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.
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?
“Give and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure – pressed down, shaken together and running over. For by the standard of measure you use, it will be measured unto you in return.” Luke 6:38
We spend so much of our energy and effort in life trying to get! Jesus tells us that the real secret to getting is giving! A lot of the stuff that we work so hard to get, is really not even worth having after we get it. Have you ever worked hard for something that you wanted and then when you finally got it, discovered that it was not all that you thought it was?
When we give our life away – life gives back to us! It is usually not in the ways that we would think, but it is almost always in the way that we need. When I give of myself to others and for others, life just has it’s way of giving back to me in incredible and amazing ways. You can’t out give God and when you are giving your life for His glory, you will always have more than enough blessings!
This morning as I was on my way to visit the hospital, I could not help but think about the amazing love of God! When the sun first begins to come up – it is just an amazing picture of how much God loves us. I mean just think about it: He does not have to make everything so beautiful and amazing, but He does and I believe that He does it for us. In the sunrise and the sunset we see the beauty of our God who loves us and has a plan and purpose for our lives.
Just walk outside today – can you feel it? The warmth of His love is all around you! Just walk outside today – can you hear it? The gentle whispers of His love are all around you! Just walk outside today – can you see it? The new life of His love is popping up and out all around you!
No matter what you are going through or facing today – remember this: God loves you and if you are paying attention you can feel it, hear it and see it everywhere!
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!
