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.
Take some time and make an effort to be friendly today! Smile and make people think that you are up to something! Say hello and wake people up! You will cross paths with many different people today – make sure that you do more than cross paths! Make a connection! With your smile and hello you may just remind them that there is a God of LOVE and that He cares for all of us!
If each one of us would do just our little bit, it would be amazing what could be accomplished for the Kingdom! Look at me – I am smiling at you! Smile back! Now doesn’t that make you feel better! Have a blessed day!
I am currently in the process of re-reading a book by Craig Groeschel, pastor of www.lifechurch.tv. In this book he makes the following statement: “Maybe you’ve heard the old adage, “Where God guides, ha always provides.” We’ve made up a new saying: “God often guides by what he doesn’t provide.”
So many times in life we catch ourselves thinking “if I just had this or that, then I could do something with my life!” We think that there is something else that we need to complete the calling that God has given us. The fact is: God has aready given us what we need! The problem is: We fail to see it!
A need is an invitation to stop, look around and take in all that God has already blessed you with! A need allows you to look with a different set of eyes and see things that ordinarily you would overlook! So don’t get caught up and stuck in what you don’t have, instead take some time to appreciate what you do have and then get busy doing something with it for God and His glory!
Are you growing? Do you know and love Jesus more this week, than you did last week? You can’t know victory without growth! We are to move/grow toward maturity. Did you know that you can be healthy and not mature? You can be in a relationship with Jesus, but if you are not growing in that relationship, then you will not be mature. Did you know that you can be gifted and not mature? You might have the ability to do amazing things with the skills, talents and gifts that God has given you. With your actions you might look like you are growing in your relationship with Jesus, but if you are not really growing, then you are not maturing!
I know that I am maturing when I am becoming more like Jesus! The goal of the church should be to present every person mature in Christ! Here’s the question for today: Are you becoming more like Jesus? Think about it and be honest! Now, what do you need to do about it?
Are you growing? Do you know and love Jesus more this week, than you did last week? You can’t know victory without growth! We are to move/grow toward maturity. Did you know that you can be healthy and not mature? You can be in a relationship with Jesus, but if you are not growing in that relationship, then you will not be mature. Did you know that you can be gifted and not mature? You might have the ability to do amazing things with the skills, talents and gifts that God has given you. With your actions you might look like you are growing in your relationship with Jesus, but if you are not really growing, then you are not maturing!
Michael Joe Harvell 