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.
The fifth of the five love languages is “Physical Touch”! Almost every study ever conducted has found that babies that are hugged, kissed and loved on develop a healtier emotional life than those that are left for long periods of time without physical attention! We have receptors all over our bodies, these nerves carry impulses to the brain and cause pain or pleasure! Physical touch has the great capacity to communicate how we feel to another person by allowing them to feel from our touch!
A person who has physical touch as their love language appreciates touch and hears your expression of love though touch much louder than someone who has another of the love languages. A hug communicates love and appreciation, but to a person with the love language of physical touch, a hug shouts love and appreciation!
If you happen to love someone who has the love language of physical touch, make sure that you are paying attention for the clues that they will provide about what they like. Be sensetive to their needs, likes an dislikes and remember your goal is the other person’s pleasure!
The fourth of “The Five Love Languages” as descried by Dr Gary Chapman is “Acts Of Service“. This is when we do something for someone that we know they would like for us to do for them! We are not doing the act of service to get them to do something in return for us. We are not doing the act of service to try and manipulate them. We are doing the act of service as an expression of our love and appreciation for what they mean to our lives!
You may think that you are loving those around you with an incredible and amazing love, but the truth is: It really does not matter what you think! It not your thinking, but their perception that really matters! If “Acts Of Service” is the love activity that rings your bell, please remember that it is not about demanding that something be done. It’s all about making request! Love does not demand! In fact, when you make a demand, you take away the other person’s opportunity to respond in and with love.
A great way for couples to figure this one out, is to agree to make a request list. Each person should make a list of five things that the other person could do that would help with the expression and feeling of love. You then swap list! Now you know what you can do to help the other person to feel loved! Remember: It’s not that you have to do these things, it’s that you get to do these things!
A good way to think about “Acts Of Service” is to think about dating. Remember what it was like back when you and your special someone was dating. You were willing to do all kinds of things to help that person to feel and know that they were special to you. Ask yourself: What will make them happy and then do it! What is one more way that you can say “I love you”? Think about it and do something special to communicate your love today!
The third of “The Five Love Languages” that Dr. Gary Chapman talks about in his book is “Receiving Gifts”! Most everyone I know, loves to receive gifts, but for those that this is their love language, the gift is about so much more. When we give a gift, we are giving a tangible reminded that we someone can hold in their hands. A gift given as an expression of love says that someone had me on their mind and took the time to think of me. The gift’s value is not really the issue – the gift could be a flower from the yard, a hand made card and some small trinket that communicates love, thought and appreciation. Some gifts will be purchased, some will be found and some will be made. Try and express your love by giving gifts of all sorts for all sorts of occasions or for no occasion at all.
Start thinking about the people you love – make a list if it helps! Now think about what you might give to these people that would tangibly express your love and appreciation for them! If you are a spender, then buying gifts is probably not a challenge for you, so why don’t you make your gifts more special by finding or making something. If you are a saver, then why don’t you find something and splurge every now and then on those that you love. By reversing the roles every now and then you will keep your giving fresh and your love real!
Don’t forget the greatest gift that you can give is yourself. So step outside of yourself and help someone discover happiness by putting something real in their hands that serves as a continual reminder of your love for them!
Michael Joe Harvell 