Well......summer has arrived! Thank you JESUS! Today, as I sit inside (but rather be outside) and I look at the sun, the trees and all the flowers--I am amazed of the beauty of the outdoors and all of GODS creation.
So you can ask...'Lisa, Lisa, how does your garden grow?" Ha! yeah I laugh because this girl don't have a garden. Its sad, I know...but seriously...I don't have the time to even garden. I am not a person that likes to garden, don't like to touch bugs and hate the bees! I sound like a spoiled brat, I know it but I am just being honest! I love to walk through gardens, sit and admired then. I love flowers in my office and on my kitchen counter--in a vase full of water (so I don't kill them)
But as I think about gardens...the first thing you have to do is to pick out the type of seeds you plant which determines the type of harvest you reap. I thought, "Wow GOD, if I had a garden I would want a garden of beauty and of life" Well with planting that perfect seed into the ground and watering it, you then have to keep the area nice and pretty...you have to pull all the weeds! (YUK)
I was then reminded that we have to weed out sinful attitudes and actions and plant good seed in our own life!! I love the word of God because in this case we will call the word the helpful “filter” that helps us evaluate whether or not the seed is good. So, I read this article that says.......lets do the P-48 test, from Philippians 4:8.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”
The P-48 tests the goodness of beliefs, thoughts and words so we can judge if they ought to be planted in our hearts. It is a “PRE-PLANT” test. With P-48, we determine whether the seeds are:
Pre-Plant Test:
  • P: Pure
  • R: Right
  • E: Excellent
  • P: Praiseworthy
  • L: Lovely
  • A: Admirable
  • N: Noble
  • T: True
If, after being shaken through this filter, they remain, then they are seeds that we want to plant. If not, they are not from God and should be discarded. WOW!! Never looked at planting a garden this way!? God cracks me up! He really makes me laugh!! I am telling you HE wants us to be a pretty flower and I am all over that! :o)

You can put your thoughts and words to the test:

  • Pure: Do I have the right heart motivation? Are my motives pure? Are my thoughts and words holy?
  • Right: Is this proper and appropriate? Is it in conformity with God’s standards and principles? Does it build?
  • Excellent: Is this of highest quality? Is it the best – and not just adequate?
  • Praiseworthy: Is it commendable? Am I proud of the way I am thinking/speaking? More important, is God proud of me?
  • Lovely: Does it have a beauty that appeals to the heart? Does it mirror the beauty and gentleness of Jesus?
  • Admirable: Is it worthy of being respected and admired? Would others commend it?
  • Noble: Is it of the highest moral character and superior quality? Is it great and magnificent? Does it demonstrate my position as a child of the king?
  • True: Is it free of deceit? Does it agree with the Bible’s evaluation of the situation? Does it submit to truth?

GOD---please filter out anything that does not meet this standard!!!!!!! Thank you!!