It is only in retrospect that we understand God was orchestrating all of mankind to bring about the most incredible event that would ever take place in human history, that the Word would become flesh and dwell among us, but I bet you a million to one Joseph and Mary weren't feeling the love at that moment.
So when it seems like God has closed the door and put up a wall, you can wait for a window, or you can use your hands and feet
Years ago, I had a desire to reach my community with the good news of Jesus so badly I could taste it. It affected the places that I chose to worship, the jobs that I took and the things I thought and dreamed. Even when I would travel to various places with mission teams, this theme would come up over and over again, whether in Mississippi, China or Wales. At some point in a time of prayer or in comments shared as a group, someone would say “let’s take what we’re doing here back home with us” and each time I came home I would think, “ok, how can we do something with this?”
We are helping to establish two of the ladies in our community into an apartment where we will begin reaching out in a very tangible way right in the midst of those to whom we desire to show the love of Christ. 
Please pray for us at Genesis and these opportunities before us; that Jesus would continue to set before us an open door that no one can shut. (Revelation 3).
Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. -Isaiah 58:12 (NKJV)
I can’t express the excitement I have that seven of us going on our first “mission” trip here at Genesis just a few months after our getting started. I’m also very excited about the work we are doing down here, as we are coming alongside and helping to encourage those who are already in the battlefield here so that they can continue with renewed strength. It is also building a bridge between these pastors and their ministries, even though they are from various denominations. How fitting that they are going through the book of Philippians where Paul writes to fulfill his joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. I see this trip doing just that it a very tangible way.
The first night we made it to Viz we had a sound check/rehearsal for the worship team and on the way to the meeting hall I found that a box of Xavier Ries mp3 studies in Spanish were going to be given away free to the pastors. Now the reason I mention this is because I had already heard every one of those studies! I didn’t understand any of them of course as they were in Spanish and I am in English, but I really did hear them all. You see I recorded each one of those (on cassette tape!)in the early 80’s when on staff at Calvary Chapel of Alhambra. Now what struck me is not that I recorded them (I actually slept through some of them, especially after the twins were born). No, what struck me was remembering how for years there would only be five or maybe two people who would come to the studies and sometimes NO ONE came at all, but instead of going home early as I had wanted, Xavier would tell me to record them anyway. He had a definite vision that the teachings would be used long after he was through and sure enough, here I am some twenty years later traveling with those same studies that I recorded way back when.
Now, I hope to make this point clear. Jesus told a parable in Matt.21:28-32 about a man with two sons who he asked to work in his vineyard. The one said yes and didn’t and the other said no, but did and Jesus' point was that even tax-collectors and prostitutes who do what the Father desires will make it to heaven before the religious who say the right things, but do nothing. I’m thankful that I was a part of those recordings years ago and even though I may have been asleep, I still am a part of that work. I believe the same is true with this trip in Viz or any work of God we participate in for that matter. We get to be a part of a work that some day may follow us to who knows where, maybe heaven itself. Even though the twelve-hour drive is pretty brutal, the motel is less than a 2 star and there were a few flies (oh man, the flies). 
That because of him there was something that gripped my life and said "you can't quit, no matter what", that because of him, love took hold of me and changed not only my life, but me for the better. I believe that love for God does this in us as well and it can touch the very core of our being and that this love is able to change us better than any rules, regulations or law ever could.
When I read through this scripture again, I was more than ever before drawn to vs. 12 where Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This passage seems to be directly connected to the account of the woman brought before Jesus and so I wondered what is this light of life exposing here? What darkness is Jesus referring to? Light is an incredible thing. The same light that exposes all that we see is also the light that blinds us if we are in a dark place and are suddenly exposed to it. In John’s passage, the darkness of adultery obviously comes to mind, but what about the darkness of the harsh religiosity that cared more about trapping someone and not at all that it would leave in its wake the complete destruction of someone else? After all, Jesus’ words were directed at that as well. Anyway, that ruined me and detoured what I ended up talking about that morning.
Someone told me that they counted over 130 people. Some were of course there because it was Mother’s Day and they came for Mom and others just came by to show us support for our first Sunday at Pioneer Jr. High, which I appreciated so much. After all was said and done, we were on a total adrenalin rush and felt that the Lord used us all and that morning to make a difference in the lives of those who came. We also felt the affirmation of a work God wants to continue doing and look forward to being a part of that work.
