Many of us are familiar with the life of Joseph.  We know as a young boy he was dearly loved by his father.  He was loved so much that his father made him a coat of many colors.  His brothers despised him because he was the favorite among the sons. He was eventually sold into slavery, became Potiphar’s right hand man, went to prison, and then ultimately became second in charge of Egypt.  When we look at Joseph’s story we might be tempted to ask why would all this happen to someone who was undeserving of it.  However, when we look closely at the story we realize Joseph never once took this attitude.  At each point in Joseph’s life he had a choice to make.  He could stay faithful to God, or choose to grumble, groan and not move on. Joseph realized with every decision that he was writing another chapter in his life.  This is just like our lives today. When we make a decision we are writing a chapter in our book.  Here is the million-dollar question: Would someone want to read your book?  You see we are still reading the chapters in Joseph’s life because of the way he lived. Every time life was challenging Joseph stayed the course and stayed true to God. Joseph never took an unforgiving attitude.  I think it was truly because of the little five words we see throughout the story “and God was with Joseph.” It is amazing what we can accomplish when we are willing to walk in the shadow of our Savior.
 
When Joseph entered Potiphar’s house he began going about his task with vigor.  He didn’t mope about the fact he was a slave, or had been wrongly mistreated by his brothers. He worked unto the Lord.  However, landed in prison on yet another false account. Now what would our attitude be at this time?  Would we be complaining, doubting our faith, and choosing an overall negative persona?  Not Joseph.  As soon as he went into prison he began doing his best work and before long was overseeing the facility. Joseph helped out in every capacity including interpreting dreams for two prisoners.  Joseph’s only request for his service was to be remembered when the cupbearer was released.  The cupbearer was released but did not remember Joseph.  It was not until two years had passed that the cupbearer provided Joseph’s appearance before Pharaoh.  He was able to be of assistance and interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Then in God’s timing he became the second most powerful man in Egypt. Not once had Joseph suffered the way his brothers had intended.
 
 Later, when Joseph reveals himself to his brothers he says, “do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was God that sent me ahead of you.”  Genesis 50:19-21 Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” I have studied this story many times but this verse grabbed my attention for the first time.  Here is a man that has been wronged by his brothers in the worst possible way but yet he says, “Am I in the place of the Lord?” He is saying to his brothers it is not my place to judge. He is saying do not fear me, but fear God. You see although their sin was physically against Joseph, it was truly against God. Instead of seeking revenge on his brothers Joseph removed himself from sitting as their judge. Instead he encouraged them to seek divine forgiveness. This has opened my eyes to the fact that true forgiveness is taking ourselves out of the judges seat. If God intends that person to suffer for his or her action they will, but we should not inflict suffering by our own choice or desire.  Sometimes in life we can be truly hurt to the core.  Maybe today someone has caused you or your family deep pain.  Maybe today you are facing a situation you simply don’t understand.  Maybe today you just don’t know how God can create goodness out of such a terrible mess.  I firmly believe if we take ourselves out of the judge’s seat and humble ourselves God will allow us to see through his eyes.  We may not have complete understanding but I we can have complete peace knowing God has our best interest at heart. Stay the course, and keep the faith!
 
I don’t think Carrow would mind me using her words, especially today: “You are safe, You are loved, You are protected.”
 
Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
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Joshua had just marched around Jericho and claimed victory over the city. Rahab and her family were rescued, just as the spies had promised.  Then they burned the city, taking only the articles of gold, bronze, and silver, as the Lord had instructed. Joshua’s fame began to spread quickly as a mighty warrior and a man of God. But something wasn’t quite right in the camp. Achan had taken unauthorized plunder and hid it in his tent.  As Joshua’s men entered into the next battle some men were killed, and the army had to retreat. Joshua was shocked.  In his mind, he had done everything that God had asked him to do, but yet his men were killed in battle. He questioned everything that had taken place. He tore his garments and placed dust on his head.
There was a small detail Joshua was missing.  There was sin in the camp. Don’t miss this statement God made: “I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.”  Basically until you eliminate the sin, you do not have a chance. So they started a massive search for any items that were taken from Jericho.  They eventually found the individual, Achan.
 
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”

The Lord was not going to bless the people with sin in the camp.  Basically God said you should not move another inch until you find the sin.  Often times we wonder why God is not blessing us; maybe we even feel he is deliberately holding back his blessings.  The answer may be that there is sin in the camp. God made it abundantly clear He would not bless sin.  
Another important note is that sin affected everyone in the camp, not just the guilty.  Some innocent people even lost their lives because of it.  Often times we want to overlook sin, thinking it will only disrupt the life of the individual.  However, in Joshua, it affected the guilty person, the whole camp, and all of Achan’s family. There is an old saying: “sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you were willing to pay.”  When we ignore sin, it continues to perpetuate and causes a wake of destruction.  In this story God wants Achan and all of his family killed, and all of his possessions destroyed. God’s consequences are very serious when we turn from Him to indulge in sin.  Achan cost the lives of his family, and 36 innocent men.  

What if just one person reminded Achan not to take the plunder, or maybe reported immediately that he was walking in sin? This might have forever changed the fate of his family.  But because they were quiet, and were believed to have knowledge of the sin, they perished right along with him.  Sometimes we think holding people accountable is too hard. I ask you this question: Would it not be better for us to confront our Christian brother or sister in love, rather than turn a blind eye, and allow the world to devour them? Would it not be better for us to cause momentary anguish and pain in order to save their life?  Would it not be better to cause guilt and shame that led to repentance and healing?
James 5:20 “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

In Joshua chapter eight the Bible says, “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king…..
When we are willing to confront sin and dismiss it from the camp, then and only then will God allow his presence and blessings to flow.
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What is sin?

Man call is an accident, God calls it abomination.

Man calls it a defect, God calls it a disease.

Man calls it an error, God calls it an enmity.
Man calls it a liberty, God calls it lawlessness. 

Man calls it a trifle, God calls it a tragedy.

Man calls it a mistake, God calls it a madness.

Man calls it a weakness, God calls it willfulness.
Moody Monthly.

If we are currently having trouble seeing what God has planned for us because of all the turmoil caused by life, the verse in Daniel 10:12 should be reassuring for us. “From the first day you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard.”  How do we regain our spiritual eyes? We do so by setting our hearts upon God. “Set your heart” comes from a Hebrew transliteration “leb” meaning will, the inner man, heart”  It is to intentionally focus on something, and turn toward it.  For instance you do not have a pristine yard by never mowing, fertilizing, or pulling the weeds.  We also will never see through our spiritual eyes if we do not invest time in prayer, bible reading, and meditation on God’s Word.  
Recently our family has "re-set our hearts" before God.  We are not sure what God has in store for us but we know he has changed our path.  I have resigned from my current job and am looking forward to the next chapter.  This is definitely a new place for us to be. We are trusting completely in God to supply our needs. Satan loves nothing more than to attack those who are trying to walk closely with the Lord.  He will stop at nothing, even attacking our children. Spiritual warfare is very real.  Ephesians 6:12(NIV)12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

I pray protection over my family and especially my children as we make this transition. We know that when we choose to set our hearts apart, God immediately hears our petitions!

Please pray for our family as we adjust to this huge change in our lives.