LOVELY

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are  lovely, .. think on these things.

lovely: pleasing, agreeable;

 Merriam-Webster's definition: 

Delightful for beauty, harmony, or grace, attractive.

Cambridge Dictionary's definition:

Used to describe a person as being kind, friendly and pleasant to be with

Lovely is as lovely does.

I do not like strife and divisions, this is not pleasing to the Lord. As a photographer I seek to capture things that are lovely, usually things of God's own making. We are to focus on lovely things, and cast down the works of the evil one. Jesus is the most lovely name above all names.

Songs 5:16 His mouth [is] most sweet: yea, he [is] altogether lovely. This [is] my beloved, and this [is] my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

Music and the arts can be lovely and uplifting. But nothing should fill our hearts and replace our worship and love for the Lord. The words of God are more than lovely, they must be heeded.

Eze 33:32 And, lo, thou [art] unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

Outward beauty can be vain and self centered. A lovely person is a giving person who has a heart of love and encouragement for others.  I often see this loveliness in the graceful words and deeds of some of the elderly mothers in the church.

Titus 2:2  Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 

Tit 2:3  Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 

Tit 2:4  and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 

Tit 2:5  to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 

Tit 2:6  Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 

Tit 2:7  Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 

Tit 2:8  and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 

Sometimes our thoughts are not lovely, we cast them down. The world may give us a bit of sarcasm as a defense and bitterness, give these to God.  In Jesus we can be of a more lovely character. Jesus loves us and what he sees in us matters.