In this Regular Girl Devos Retro-edition: Just Peachy and Cancel Culture, I am reviewing posts first published in May and September 2020.
In my first year of blogging, I was only somewhat confident in writing, so my posts were short. I’m not a big talker anyway, I’m more of a listener. When reviewing posts for this Retro-edition, I couldn’t decide between two so, let’s do both!
Just Peachy
This post describes the thoughts fizzing around in my head at the time.
I had done some messed up things and I continued to mess things up. Who am I or, better yet, who had God created me to really be? After all my messing up, could I move on to something better?
“Just like God created a peach tree to make peaches, He created you to be you. He gives you instructions in the Bible on how to be your best you. He wants you to be just peachy!”
Working through some childhood stuff, which for me, leads to a lot of reminiscing, may or may not be helpful. Even if we don’t want to adult, sometime we just have to face the fact that we have no choice but to find our way forward:
“Being mature has taken on a negative slant. We see T-shirts that warn, I can’t adult today, or Don’t grow up, it is a trap. But remaining like a child has its disadvantages too. The Apostle Paul tells us to leave childish ways behind. We may accept faith in a child-like way, but to be our best selves requires maturity. Begin by cultivating the “Fruit of the Spirit” as described in Galatians.”
I decided my path to the future was to follow God:
“With God, it is not just about getting older, it is about making mature choices that include loving others. This creates a life full of joy and peace; there is no room for drama, despair or loneliness. We can be fruitful because God is faithful. Be just peachy!”
Galatians 5:22, especially The Message version, was the verse that stuck with me through this process:
“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
Just Peachy took a positive approach to showing the good fruit that can come from a life focused on God and His ways.
Cancel Culture
I had seen news of the negative effects of anonymity on social media. I was reflecting on the difference between then and when I was a kid (in the pre-internet age!)
“Social issues, and the terminology used to describe them, change over generations. Who remembers “Make love, not war?” Today we have cancel culture, body shaming, and designated safe zones. Immediate access to social media makes every thought or opinion “tweetable.”
It is still a tweet? What do we call it now, an X-eet? Anyway, the point I make is the Bible has so many answers. Why? Because humans have not changed over thousands of years. We may invent new technology, but we still have the choice to hurt or help each other.
“However, ancient Bible verses address the most complicated social issues. With prayer, you can transform your love and knowledge of God into action. Forget cancel culture. Touch one person at a time with God’s love and change the world!”
I closed this post with five different verses, but here is my favorite pick:
“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Proverbs 16:24
Read an interesting PBS News Hour transcript, “How anonymity on social media influences online behavior, harassment,” here.
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