"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you." Phil. 1:3 continued    

I always try to remember birthdays and anniversaries and the people who celebrate them.  Paul found joy in remembering events in Philippi, to help him remember his Christian friends. He thought of their love for each other, their response of faith in "Christ Jesus, and their acts of love to him. He used the lonely hours of prison darkness in Rome to remember them in prayer. He prayed for them by name, and in his letter he tells them of his love in Christ. He found comfort and rejoiced in being able to remember his friends.    

As Christians we find the same joy of remembering the people who loved us. Our parents who stood by in careful watch at our bedside. Teachers and pastors who led us in the Christian way. Friends who are with us in time of need. All await our prayers and our expressions of love.    

A man once said, "If we discovered that we had only five minutes left to say all we wanted to say, every telephone would be occupied by people calling other people to say "I love you"    

Christian friends, God, who remembers us in His loving care through Christ, will give us the joy of remembering the people in our lives. Our joy increases as we pray for them by name and express our care in kindness. What kind of a friend are you? Do your friends and associates have reason to thank God upon every remembrance of you? Be a true friend!  

It is my joy in life to find                                                                                                         At every turning of the road,                                                                                            The strong arms of a friend so kind,                                                                             To help me onward with my load.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - The only way to have a friend is to be one.