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.
Why is it that some believers seem to have an “on fire – spiritually alive” life, while others act like they could care less and maybe even seem a little depressed about life? Some of our churches are on fire, filled with meaningful activity for the Kingdom, while others seem to be a good place to take a nap, because very little is happening. What is the difference? What make the difference? A better way to ask the question is Who is it that makes thedifference? The answer is obvious if you stop and think about it: The Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit of God is absolutely essential to my living the life of faith that God has called, gifted and equipped me to live. I need to know God as Holy Spirit. I need to understand God as Holy Spirit and I need to yield to God as Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helped me to understand that I was a sinner and needed Jesus for forgiveness and restoration. The Holy Spirit helped me to die to my old self and come alive with a new life and power. The Holy Spirit lights up the Word so that it makes sense for the daily living of my life! The Holy Spirit opens my mind and heart, so that I can obey and apply the Word that is now making sense! The Holy Spirit is living in me, so that I can live in the power and blessing of a right relationship with God!
I can’t live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit and I would not want to try!
We are going to have a good time Sunday morning and I can’t wait. We just got through shooting and editing a movie to help share the message. I am not going to say much, but bowling balls are pretty amazing! Life is tough and filled with some HARD KNOCKS! I hope you will join me this coming Sunday morning for some “BOWLING BALL THEOLOGY”! See Ya!
Our phones and Internet have been down at the office since Monday – that is a blessing and a bummer! A blessing because it forces you to work on other things in other ways. A bummer in that life seems much easier with open lines of almost instant communication!
That got me to thinking about our communication with God. It should always be open and available, but often times it is not. The reason is not on God’s end – it is on our end! We allow sin to come in between us and God and the sin gets in the way of the flow of information and communication that makes our life meaningful. Often the sin that we allow to get in between us and God is a lack of taking the time to communicate. Or maybe it is taking the time, but rushing through it, so that it really does not mean anything!
Take some time to check your lines of communication with your Creator. Make sure that the lines are open, working and free from any distractions. Our life will be better for it and we will really appreciate what we often take for granted!
