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And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7

How is this peace accessible? I will forever be grateful to the sister in Christ who unlocked the tool of peace for me from the word of God. One day we were discussing depressions and anxieties of life. This verse came up, and I quickly (and maybe proudly) recited both this and the preceding verse by heart. Verse 6 tells us “Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known unto God.”

But I told her I was still wrestling to find that peace. Then she challenged me about verse eight. Had I ever followed that command? I really didn’t know what she was talking about.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil 4:8

She explained that God had commanded me to think on lovely things and not continue to ruminate on the disturbing thoughts I had just lifted up to the Father in prayer. I almost could feel physical chains falling off my body. Why had I not noticed God wanted me to think about lovely things and not torture myself with replaying failures and anxieties? This was the missing piece I needed to my peace puzzle. I had let my requests be known, but I had never “taken my thoughts captive” and turned from thinking on the ugly things.

And now, if I dig deep enough in scripture to find what is truly lovely – I always find myself contemplating some aspect of the One who is altogether lovely – Jesus. And there I find myself in worship.

So that’s the purpose of this blog. To point people to the lovely thoughts and hopefully give them the power of the tool of the peace of God to combat all the anxieties of these days (I mean, have you watched the  news lately?) And I wanted to have an excuse to spend more time with my friend of 30 years. And she takes really really lovely photos.

And so we did a thing. We hope you are encouraged by all the things on this site – some funny things we find over morning coffee, some inspiring and pretty things, and some thoughtful things reflecting on God’s word – but all pointing to the Lovely. And if you have no idea what things we are talking about, I encourage you to start with the tab labeled THE GOOD NEWS.