click the “help” button

A few months back I took a part-time gig as a worship leader at Brainerd Presbyterian Church.  It is very minimal, I suppose, but it keeps me active and growing musically, spiritually and emotionally.  Providentially, it was offered when I least expected it and I had no idea that I would need it so much.

In short : I love it.

The experience of falling in love with what God has called me to do has been nothing short of life changing.  I play the piano and sing while pointing others to Jesus.  I’m not sure I could find anything to do, short of caring for my family or baking cookies, that I’d love more.

But today, I’ve been grumpy.  I’ll admit that it is my own doing that has brought me to this point.  The source of my irritation?  A little web-site called planning center…  That’s right.

You see, part of my job involves administration – organizing music and band members and singers.  I’m constantly trying to keep track of who’s available which Sunday to lead worship, and what songs we’re doing and five thousand other tiny pieces of praise team information besides.  So, I thought a little organizational assistance might be necessary.

Planning Center Online is used by numerous churches that I’ve been a part of, so I was vaguely familiar with it, as a “viewer.”  However, I had not used it as the administrator.  I began using it several days ago and realized something:  PCO is not my kind of “user friendly” website.  and by “my kind of user friendly” I mean it needs to be simpler than what my preschooler can figure out on the computer.

The thing is, there are “help” buttons and “question” buttons EVERYWHERE on the site.  But, as I began setting up my account, I resisted. “Who, me?  I don’t need help.  I can totally figure this out. ”

It wasn’t until more than two hours later, when I had created nothing more than a big mess, that I decided to cancel everything and start over.  I prepared myself to watch tutorials and  click the help button as much as I could.

I wish that this wasn’t such a clear demonstration of how I live my life.  No instructions needed.  Like the dad on a family road trip who won’t ask for directions when he’s lost, I’m the worst version of myself when I act on my “know-it-all” instincts.

But, there are instructions for my life – wisdom for the best and most effective living.  God’s Word is available for my every day situations, the good, the bad – the complicated and the simple; His instruction is always appropriate for living life.

Almost literally, I’ve known this my whole life – but sometimes it is easy to act a completely different way and ignore the knowledge and wisdom in God’s Word.  It isn’t purposeful, but just a part of my human nature to act apart from His will.  Truthfully, I’ve had several situations recently where I’ve had a hard time looking for His wisdom, too consumed with my own desires and my own solutions.

The good news, (and with Jesus there is always good news,) is that His Word is alive, and always applies to every adventure, every decision, every “which way now?” question.  I just need to read and appropriate it to my life.

I love these words from Proverbs 2:

1 My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
² So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
³ Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
⁴ If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
⁵ Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
⁸ He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.

So, tomorrow I begin again – with fresh zeal, seeking the Lord’s wisdom first, looking for His paths to follow, humbly asking for His help in every decision.  Seeking Him first, He promises to give the blessing of understanding.

While I’m working, I may click a few “help” buttons on Planning Center too…