the affirmation file (enouragement)

I have an affirmation file. What is an affirmation file? Exactly what it says it is. My affirmation file is full of random letters and encouraging things that people and students have written to me going all the way back to my days at fellowship Forney. Anyone who has any kind of experience at all in ministry both vocation or volunteer, you know that discouragement comes often. I learned that a few years ago and soon decided that I needed to start an affirmation file so that when I felt like I didn't know how to do my job, I could at least pull out these letters and be reminded that maybe I am doing something right. :)

This week was one of those weeks where I felt like no matter how many steps I took forward, no matter how much I prayed, no matter how hard I pressed on, it just felt like I wasn't making any progress, and discouragement decided to come and visit...uninvited. Does that make sense? I hope so.

Anyways, earlier this week I got a call from a student that we are going to call Ludwig on here for the sake of privacy. Well, Ludwig informed me that Ludwig had an extracurricular activity that was going to keep Ludwig from being part of youth this Wednesday and possibly for a few weeks to come. Now, this isnt just any student...this is one of those students that when they are gone, it feels like the power just went out. Every student ministry has students that just bring this kind of energy to the group and when they are gone...it is felt. Well...I was concerned....not as much for the energy of the group but concerned that Ludwig was going to do what I have seen many students do...replace God and youth ministry with extra curricular activities.

I would say I am pretty close with Ludwigs parents and have established a trust. So, I emailed Ludwigs parents and informed them of my concern. Today I took a vacation day, but before I began my vacation day, I needed to stop by the office and take care of a few things. I noticed I had an email from Ludwigs parents. I was nervous to read their response. But this email brought me much joy today. Ludwigs parents informed that they would be letting Ludwigs extra curricular supervisor know that Ludwig would not miss student ministry on Wednesday nights and that God was more important to their family. Now, I am not against extracurricular activities at all, I am for them. But not when they replace God in families. I hear from other student pastors all the time about how they wished students and parents would keep God before sports, band, dance, cheerleading, etc. I couldnt agree more.

After a discouraging couple of days, God used this email, to encourage me to keep going. This email makes the affirmation file. It is encouraging that there are still families out there that will keep God first.

Exodus 20:1-6
And God spoke all these words:

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

"You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Because there is a better way,

PJ