Mid-Days with Doug

There is absolutely nothing wrong with coming to God with things you need help with. In fact, he wants us to. But I've found if I start my day with these 2 words before I do anything else, it really does make a difference.

I'm not always full of useful tips, but here is something you need to try on a Wednesday coming up that you can thank me later for.

I don't care if you have the best joke known to mankind, in my opinion, there's nothing funnier than this.

From a book I’m currently reading: How would you respond if I asked you this question: “Do you honestly believe God likes you, not just loves you because theologically God has to love you?” If you could answer with gut-level honesty, “Oh, yes, my Abba is very fond of me,” you would experience a serene compassion for yourself that approximates the meaning of tenderness. “Can a woman forget her nurs...

At the end of our lives, what do we all wish to hear? "Well done, good and faithful servant" perhaps? Here's the good news: Because of Jesus, you will. He's your clean slate.

You might be feeling weak at this very moment, because of all that’s been going on… ...or maybe, spin the wheel, and it's not weakness…. it's anxiousness... ...or fear… ...or some combo of those… But… The very admission of that weakness could end up being the moment when you realize true strength. God's strength. Far from what you might have thought, that weakness doesn't disqualify you. In fact,...

Sometimes when we look at our life, it may not look anything like how you thought it would. But that doesn't mean it's not still good and that God's plan is somehow not still good. You can trust him.

I know it sounds kinda strange, but stick with me here. There's never been a point in time where God has been, somehow, surprised by your human-ness. He knows you and loves you.

I love what the late, great Dallas Willard had to say about giving your best each day. I hope you will, too.

I've come to this realization as of recently that I don't need to worry about not being enough in any particular situation. God's enough and that's enough for me.

If you're feeling lonely right now, you can count on God being with you. Always.

God is not only Lord over your chaos, God chooses to be with you in you chaos!

I suppose every day, and every moment of every day, we have choices to make, and it gets exhausting sometimes. But there is a daily choice we need to make. It is crucial. Most other choices will flow from this choice. Are we going to focus on our trials, or focus on trusting God for his promises in those trials?

George Mallory was a British expeditioner who took part in the first 3 climbs ever of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world, about 100 years ago. Many have since made it to the summit, but many also lost their lives trying. One of his team members wrote these words as they tried to rise to the top of the mountain, and I think they have a powerful word for us today. He wrote… “Mt Everest,...

Are you feeling a little bit (or a lot) like you can’t get seem to get your act together? Even if that may be true (you’re probably being too hard on yourself, but let’s go with it for now), the truth is….your identity is secure and completely intact…because of Jesus. In Christ, WHO you are matters infinitely more than anything you do or don’t do!

What if someone today heard you say “I want to be your friend. Just as you are.” How could God use that? Listen to see how Jesus did exactly that for someone who, honestly, really didn’t deserve it.

Before your feet hit the floor in the morning, this is a good prayer: “God, before I even start this day, I surrender my emotions to you. I want you to be Lord of my feelings. I want you to control my mind and my emotions.” It isn’t easy. But this is what happens when we do: Confidence Fearlessness Hopefulness Freedom from worry God’s love really can fill your life and cast out your anxiety and fe...

It probably isn’t hard for you to find or think of someone in your life that is hard to like, let alone love. But anytime we’re faced with this challenge, there’s a FIRST STEP that is crucial.

Priscilla Shirer sat down and wrote something that I thought was insightful. Maybe you can relate. She called it “If I Were Your Enemy”.

One of the most comforting verses in all the Scriptures is Isaiah 42:3, “A bruised reed He will not break; and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” Our Father is not the kind of God who weeds “lower performing” people out of His kingdom. If your faith that isn’t what you’d consider great – that matters less than WHO your faith is IN. In fact, bruised reeds and smoldering wicks are especially...

This isn't easy for me to talk about. But I need to know I'm not alone. That's the whole point in talking about it.

How can you get good at celebrating the moments in your life where God is making you stronger? How can you get good at FINDING those moments where you're a doing little (or a lot) better than you once were? Start celebrating! At the very least, acknowledge it. Things don’t have to be perfect to be celebrated.

I thought it might be good for such a time as this to hear from a voice who always spoke hope and truth to us in all situations. That voice is Billy Graham. He said this a long, long time ago, when the world's challenges were different. But in so many ways, they are the same today. It’s highly relevant, and will be until Jesus returns.

It's ONE thing we can't take for granted. A second chance. Terrell's story is inspiring and really shows how God can shape our lives in a way we could have never even imagined.

Katharine was a successful model in California in 2008. Overnight, her life changed drastically. She had a massive stroke that changed everything. But she chose HOPE!