thankful five

 This year  I'm very Thankful for...

1) My whole family.

  

   This picture was taken a year ago, but it is the only one that has all of us.

...and then later on came Yoanna!!

She has changed a lot.

2) Shyann. The BEST dog in the whole world!!

We've had her for at least 3 years.

3) My awesome flute teacher!!  No, I don't have a picture of her. I been taking from this new teacher for over a year now and have felt very, very blessed with all I'm learning from her.  

4) Starbucks or you could say coffee in general. :)

5) All my great friends. I don't what I'd do without them. You guys are great. There are a lot more I just can't fit them all in here.

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!!!

~Susanna

Honoring Parents

 The other day I had to write an essay on the topic of honoring parents. I thought you might enjoy it.

Honoring Parents

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord” for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”  (Ephesians 6:1-3)
    Honor means: 1) a source of credit or distinction: 2) high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank: 3) such respect manifested: 4) the privilege of teeing off in golf before the other player or side, given after the first hole to the player or side that won the previous hole. and 5) being respectful in word and action. The Greek word for honor means “to revere, prize, and value.”
Honor, spelled “Honour” in the Bible, means in this case would be number 5) “being respectful in word and action”. I think it would also include doing what they ask you to do, known to most people as “obeying”.
    In Colossians is says; “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto they Lord” (Colossians 3: 20) In Exodus is was given as one of the Ten Commandments. “Honour, thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)  It’s not saying that if you honor your parents the days will seem very long (as in time wise), but it means that you will live a long time and be happy.
    Donna Otto says, “The ten commandments are not ten suggestions. All of us resist being told what to do. No one in the world wants to be told what to do be anyone (parents). But God is our parents. He gives them for our good. He says of you do this, I know what will happen- you will be blessed”. Here is another quote on obeying: “Only the believer obeys, and only the obedient believes. “  (D. Bonhoeffer)
    Solomon, whom God called the “wisest man on earth”, even talks about what will happen to you if you don’t honor your parents in Proverbs. “The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.” (Proverbs 30:17) And in chapter one, verse eight; “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:” Also, in chapter thirteen, verse one; A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.”
    So, even if we don’t want to “honor” our parents, we are suppose to because it is God’s will. We don’t have a choice weather we want to do it or not. Here is a quote about God’s will: “How often do we seek by prayer to discover and to know the will of God? Instead of asking Him to do his will, instead of turning to Him and saying, “Thy way, not mine, O Lord, However dark it be.” We simply ask Him to do our will and to carry out our desires.” (Martyn Lloyd Jones)
    Here are four applications of how you could (and should) honor your parents. 1) By obeying what they say and ask with the right attitude and right away, weather we like it or not. 2) Since honor also means “respect”, we should respect them to in the way we talk and act. One way is to thank them when they do something for you. 3) Another thing you could do is looks for ways to help them, especially when they look like they need help. Or even when they don’t need help, they might like it.  And lastly, number 4) You could also pray for them. They always could use and need prayer from anyone. So, pray for your parents whenever you think about it.                 And I think that's it for now.                                    

   

~Susanna