Every Time I Remember You

Many years ago, one of my friends and I decided that we would memorize scripture together. We took turns choosing one verse or passage per week, and we worked together to commit its words to memory. I suppose it was like a grown up version of Bible drill—only we got to choose the verses. After we chose the passage of the week, I wrote it down on an index card so that I could carry it with me wherever I went. I remember being so serious about my scripture memorization that I once took my note cards to Busch Gardens and worked to memorize the week’s verse while standing in line to ride a ride! Eventually, I bound the note cards together and made three booklets. I still have booklets. They are what you see in today’s picture.

While I cannot still quote all of the passages that my friend and I learned together, I can remember some of them—at least partially—and I find myself saying them on a regular basis. Today, in fact, as I’ve thought of various friends for various reasons, I’ve found myself saying the following passage out of Philippians:

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

I do thank God for you, my friends, and I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight and that you may be able to discern what is best and pure and blameless and righteous through the love of Jesus Christ. And as we journey together through the ups and downs of life, sometimes feeling as if we’re speeding ahead, sometimes feeling like we’re stuck, I am confident that he who began a good work in you—and in me—will be faithful to complete it as we share in God’s abundant grace.