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.
Uncategorized

Glory!

“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” -Habakkuk 2:14

Let me encourage you with this today.

Habakkuk looked around and didn’t see glory. He saw corruption. Violence. Pride. It felt like evil was loud and righteousness was quiet. Sound familiar?

But right in the middle of confusion, God gave him a promise.

“The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

Not partially filled.

Not occasionally sprinkled.

Filled.

As the waters cover the sea. Think about that. You can’t separate water from the sea. It saturates every inch. God said one day His glory will saturate this earth the same way.

That means darkness does not get the final word.

Sin does not get the final word.

Bad headlines do not get the final word.

God’s glory does.

And here’s the part that blesses me: we get to live as previews of that coming glory. Every time you forgive, you reveal His glory. Every time you choose integrity, you reveal His glory. Every time you love someone who is hard to love, you reflect His glory.

The world may look chaotic, but the promise still stands.

The earth will be filled.

So lift your head today. Stay faithful. Keep shining. What God promised, He will perform. And one day, what we believe by faith now will cover the earth like the waters cover the sea.

Uncategorized

Love Is!

“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” -2 John 1:6 (KJV)

Let me tell you something simple and steady this morning.

We live in a world that talks a lot about love. We print it on shirts. We post it on social media. We say it easily.

But John brings love down off the billboard and puts it on the sidewalk.

He says love is not just something you feel.

Love is something you walk.

“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments.”

That means love has shoes on.

Love moves.

Love obeys.

You see, Jesus never separated love from obedience. If I love Him, I will follow Him. If I love people, I will treat them the way His Word teaches me to treat them.

Love isn’t proven in big emotional moments.

It’s proven in daily steps.

It’s walking in patience when you’d rather snap.

Walking in forgiveness when you’ve been hurt.

Walking in truth when compromise would be easier.

John says, “as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.”

In other words, don’t complicate it.

Stay steady. Keep walking the same path.

Love God.

Obey His Word.

Treat people right.

That’s not flashy.

But it is powerful.

And if you’ll just keep walking in love today, step by step, you’ll find that obedience isn’t a burden.

It’s freedom.

Keep walking.

Uncategorized

Righteous Joy!

“The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.” -Proverbs 23:24

Let me give you a little front-porch truth this morning.

There is no joy quite like watching someone you love walk in righteousness.

Proverbs 23:24 reminds us that a father rejoices over a righteous child. Not because that child is perfect. Not because they never stumble. But because they choose the right path. They choose wisdom. They choose integrity. They choose God.

And that brings joy that money cannot buy and success cannot replace.

As a pastor, I have watched parents light up when their children serve the Lord. I have seen grandparents wipe tears when a grandchild sings in church or bows their head in prayer. That kind of joy is deeper than pride. It is holy joy.

But here is the beautiful part: this verse is not just about earthly fathers. It reflects the heart of our Heavenly Father.

When you choose righteousness, when you forgive instead of holding grudges, when you tell the truth instead of taking shortcuts, when you honor God in the quiet places, you bring joy to the heart of your Father in heaven.

Imagine that. Your obedience brings Him delight.

So today, walk wisely. Live clean. Make decisions that honor God. Not for applause. Not for recognition. But because somewhere in heaven, your Father rejoices when His children walk in truth.

And there is no greater joy than that, because that’s the Joy of The Lord!