To Bills on Christmas

My dear friend and brother,

May the Lord God bring tidings of peace and blessings of joy unspeakable this season. It seems almost surreal this year, the changes that have came and past and I look back upon the days of our fellowship with great fondness in my heart. The time is meet now for me to dispense the admonition you deserve.

From the time that I first met you unto this very day, I have found no less than a true God fearing man in you. So much that God used you in my life as a catalyst in the renewing of my walk with Him. Yes it is true there are faults we all share and some we hold alone, yet I must admit I find not many in you. Even in the midst of your own personal battles with sin and pride you have found the courage to let God be God, and that has in turn encouraged me and doubtless others.



Then, I saw you as a man who shared his life with a fellow in the faith, putting aside self and putting on mercy and forbearance. Much forbearance was most unquestionably needed in dealing with me I'm certain. However, you did show that desire to help and to teach and to lead and in more ways than just discipleship you did. I have learned more in the last two to three years then I had since I received that everlasting gift of salvation.



While we met on the weekends over coffee and mochas, I was pushed to be myself and nothing less. You grew with me too, constantly learning from your past, my past and our present. Not to mention the cloud of witnesses found in the pages of the ever expanding volumes of literature you consumed. I found a passion for reading again and a zeal for change I did not have before we met. After a year we grew to be great friends, and I began to see you as my best friend. Not just a term thrown around but one who would be my first choice as best man at my future wedding. You are someone I find commanding of trust and worthy of the utmost respect, regardless of whatever circumstances, should any ever arise.



And so now, I see you as my friend. Yet, not just my friend, but my best friend. But not just my best friend, but my dear brother who I admire and love. I said I could not keep my words to a simple text and so I write this christmas day to one who has encouraged me in prayer and in life, as an example and a witness. God has been most gracious and merciful to bring us into fellowship. I stand today as a fellow servant of the most High, as one who partakes in the intimacy prayer brings us not only with the Lord but with each other.

My prayer for you dear brother, is that you would gain peace and endless opportunity. I pray that doors into ministry would constantly open to you and in those opportunities that you would bring honor and glory to our Lord. May you abide in Christ as the true vine, with open eyes to see, open ears to hear His voice, an an open heart to receive His blessings. I know He has a plan for you, and I know His will is best. When the time comes you will know what to do.

Thank you for being such a great friend to me sir. Most of all for praying with me and for me, as I can only hope I do for you. Merry Christmas Bills, may joy abound in your heart and peace in your soul. And may God continue to lead you by the Holy Ghost.

Before I leave off, I feel the need to thank the Lord for revealing this verse in scripture to me. I believe I understand it better in reflecting on the relationship we have in Christ and how He has matured me through our friendship.

I Corinthians 13:11 - For as a child I spake as a child, understood as a child, thought as a child; But when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Here we are my friend, fellow sojourners in this dark place, Men who are on the brink of new things as we see the old things pass before our very eyes.

Follow the desires that God puts in your heart.

Run with them, and if you ask God to close the wrong doors He will.

I miss you.

In Love and Friendship always,

Joshua Eric Suffoletto

How long?

How long will we ignore the truth to our own decay?

We were all created for the primary purpose of worshipping the Creator of the Universe. Having been giving the awesome faculties of imagination and the amazing gift of talents and abilities, we selfishly choose to live our lives for ourselves. Nevermind the fact that there are millions in the Earth blinded by secular humanism and pluralism. Not to mention there is an enemy who steals the Word from their hearts before it takes root.

We must face the truth about ourselves. Be honest about our sin before the Holy One. There has to be Godly Sorrow that worketh to repentence. This must be the first thing to take place, a time of brokeness before Christ, before God.

After that, the decision to Worship must be made. To present ourselves a Living Sacrifice, holy and and pleasing to the Lord, is our acceptable form of worship. We must decrease and He must increase. In order for that to happen we have to crucify our flesh and our selfsih lusts. Time to thing of God first, then the people around us.

This is not some life to be lived one day at a time hoping we get a pretty wife, a decent house, and a good job. This is a life meant to be sacrificed for the furtherance of the Kingdom for Christ. There are people everywhere who need to begin a relationship with Jesus just as bad as we need to live out our own.

Our time, our talents and our will are the tools of the trade to be used for God. We need to give up the throne of our lives and let the Word of God renew our minds. Satan is out to steal God's glory and reduce us to mere people who live 9 to 5 jobs, and find ways to entertain ourselves otherwise.

How long will we ignore the truth to our spiritual decay?