Selah Pt. 2 - How Did You Get There?

  

During Yesterday’s blog we had multiple Selah moments.  We learned that the word “Selah” is only found in the Old Testament of the bible (specifically Psalms and Habakkuk). And we learned that its definition is somewhat controversial primarily because theologians, scholars, etc. cannot fully agree on the true definition.  Rather than completely abandon the word the three most common meanings can be combined to obtain clarity.  Those three meanings are to: 1) pause and calmly think about the statement or phrase preceding the Selah; 2) weigh the meaning of the information preceding the Selah; and 3) we should lift our hearts up in praise to God for His great truths. 

Yesterday’s blog was different from my “norm” as a series of questions were asked; several possible answers were shared and then there were instructions for intentional Selah’s – silence meant to cancel the noise of life.  Not necessarily other people talking but the noise of random thoughts, accusations, guilt, doubt, sabotage, etc. that imprison the gifts we stuff, bury and/or force to wait for a “magic day” that may never come if we don’t make the magic come.  We united together in spirit (at least those brave or “crazy” enough to participate – however you wanna call it) and we listened to our silence as uncomfortable as it was for 98% of us who jumped in head first without even thinking because, we are desperate for God, change and discovering our purpose. 

Tania Not Tanya moment:  During an impromptu “noise” exercise yesterday we opened our hearts, eyes and ears to the suggestion that God probably attempts to speak to us more often than we realize but he will not compete for our attention.  To hear from God we must be willing to bravely press mute on the internal and external noise we are so easily distracted by and remain in that state until we hear from him.  Hmmm, that requires patience, another discipline that some of us lack.  The challenge for many of us is that we are so afraid of the volume of our silence that we will do any and everything, including completely stepping out of character to avoid facing the noise our silence makes.  But that intentional silence allowed us to hear an all important question: “Where are you?”  If you weren’t on the Victory Call yesterday, this may sound like a whole lot of double talking gibberish, but I assure you that is not the case.    Selah (12 seconds)

Let’s go deeper shall we?  My question today is, How Did You Get Here?  Where?  Your current state, good, bad, ugly or in between.  How did you get where you are?  I hear you.  Do you really want me to believe you don’t know?  You may not want to admit it, but if you ask yourself that question and quietly wait for the answer, you will get one.  The problem for many of us is that we really don’t want to know because nine times out of ten, we are the reason we are where we are and if we admit that truth, it will utterly destroy our ability to blame others which means we will have to take the blame and most of us are not willing to accept responsibility for our life circumstances “down hemmm”.  Look at yo’ neighbor and say:  “she got that right.”  Selah (12 seconds)

I will ask again, how did you get there?  Where?  In debt.  Not just any debt because some debt is necessary. I’m talking about bad debt (e.g. unnecessary credit cards, pay day loans, gambling, etc.)  Did you really have to buy a luxury vehicle or could you opted for a more economical one?  Is it necessary for you to keep your subscription to Zappos, Shoedazzle, Shoebuy, JustFab, HSN, QVC when you know you have a weakness for shoes, clothes and things?  I’m sorry, let me keep it one ‘hunid’, you know you have an addiction to shopping but technology makes it far more convenient to feed the desire than physically driving to the mall.  How do you justify getting your hair, nails and toes done every week but you’re behind on your utilities or you don’t have enough food?  Do you have to have the Cadillac version of DirecTV, Dish, uVerse or Comcast? How many channels can you watch at once anyway?  What if you scaled back some of the paid channels and substituted TV for reading?  Selah (12 seconds)

How did you go from being a faithful church member to a bed warmer on Sunday mornings and you are physically fit with two cars in your garage?  OK so someone hurt your feelings, talked about you, sat in your seat, didn’t recognize all the work you do, sang your song, lied on you, the deacon tried to get in your panties, the preacher got somebody pregnant, the church mother stole the money from the chicken dinners, the usher cussed you out, shall I continue?  Is any of the stuff I just listed morally wrong?  Some of it is.  But here’s the thing.  We are all sinners who have been forgiven (including your pastors, 1^st ladies, bishops, church mothers) however, given the right set of circumstances we are all subject to sin.  We blow it sometimes and so do they.  Does that give people a free pass to live raggedy wretched lives, no?  As we mature spiritually our walk should be more refined making us less apt to fall spiritually.  The operative word is “SHOULD”.   That said, what does somebody else’s drama (including their rude behavior towards you) have to do with your personal, intimate relationship with God and you working out your soul’s salvation?   If you can’t work it (your salvation) out at your current church because of the drama, ask God to lead you to another one.  Selah (12 seconds)

My dear friends, you always obeyed when I was with you. Now that I am away, you should obey even more. So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved.  God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him. Do everything without grumbling or arguing.  Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world.  Philippians 2:12-15 (CEV)

Tania Not Tanya moment:  Stop worshiping the people and worship God, keep your confidence in him and his word.  Listen the sin that God is exposing with these Church Leaders should not surprise you.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  Matthew 24:24 (NKJV)  Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first.  2 Thessalonians 2:3a (NKJV)

Ladies, how did you get from a size 10 dress to a 32 and men from a 34 waist to a 52, in a year?  Did it have anything to do with your refusing to exercise; steady diet of fast “fried” food; fad diets; attempt to eat your drama away (hurt, anger, anxiety, frustration, guilt) or your refusal to press mute long enough to put the potato chip bag down and listen as your body screamed for help.  What do I mean:  shortness of breath, difficulty in standing or walking, chest pain, swollen ankles, constipation, knee, hip, ankle and/or back pain; buying a larger size every other month; prescriptions for high blood, high glucose, sleep apnea, heart challenges, etc..  Selah (12 seconds)

I challenge you, today, to give your silence legs, arms and a voice, allow it to become a meaningful noun so that you can get on with life.  Sweetie, ain’t you ty’d?  We are waiting on you, the longer you procrastinate the longer we have to suffer because you won’t fully show up.  Can you please stop?  We need you whole: spiritually, naturally, emotionally, and physically.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2 (NKJV)

I'm out of time, we’ll pick it up tomorrow.

In His New and Excellent Service

Tania Not Tanya