Tag Archives: self improvement

Blogroll, Growing, life, Personal, Uncategorized

Hello, My Name Is…

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Hello, My Name is Michael Joe Harvell and I decided to try something a little different on my blog this month. I am going to try to write everyday, using pre planned prompts for the month. That means that everyday, I will try to come to this page and write about whatever my prompt is prompting me to write about.

Today, I want to introduce myself and tell you a little about me. I am pretty much an ordinary guy. I get up most mornings around 5 AM and get ready for my day. I like to begin my day with a cup of coffee, outside in a rocking chair, where I will spend a few moments reading Scripture, meditating and then walking around the yard enjoying a little prayer conversation with my Creator.

I am a husband of a beautiful wife, who is a K-5 Teacher, a father to two beautiful and successful daughters. One who is working, pregnant and and about to bless us with our first grandchild. The other who is still in high school and liviing her best life. I am a son of very special parents, who are a blessing and sometimes a challenge. I am a brother to my favorite sister, who has blessed me with two incredible nephews, who I consider my own. I am a friend to anyone who is willing to open their life to me and I do my best to be an open book and sometimes I am probably more open than I need to be.

I am a Minister, so I spend part of my day studying and preparing messages to encourage folks in their spiritual journy. I am a teacher, so I spend part of my day at school working with high school students trying to help them succeed toward the goal of graduating and earning their high school diploma. I am a Master Coach, so I spend time communicating with clients trying to encourage them and keep them accountable to their goals. And I am a Mentor, so I work hard on myself to try to succeed myself so I can be someone worth looking to for advice and counsel.

I have made more than my fair share of mistakes in this life, and I thank God that His grace is more than sufficient. One of the greatest lessons I have learned and try to teach in life is that if we learn from our mistakes, they were an education, but if we fail to learn, they were a waste.

I believe that God is love and that we are created in His image, which means that as we receive His love, we are to return it to Him and one of the best ways we can do that is by loving one another.

At this age and stage of my life, I consider myself very blessed and I am grateful for all that life has allowed me to experience…

Blogroll, Discipleship, responsibility, spiritual enlightenment, Uncategorized

The Living Word!

People who know me, know that I begin most of my days outside early in the morning. After I get up and get ready, I make a cup of coffee and head outside to spend a few moments getting myself focused and headed in the right direction.

One of the first things I do once I get outside is take a few moments to read some scripture and then take a little time to just to think through it, how it applies to my life, what it means to me and in what ways it can make my life better? The Word is powerful and almost always has something to give me in that moment.

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The Bible is not just a book, it is a book that is alive and active. It is sharper than a two edged sword, cutting in both directions, teaching us from our past and preparing us for our future. It penetrates, divides and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It reveals what the real deal is and helps us to build from a place of strength, rather than weakness.

After I spend some time with the Word, I then take a few moments to do a little walk and talk, which is just basically walking and talking with God about what I just read and the day that is getting ready to unfold before me. This really makes a difference and my day just doesn’t seem right if I miss it. How do you like to begin your day?

Blogroll, Condemnation, Enlightenment, faith, grace, Healing, Uncategorized

Conviction Over Condemnation!

There is a big difference between condemnation and conviction. Condemnation is a work of the flesh, while conviction is a work of the Spirit. I spent years trapped in condemnation, while conviction was doing it’s best to try and set me free.

When I woke up this morning, I was thinking about CONDEMNATION. We are so quick to throw it around and many of us use it as a tool to try to beat ourselves or others into submission, only to find that it ultimately does more harm than good.

The truth is: It gets easy to play the blame game, because almost everyone does it. And the more we all do it, the easier it gets. As long as I am blaming someone or something else, then I don’t have to deal with my stuff. The problem with not dealing with my stuff, is that my grave just gets dug a little bit deeper.

In Romans 8:1, the scriptures declare: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”

The key to that verse after the no condemnation part is being “IN” Christ Jesus. Condemnation is the work of the enemy, but God uses it to teach us that we are not living up to our created potential. Don’t get stuck there, learn your lesson and move on to the beautiful life you were created for. Oh and by the way – don’t get stuck in condemning others either, because that will cause you to miss your blessing too.

The reason we should choose conviction over condemnation is because conviction shows us what we are doing wrong and encourages us to do it right. It’s all about going up to a higher level of living and this is what we were all created for – growth into a blessed person, who shares their blessing with others for God’s glory… 🙏🏻