THE MEN

  Men!!I absolutely love this created human species God Almighty made.  When God created this creature, He placed inside him His  Spirit connected to Him in His image, like Him.  That is enough right there to fall in love with a man, because of what he's made of and by who,  but there is more to this wonderful specimen.  God implanted in man His characteristics such as creators, providers leaders, head of the family, strength, tender,mechanical, fierce, task - oriented, warriors,committment keepers,survivors, mighty men of God are a few descriptors that come to mind when I think about them.When I think of their physical characteristics, strong, handsome, muscular are those that jump out right away.God in all His wisdom and knowledge of all things, made this creation to fit perfectly with a woman: all parts fit together as if putting together a puzzle, and I think it is marvelous!!  Let all the women shout AMEN!!!  God has granted me the priviledge to write about THE MEN. I chose 4 of my favorites.  I have many favorites, but these 4 are second to HIMSELF only.  THE MEN...Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon. God spoke directly to each ONE of these MEN.  He had a relationship with them where 2- way conversation took place. He gave each MAN directions as to what He wanted them to accomplish for Him. Directions about how to lead His people. Each MAN  had a few things in common:  They HAD FAITH IN THEIR FATHER, and THEY FELL IN LOVE EVERYDAY with God  and were devoted to Him even while falling down. That is too awesome for words but I am going to try to word this. Help me Holy Spirit!   Moses saw a bush burning but not being consumed and upon further inspection, he realized God was calling him onto the Holy ground and into service (Exodus 3:1-17).  He was called to deliver the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and into freedom (Exodus 12:31-33). His obedience to God caused favor to be on him because he was a wanted murderer in Egypt, but God said go.  Moses is referred to as a MAN God knew face to face(Deuteronomy34:10), but even at that there was a severe consequence for him due to his disobedience to God when he struck the rock after God specifically told him to speak to the rock for the water to be released. As a result Moses wasn't allowed to take this great people into the promised land (Numbers 20:1-13) (Deuteronomy 32:48-52) .  He lead them out triumphantly, but his anger and frustration at God's stubborn, stiffneck people in the wilderness caused him to miss out on the land of milk and honey. He was 120 years old when he died strong as ever (Deuteronomy 34:7). Right here I will speculate that he went to a far greater place and heard the wonderful words "well done my good and faithful servant". Joshua   is by far my MAN. He was called by God upon the death of Moses, his hero,  to lead this people across the Jordan and into the promised land.  No less than 3 times did God command Joshua to be strong and courageous. He knew that it would take the strength and courage of a warrior to accomplish what needed to be done in this new land. I think about the strength and bravery of the mighty MEN (and women)  fighting this battle on foreign soil around this world  to keep and maintain the peace. God told Joshua what would be necessary to be successful: study this Book Of Instruction and Meditate on it day and night (Joshua 1:1-9). Keeping God's Word in our eyes and in our Heart will guarantee success and longevity for all who will believe by faith. So he did as God told him to do and carrying the ARK before them, they crossed the Jordan and into their future. Joshua had much success becaused he fixed his heart and mind to follow God's directions.Jericho's march caused them to utterly destroy an entire nation without breaking much of a sweat (Joshua 6). As well there was disobedience in the camp and it brought  a consequence onto the people of Israel, although it was not Joshua who disobeyed God.  This sin caused a broken covenant with God that was soon renewed when the sin was revealed and who caused it (Joshua 7:11-12,24-26). Joshua settled the issue and fixed his heart when he stated "..as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15). Let all  the 21st century heads of households say AMEN!!! Joshua was 110 years old @death (Joshua 24:29).  David excites me beyond all reason. He was the youngest of Jesse's son and the shepherd of the bunch. Watching his father's sheep out in the wilderness, what else could he do but sing love songs to God. So he did. Many of the Psalms were written while out in the wilderness tending the sheep, fighting off the bear and the lion. Protector.  The Bible describes him as handsome , dark (tanned perhaps) with beautiful eyes (1Samuel 16:11-13 nlt).  He was anointed King as a boy, but his love and reverential fear and devotion to God was developed in the wilderness, under the stars tending sheep, FALLING IN LOVE EVERYDAY, playing that harp, singing LOVE to God, talking bout the LORD is my shepherd (Psalm23), taking delight and meditating day and night (Psalm1), extoling the Heavens and the works of God's  fingers creating all things, the moon, the stars, and such (Psalm8:3), just to highlight a few. Sounds like he had intimacy with God as a youth and God responded to him sending Samuel to find him, anoint him. Read some or all of the Psalms David wrote and you can tell he wanted it known God was all and all.GLORY!!!  He had wisdom to kill Goliath (1Samuel 17: 45-51), not strength this time. He became King of all Israel @ the age of 30  ruling 40 years.(2Samuel 5:1-5). His disobedience and sin had severe consequences as well with the death of his child he concieved with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife(2Samuel 11:1-27) and  his own household rebeling against him (2Samuel 12: 1-23). He confessed his sin and repented revealing a repentant heart in Psalm 51.  God is so forgiving and merciful, and He stayed the angels hand and kept Jerusalem from being utterly destroyed after David committed a later sin, which he repented of and God's mercy endured, sparing this nation yet again (2Samuel 24:10-16). He was a great King and he died and was buried in the city of David, named for him to this day.  He wasn't perfect, by far, but devoted to God he was.  Solomon was his son by Bathsheba and he became the next king.  He was honest in that he declared himself to be but a child , chosen to lead this nation and that he needed wisdom and guidance to do so. He asked God for this wisdom to lead and knowledge of right and wrong.  God heard this prayer and answered him granting him his request and God added wealth and riches to him (1Kings 3:3-15).  He was selected to build the TEMPLE 480 years after this nation left slavery in Egypt (1Kings 6:1).  Constructed with the finest of materials , it was a glorious place and after the ARK was brought in it was dedicated and all PRAISED God in this Holy place. HALLELUJAH!!!  God was well pleased and set it apart, vowing to watch over it and dwell in it.  He promised Solomon one of his descendants would always sit on the throne (1Kings 9:1-7). God instructed Solomon on what to do if the Heavens were shut up with no rain falling,or a FAMINE CAME UPON THE LAND or plagues were among the people (2Chronicles 7:12-18). Disobedience could bring these consequences (Deuteronomy 28: 15-68).  His mercy lasts forever.  These MEN demonstrated through obedience and devotion to God the call and assignment God gave them  THE POWER OF ONE. Their Love and committment to God carried them through a long satisfied life and reign (Psalm 91:16) as leaders, warriors, kings, mighty men of God.  Allow your love and devotion for God AlMighty to shine!!   THE MEN!!   THE MEN!!!(I had to say it twice). What an awesome creation!!!   Thank you God!!  You have blessed us to be able to share the planet with them.  I love you, God loves you and Jesus is LORD!! ! Proverbs 2.