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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What’s Your Future?

We tend to be a people that can get stuck in our past!  We love to talk about what we have done and where we have been.  It is not bad to thnk about our past or talk about our past, especially if we are learning from it!  We can actually experience growth in our present by taking the time to think through and learn form our past!  Our past if full of experiences that can help us to think in new ways.  I am thankful for my past, for the things that I have experienced and for the things that it has taught me.  While, I am thankful, I am also careful not to get stuck there, because I know that God has some amazing experiences of growth for me in the future!

Abe Lincoln said:  “The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time!”  With that thought in mind, I think I can handle, with God’s help – whatever is coming my way today!  To get the most out of our days, we need to have an agenda!  What do you want to accomplish today?  What does God want to accomplish through you?  You decide today – are you going to spend your life repairing or preparing?

Don’t live your life thinking:  “I wish I would have, I know I could have, I think I should have!”  Life is so much more than “would, could, and should”!  We have all made mistakes – learn from your mistakes and move on.  Think, dream and work on your future!  Get excited about what God can and will do through you as you learn to live in obedience to Him!

Take a few moments sometime today to REFLECT and learn from your past!  REARRANGE your life so that it lines up with God’s plan and His Word!  RECHARGE and head full steam into the amazing future that God has for you!

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Who Are We?

We are Northwood!  We are not a club!  We are a church – God’s church!  We are a community of followers of Jesus Christ, committed to pursue and share “Right Direction” living!  “Right Direction” is given to us by God through His Word and helps us to live blessed, fulfilled and growing lives!

We Are The People Of Right Direction!  God has given each of us a personal mission of sharing how every person can have a real and meaningful relationship with Him and of helping people to grow in that relationship.  God has given us a corporate mission of joining together to and working to accomplish His Great Commission!  We have to get Right Direction and we have to share it!

We Are The Place Of RIght Direction!  We are the “You Are Here!” spot!  A spiritual reference point for upstate South Carolina.  We help people to know where they are and how to get to where they need to go!  God has an awesome plan for each of us, so let’s jump in and get some great things done for Him!

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Christ In Me!

I am a Christian!  I am a follower of Christ!  I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and paid the price that I could not pay, so that I might have a forever and always relationship with God!  Colossians 3 says that I have been raised with Christ!  Because of all that Jesus has done for me – I am going to do my best to set my heart on things above, where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God.  Every time I set my heart on something here on earth, I end up getting frustrated and disappointed!  I am going to do my best to set my mind on things above and not on earthly things.  I can do this, because when I accepted Jesus, I died to my old self and old way of living and my life is not hidden in and with Christ!  When Jesus appears in glory – I will appear with Him!  So my life that I am living – I make the choice to live it in Christ – Who lives in me!