How are you doing spiritually?

At the beginning of the year I was catching up with my good friend Hannah. We were messaging each other back and forth as it had been a very long time since we last spoke. At the end of one of her messages she asked me the question “How are you doing spiritually?”

What? Is that even a question that can be asked? I have never been asked such a straight question regarding my walk with God however I admired the directness of the question. This question awakened a lot of trust and transparency and I began to relate to Hannah, quite candidly, experiences from the past year (2013).I was open about my hopes, my fears, my struggles and my victories and in return she openly shared her experience. It’s very interesting because some of the things she expressed I could definitely relate to, and I was very encouraged as I often used to think that I was the only one who thought a certain way or went through a certain thing,  but I was able to see that there are others who go through similar things too. Our conversation definitely dispelled any myths or preconceived ideas we had about each other and we both committed to praying for each other.

During that week I began to think about our conversation and the question she asked. It made me think – How often do I ask my friends about their walk with God? Their temporal/physical well being is definitely important, hence why I ask “how are you doing?” “How is work going”? “Did you manage to pay that thing off?” “Have you settled into your new house yet?” etc. How much more important is their spiritual well being? Should I not be just as concerned? So that week I decided that I am going to make a habit of enquiring about the spiritual well being of my friends and family at appointed opportunities.

It’s very important to me as I've realised that we as human being often operate on a “don’t ask, don’t tell” basis. If Hannah never asked me that direct question about my spiritual life it’s more than likely that I wouldn't have said anything even if she asked “How’s your life going or how are you generally?”  It’s very important to me as I remember a few years back I wasn't doing too good spiritually, I was making a load of bad decisions and pretty much weaving a tangled web for myself. I remember feeling like I couldn't speak to anybody; I thought to myself no one will understand, who can really relate? At that time it felt like everyone around me was going from strength to strength on their Christian journey and I was scared to approach anyone as I felt that maybe they would judge me and say “How can you be thinking/feeling this way?” “How could you let this happen, you should have known better!” so in my mind it felt easier to just put on a pretence and act like everything was OK. Obviously it’s very unlikely that any of my friends or family would have acted in this way, but those were some of the barriers that kept me from speaking to anybody or seeking encouragement during that time. However I do wonder, if I was asked back then the question “how are you doing spiritually?” would I have had the courage to answer that question and ask for prayer and guidance? Is that what it would have taken, just someone to simply ask?

When it comes to our friends and family, obviously everyone’s walk with God is personal to themselves and God is their strength and helper in all things. However we can do our part as friends and take notice and care for their spiritual well being, pray for specific things in their life and encourage them through our conversations with them and through sharing scripture.

So today, if you are reading this, I encourage you to take the time when conversing with friends and family to enquire about their spiritual well being. Ask them “how are you doing spiritually?”, “How is your Christian journey going?” etc. It may come as a shock to some people as it is something that is rarely asked, but I can tell you from my own experience, the question was much appreciated, it meant a lot to me and made quite an impact.

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." 

James 5:16

Love, your girl forever,

♥ Miss Daisy ♥

Everything is Nothing

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, ….Philippians 3:7-9

Everything is nothing?

My mind can’t fathom this? Whose mind can comprehend this?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2: 5

For the salvation of the human soul everything became nothing.

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:6-8

In yielding all, even life itself – to us, Christ became everything.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Philippians 2:9-10

The Lesson: Until I see everything else as nothing, Christ is not everything.

That I may win Christ, and be found in him*

Love, your girl forever,

♥ Miss Daisy ♥



*Photograph: David Mansell

The Lord is My Shepherd

At the house in Llangammarch Wells, it’s not uncommon to wake up and find sheep outside the house. Sheep are quiet interesting animals to study especially during the season when all their lambs are born. One March morning, Natasha’s morning devotion was interrupted by the sight of a sheep and her lambs by her window. She began to ponder on how much the sheep loves her lambs and doesn’t go anywhere without them. However from her observations from the past week she found that at the slighted hint of danger the sheep would flee and abandon her lambs. She found this strange and wondered “what defensive mechanism does the sheep have?” She was impressed to do some research on the characteristics of a sheep to gain a better understanding of how God designed and engineered this special animal. She conducted a search on Google and was lead to the website wiki.answers.com, this isn’t a religious website but after reading the answers it became very obvious to her how similar we humans are to sheep in the eyes of God.


The Lord is my shepherd*

1: Sheep must have a leader and must be told what to do and where to go otherwise they will wonder off and get lost.

“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” Numbers 27:16-17

“For thou art my rock and my fortress, therefore for thy names sake lead me and guide me.” Psalms 31:3

2: Sheep have little or no means of self-defence.

“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.” Psalms 31:1-4

3: Sheep constantly need fresh water and fresh pasture, but have very little discernment in choosing food or water.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leaded me beside the still waters.” Psalms 23:1-2

“They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them: for he that have mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.” Isaiah 49:10

4: Sheep will insist on going their own way and even eat poisonous plants or drink dirty water.

”All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way…” Isaiah 53:6

5: When sheep fall over on their back they are unable to right themselves back onto their feet (many sheep die in this position); if not turned over by the shepherd.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

6: Sheep need the most care out of all livestock. They are totally dependent on the shepherd for every need and need rod and staff guidance

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalms 23:1-4

I was truly blessed by this devotion when it was shared with me that Sabbath evening as it reminded me of how much we need Christ; we are his sheep and he is the good shepherd.

“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalms 100:3

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

What’s even more interesting is that not only is Christ the good shepherd, he is also the lamb.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

He is both master and servant.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” Philippians 2:5-9

Obedience is the first and most important characteristics of a leader. Before one is to be a leader (shepherd) they must first learn/know how to follow, obey and serve (sheep). God really brought this point to my heart, simply by bringing Nataha's attension to a sheep and her lambs standing by her window one morning.

There’s much more to be learnt at Llangammarch Wells and lots more to be shared, this is only the beginning….stay tuned.

Love, your girl forever,

 ♥ Miss Daisy  ♥

*A devotional study by Natasha Walker