually adjusting my life – so that it lines up with His will.
God is at work all around us and He invites us to join Him! God has an amazing plan for every person’s life – no matter who you are and no matter what mistakes you might have made! Don’t be afraid of God’s heart and mind. Open your life up to Him and you will be amazed and blessed at what a beautiful thing you will experience!
Okay – maybe asking for theme ideas during the middle of the week was not such a good idea. We are all tired, worn out and “workin for the weekend!” But we surely can muster up enough energy and creativity to think about some creative ways to try and communicate what we believe God is doing and going to do in our lives during the next year.
Maybe some of you are not sure of what I mean when I say theme. Some examples might be: “Doing Life Together! Back To The Basics! Impact Greer And The World!” Does that give you an idea? What has God done is your life and what would you like to see Him do? What do you think God wants to do through the life and ministry of Northwood?
Several of you commented that you could not the “COMMENT” to work. If you can’t just shoot me an email at pastor@rightdirections.org I am really looking forward to hearing from you – so think about it, pray about it and then share your ideas!
We are getting ready to finish up our study on “Our Church Experiencing God!” I have and I am really enjoying this study and God has opened my eyes and heart to a lot of different things that we need to do and be as a church and that I need to do and be as a Christ follower! I am excited about the direction that I believe that God is taking us and can’t wait to see what He is going to do in us and through us. In the next few weeks – as a community of faith we are going to be talking about what we see God up to and how we as a Church can join in with Him.
I thought that it might be fun to have all of you that read this blog to throw out some possible themes for the next year of ministry at Northwood. You don’t have to be a member to suggest a theme. If you can think of a theme, then please take the time to leave a comment at the bottom of this post or email me with your thoughts. I will try and share some of the theme ideas and maybe even take some of them and try a blog poll.
What is God saying to you about Northwood and what we can join Him in accomplishing during this next year? Please share your thoughts and ideas and most especially your THEME! Let’s have some fun with this!
Michael Joe Harvell 