I pause several times a day to enjoy gazing over Hanoi from our 19th floor window. This morning, looking in one direction, I began to count the number of cranes on the skyline. I can see at least 13; there may be more. High rise apartment and office buildings are rapidly increasing the density of this city.
On a smaller scale it literally seems on every other block someone is either adding a couple of storeys to their 4 storey building, is tearing down a building to build a larger one, or is completing a 6 or 8 storey building. Many of these smaller buildings are very narrow - just 4 or 8 meters wide!
On this Sunday morning I have been praying for churches that are meeting all over Asia and some churches that are meeting in Canada. Especially I've been praying for churches that gather here in Vietnam - the majority are small, without a church building. And I am reminded of Jesus' words to Peter: "I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it."
Building. Sometimes the building of Christ's church is very obvious. Often it cannot be observed. Yet quietly or with great drama, the Holy Spirit is moving in our world. People are coming to faith. Christ followers are increasing. Hundreds of new congregations are meeting today to build up disciples.
And we who are already built into the church get to be a part of this magnificent building project! Through your living, loving witness and in answer to your prayers, the construction continues.
The sun is shining on all these Hanoi construction projects this morning. Six days a week we enjoy watching workmen involved in the massive project across the street - two 40 storey apartment towers and a 20 storey office building. But with spiritual eyes, by faith, we watch something much more impressive. Christ is building His eternal church - here in Vietnam and around the world! Praise God!
On a smaller scale it literally seems on every other block someone is either adding a couple of storeys to their 4 storey building, is tearing down a building to build a larger one, or is completing a 6 or 8 storey building. Many of these smaller buildings are very narrow - just 4 or 8 meters wide!
On this Sunday morning I have been praying for churches that are meeting all over Asia and some churches that are meeting in Canada. Especially I've been praying for churches that gather here in Vietnam - the majority are small, without a church building. And I am reminded of Jesus' words to Peter: "I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it."
Building. Sometimes the building of Christ's church is very obvious. Often it cannot be observed. Yet quietly or with great drama, the Holy Spirit is moving in our world. People are coming to faith. Christ followers are increasing. Hundreds of new congregations are meeting today to build up disciples.
And we who are already built into the church get to be a part of this magnificent building project! Through your living, loving witness and in answer to your prayers, the construction continues.
The sun is shining on all these Hanoi construction projects this morning. Six days a week we enjoy watching workmen involved in the massive project across the street - two 40 storey apartment towers and a 20 storey office building. But with spiritual eyes, by faith, we watch something much more impressive. Christ is building His eternal church - here in Vietnam and around the world! Praise God!
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