Generation...............

 Webster tells us that generation is;

A single succession in natural descent, as the children of the same parents; hence, an age.

Proverbs 30:11- There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother

There is a Generation that curses their father and will not say a kind word to or about their mother

I had just graduated from High School and a bunch of us went to Panama City Florida. I will never forget the phone conversation I heard. One of the young men that were with us called home I guess to let his mother and Dad know he was there and maybe give them the Motel and room number. The first word out of his mouth were curse words running his Dad down then he began to curse at his mother using the most awful words; yes he used that word too. Although none of the rest of us would even consider talking to our parents that way, I'm not sure that the generation of this day wouldn't. Why would I make such a statement? Because parents use curse words frequently around their children and the T.V programs have numerous curse words peppered all the way throughout. The movies go to a higher level using every known curse word and action that depraved minds could imagined. Why? Because that is what most people want to see. In the last 40 years I have only been to the theatre 3 or 4 times. I went once to see a G rated movie about Pete Maravich; "The Pistol." when I sat down and my eyes got adjusted to the darkness I noticed that there were only a small; and I do mean small few that were there to watch this movie.  Could it be that the last generation as a whole lost sight of what's right? And has produced a generation that not only curse their Mother and Father but think them also pure and lift themselves up? I would like to think not but the words that come from Dad's and Mothers an their children were words that my parents would have never been tolerated

I just believe the Bible way

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother:that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Knife to the Throat

In Proverbs Chap. 23 it began by warning the reader about his appetite. We are told not to be given over to an appetite

Proverbs 23:2- And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite

We are told in pretty drastic measures "put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

If someone were to place a knife upon my throat I would be in immediate danger. Could the picture here be that my appetites could be harmful to me as well as others? What could happen, sitting at a table with others? There's danger of a loose tongue. Loose tongues can lead to shame, anger, embarrassment, destruction of another and separation of friendships.

As we come to the close of this chapter we are given an example of one who has given to their appetite

Proverbs 23:29- Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes

 One that has given in to their appetite and the results follow

Proverbs 23:30- They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine

Giving into their appetite caused them to terry long and then to seek. It starts with the eyes then to the desire then to longing then to the action then to the downward results

Here the appetite is alcohol and what the end destruction is; it’s an uncontrolled appetite. But this appetite can be many things it could be anger; anger is a trap and when you fall into that trap you are giving place to the devil in your life. It's not wrong to be anger it wrong to hold on to that anger

Ephesians 4:26- Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath

Don't let the sun set on your anger. Why not? The next verse tells why

Ephesians 4:27- Neither give place to the devil

If I stay angry, harbour my anger then I give the devil a place in my life.  I don't want the devil to have place in my life. I must view anger as a knife to my throat. For if I harbour anger danger is near, for I'm giving place to the enemy of my soul and he will use that for destruction. The enemy will use my anger to destroy friendships, destroy families, and create havoc in businesses, Churches. Once I allow the enemy in through anger he then began a root system that will cause bitterness and use it to destroy others. 

Safety

Proverbs 21:31- The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord

PREPARE to fit, adapt or qualify for a particular purpose, end, use; to make ready; to make one's self ready

The Lord is preparing a place for those who have put their trust in Him

John 14:2- In my Father's house are many mansions:if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you

Putting to much confidence in something other than our Lord; that could be self, it could be another person, it could be wealth, it could be a lot of things that I put my confidence in on the day of battle. None of the things I put my confidence in can bring real peace and safety but I read that "safety is of The Lord. Once again I see that word "IS" many things will fail in the day of battle but there is safety in our Lord.

Psalms 33:17- An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength

Proverbs 18:10- The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe

Proverbs 29:25- The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

Wine

Proverbs 20:1- Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise

Wine"IS" we are not told that wine might be, could be, will be but told that wine is, present tense.

Is what? "A MOCKER" makes light of, laughs at, deceives, disappoints.

"STRONG DRINK" Having physical active power, or great physical power; having the power of exerting great bodily force;

A drink that has the ability to change

"IS RAGING" Violent anger accompanied with furious words, gestures or agitation; anger excited to fury

"WHOSOEVER "any one, any person

"DECEIVED" mislead

IS NOT WISE" not having knowledge; not having the power of discerning and not judging correctly.

 Wine will disappoint because it has an active power that will change with great bodily force.

One can be deceived that wine is good for you

In a study of more than 32,000 men in France, those who got more than half their alcohol consumption from wine had a lower risk of death from heart disease and several different cancers. NYDailyNews.com/health July 22, 2013

When deceived one becomes not wise to the facts of what God says.

One drink is too many and a 1000 is not enough. Be wise and stay away from it altogether. Oh you may have a lower risk of heart disease but you also might have a lower risk of heaven.  It's a strong drink.

Pay Attention

 Proverbs 19:17- He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again

He that shows mercy upon the needy, weak joins themselves unto The Lord; and The Lord will repay.

How do I treat those I come I contact with daily? Do I offer a helping hand? It's not always money they need; I must not forget the teaching of the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10:30- And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead

The Priest saw, the Levite looked, both of these men observed, but neither did nothing to help this needy person.

Luke 10:31- And by chance there came down a certain priest that way:and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32- And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side

Then there comes a Samaritan an we are told that he is on a journey. But when he sees this man in need he stops what he is doing to help. When he saw how he had been treated and what had been done to him he had compassion. His compassion drove him to his aid. His compassion had him share what he had. His compassion caused him to spend time with him. His compassion caused him to give money to help. His compassion caused him to make a commitment to another for him

Luke 10:33- But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was:and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34- And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35- And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee

I must asked myself; do I have mercy and show compassion on those in need? Or do I pass by? Is this an appointment The Lord has placed in my day? Am I in such a hurry that I miss my God set appointment

I must remember my military training; pay attention to what's going on around you so that you don't lose your life and the lives of those around you.

The answer to Cain's question would be yes

Genesis 4:9- And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

Preparation for the Race

 There's Preparation

Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord

   Preparation: The act or operation of preparing or fitting for a particular purpose,use, service or condition; as the preparation of land for a crop of wheat; the preparation of troops for a campaign; the preparation of a nation for war; the preparation of men for future happiness. Preparation is intended to prevent evil or secure good

I must PREPARE my heart to prevent evil or secure good. In order to do that I must know the sins that most easily drawn me

 Hebrews 12:1- Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us

In that verse I picture an arena in my mind, as I look up into the viewing area I see it full of people. I see the runners dressed in light weight clothing; but wait there's more to it than the look of the runner. Has the runner prepare himself for this day? Or has he let other things easily draw him away from preparing for this moment? The runner has joined the team, he has dressed well for the race, he has also entered the race. The runner looks the part of the team but the results of the runner will be seen when he begins to run the race. If there has been poor preparation for the race the runner will  stumble, crumble and fail; why? Failure to prepare for the upcoming oncoming avent.

 If I fail to acknowledge the sins that easily draw me and captivate me, if I do nothing to work at overcoming them I will fail and be in bondage by them

2 Corinthians 10:5- Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

Just as a runner prepares himself for the race before him I too but prepare for the day that is before me

If I allow myself to be drawn away from Bible study, pray time and mediation time then I start a day unprepared. No preparation, I might not hear the gun go off.

Happy or Troubled

Proverbs 15:16- Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith

The word "FEAR" is mentioned 14 times in the book of Proverbs before chapter 15 and it is mention two times in this chapter

Webster says "FEAR" means Fear is accompanied with a desire to avoid or ward off the expected evil. Fear is an uneasiness of mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us

It's better to have little with the fear of the Lord than to have great treasure with trouble. It is better to obey The Lord than to disobey The Lord to get more things. If I have to tell a small lie to sale an account than I didn't fear The Lord when He said "THOU SHALT NOT LIE!

Exodus 20:16- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. So I didn't  have an uneasiness of mind. Then the question arises did I also steal from that person or persons I lied to

The next time we read the word fear in this chapter is i

Proverbs 15:33- The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility

Fear of the  Lord brings instruction and with that fear comes wisdom. It may seem like one has little but after thinking about it one really has much

Fear of The Lord not only will make one honest, it will also make them become trustworthy  because of their humble spirit. When there is freedom from pride then one  is aware of their unworthiness in the sight of God and becomes under submission to His divine will. Then I can say

Psalms 146:1- Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul

Psalms 146:5-  Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God

It's happy with little or trouble with great treasures and it has to do with that four letter word "FEAR."

Sin is my Enemy

Proverbs 1:6- To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

We are told here if we want to understand a Proverb and the Interpretation; the words of the wise and their dark sayings.

Fear The Lord:

Proverbs 1:7- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear Instruction:

Proverbs 1:8- My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Watch out for Enticement:

Proverbs 1:10- My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Watch out for Greed:

Proverbs 1:19- So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Don't love Simplicity:

Proverbs 1:22- How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

The chapter closes with a simple response:

Proverbs 1:33- But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Whoever listens to me will live without worry and will be free from the dread of disaster.

Thoughts for myself:

I know without doubt The Lord loves me but am I at the point that I have a Godly fear?

Am I hearing the instructions from The Lord or do I think my way is better?

Am I allowing others to Entice me?

Does Greed ever enter my heart?

Am I guilty of being Gullible?

Sin is my enemy with enjoyment for a season!

Hebrews 11:25- Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;