Ya Never Know …

by Megan MacQuin,

Good day people!

Right now I am sitting at the NHOP booth in Vancouver at Missionfest and I am highly enjoying the +6 weather outside, and the warm sunshine!
What God has done in these two day’s at Missionfest is incredible, and the people I’ve met in Vancouver, have made this trip such a great experience; especially learning about the different ministries in Canada and around the world.

There is way too much to explain in full the complete detail of what has happened, who I’ve talked to, prayed for, and have been involved with. So I will serenade you with 0ne amazing story that happened to me, starting yesterday…As I was being dilligent and cutting the Nazarite call bookmarks to hand out to young adults, a woman approached me and asked me if I was part of the house of prayer. I explained to her that I was a 2008 intern, and am returning to Ottawa to be in leadership at NHOP. She then asked me if I would consider speaking at a seninar the next day about how God answererd prayer that I’ve prayed. So long story short, I said yes to this complete stranger that I would share my story at a short seminar.

 
I spoke about the financial provision God has recently given me, and reviving the promise about my dreams for the future…It went very well and it was such an honour to be able to share my story to about 100 people! The most exciting part was that a woman came up to me after and started to share her life story with me and I had the opportunity to pray with her…She ended up telling me that God had orchestrated me coming here so that she would hear what I had to speak. It was so encouraging to hear that not only was I blessed to be able to speak about my life to these people, but that I was able to help someone because of my obedience to Him….What an honour!

Well, I can say that I love Vancouver weather and that fact that I am between mountain and ocean, but I truly miss Ottawa and cannot wait to return!

Thanks for reading! Be blessed!

Missionsfest Vancouver

by Terry Long

     Greetings to everyone from beautiful downtown Vancouver.   In the above picture you see myself, Richard and our graduate Nazarite Megan MacQuin.  We have just finished setting up our booth for the National House of Prayer and we are situated in a beautiful convention centre right in the harbour called Canada Place. 

      I guess you could say that we are armed and ready for the onslaught of the hoards of people.  This MissionsFest get upward of 30,000 people in attendance.  We are excited to meet and greet many people here and to share and introduce them to NHOP.  We are praying for divine connections and supernatural interest in the ministry.  We may even be meeting our future prayer teams, prayer missionaries and Nazarites right here in Vancouver.    Rob and Michele are also here in Vancouver for our National School of Intercession hosted by Guilio Gabelli’s Westwood Community Church.  This school come immediately on the heels of our last one, last week in Saskatoon.  Both schools had great registrations and are being enthusiastically received.

      Please pray for all of us here on the road in Western Canada.  Remember Fran back at the NHOP homestead heading up the ministry in Ottawa.  PS.  Megan says “Hi” to everyone and can’t wait to come “home” to Ottawa.

A New Budget, A Better Budget

by Terry Long

    Yesterday we at NHOP, plus our visiting prayer team and our prayer missionaries had the privilege to be present for Jim Flaherty’s presentation of the Budget Speech for 2009.  It was reserved seating by invitation only so we were thrilled to be able to attend and also go to the reception following.  Of course we know that this privilege was actually a divine assignment that allowed us to be a praying presence in the House of Commons, and pray we did indeed. There was a tangible buzz in the air and the presentation statement itself went very well.  However, the party leaders also issued their statements.  The Leader of the Bloc sent a definitive statement by not showing up at all.  The leader of the NDP left early to be the first out of the gate on national television to say that he is not supporting it.  Curious that these leaders are quick to speak before they have actually read the budget.  The new Liberal leader had a different and more encouraging statment.   He wanted to review it thoroughly before making any definitive comment.  Impressive. 

         Today at 11.00 am he issued his statement that he and his party would support the budget along with some amendments.   This whole process still needs prayer and we encourage you to join us in praying for all the government leaders at this time.  Generally speaking we are encouraged that the two major parties are talking and negotiating even if it is with a guarded spirit.

       It has been noted by all on the Hill and of course the media that this new budget is vastly different from the last one presented just before Christmas.  There has been considerable effort to make this one sound more “party” friendly with more of a “let’s work together” tone.  There is a lot in it that should appeal to all the leaders of the parties if they would only read it.  But alas, the party leaders who had the most to gain from a coalition now have the most to lose, now that coalition talks are off.  Never a dull moment on the Hill that’s for sure.  

      It is exciting being there everyday and staying informed to be able to report back to all of you who are interested in the government and who read this blog.   If you don’t receive it yet, please sign up for our newsletter (on our website)  as we give up to date prayer points regularly.  For an easy to read summary of the budget from the National Post please click here.

Unanswered Prayer

I asked for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I had asked for,
but everything that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered;
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

Mike Duffy Where Are You?

by Terry Long

     Well, here we are at the most important week so far this year in terms of government.  The House gets back to business and all the key players are in place, that is all except for one.  Mike Duffy.  I appreciated the even and non-biased approach that  he brought to his show – “The Mike Duffy Show”, a true rarity in our present day media.  As you know, we pray for the media and for fair journalism.  Please keep praying.   In case you have not heard, the Duffinator was appointed to the Senate.  Well deserved but sadly missed.  This week  just won’t be the same without him.  Of course CTV chose a replacement in Tom Clarke.  Time will tell……

      Too bad CTV did not ask me for my suggestions, and yes, I do have some.   First and foremost would be my own husband Richard.  Who else is so personable, balanced, well read and informed plus a great communicator?  All of you who know him know exactly what I mean.    Too bad again that we don’t have any media connections.  I guess we will just have to launch our own show on the internet.  Stay tuned.

      My second choice to replace Mike would be that other Mike.  You know the one.  Yes, Michael Coren.  Sure he’s  opinionated and outspoken.   Just what we need here in Ottawa to shake things up.  You know what they say, if you can’t get as good as the same then get the opposite.  He is so unbelievably not Mike Duffy that it could work brilliantly.  I think the ratings would go through the roof  with everyone wanting to get a piece of him.  Seriously though, one of the thing that I appreciate about Michael Coren is that on his show, The Michael Coren Show,  he and his guests engage in intelligent debates about real issues and topics –  not fabricated ones    This is a key often overlooked in media today, and he does it with just enough wit, humour and cheek to keep you watching or reading.  I like his column in the Sun too as it forces him to be just a little more succinct.   I never endorse anything 100 %, but I think you will find his material thought-provoking. 

    Check out his show on CTS on weeknights at 8.00 pm, EST Ontario, MST Calgary, MST Edmonton and also check out his column  http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/michael_coren/

“When all else fails …”

by Richard Long

Prayer made the headlines today in the Ottawa Citizen.

“When all else fails” was the headline for an article about how after 45 days of the bus strike there was a prayer service at St. Joseph’s RC church to pray about the problem.

Several observations

1. This is the first time the media realized that people are praying about it.
(I’m sure that hundreds of thousands of prayers have gone up to heaven about this strike from even before it started. We had our own dedicated prayer time on this issue a couple of weeks ago at NHOP.)  We just didn’t call the media.

2. It shows how the secular media thinks about prayer.  It’s an action of last resort.  “When all else fails …”  A final, low-odds gamble.  “Heh, we’ve tried everything else …”

Most Christians know prayer as the first response to a crisis.  At least we should!

The Synergy of Unity

by Richard Long,

  Ottawa is enduring a bus strike that has now lasted 45 days.  As always, it is the poor, the widows, the elderly and students who have been most adversely affected.

  The churches in Ottawa are used to working together.  We have the privilege of hosting the monthly pastors’ breakfast and prayer meeting so we are firsthand witnesses.  The bus strike has energized a wonderful new effort from this “Mission Ottawa” group.  They have organized the “Love Ottawa Ride Program” in the last week or so. 

  Volunteers are coming forward to offer rides to people who need to get to medical appointments or just to the grocery store.  A call centre has been set up, volunteers trained, and also a prayer stream to support all this activity.  What a wonderful opportunity to serve the city when it is in crisis!

You can learn more about this effort and pray for many divine appointments over the next few weeks at  Love Ottawa.

Being An Authentic Witness

By Terry Long

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”  Psalm 23: 2,3

       You may be asking, “What has this passage got to do with being an authentic witness for the Lord?”    Simply put:  You cannot give out (or emit) what you do not possess.  Nothing replaces spending quality time with Jesus.  It is only in his presence that we are truly restored.  We can find life, newness, freshness, cleaness, greeness, and quiet waters if we go with him where he wants to take us to spend time with him.  I am not talking about mountain climbing or a 10 mile hike. (Although being in nature can certainly enhance our quiet times.)   Rather, it is the quiet places of the mind, body and spirit that we can find refreshment and restoration with Jesus if we allow him to lead us there – and if we are willing to give him our time.   It should be a daily place where we go to be with him.  Daily restoration gives us the full tank of light and life that we can live out and pass around to others.   The evidence and overflow of that personal restoration will spill over as goodness, kindness and joy to everyone that we encounter.  Let us be real and authentic witnesses for the Lord.  Let’s start by following our shepherd to those green pastures and still waters.   

 

A Signficiant Day for African Americans

by Terry Long

       Continuing on from our subject yesterday, the press coverage continues into today as President Obama and his family attend the National Prayer Service in Washington.  I would like to think that this is more than mere tradition, but of a spiritual significance.  In his own words Obama said that his presidential oaths are “sacred”.    Sure, there are other elements mixed in to the whole ceremonial trappings,  but so far, I am really encouraged by the overall tone of this whole process.   And so are the Americans.

      Roving reporters that are covering the crowds today are still hearing a similar comment that was made yesterday by African Americans.  One lady said it so well, “Today I not only feel like an American, but I fell like an equal American” .  The fact that the first African American President in the history of the United States was elected has a far reaching effect into their lives.  A realization that as a major people group who have been so wronged in the past are finally recognized and put on common ground is huge.  Something significant has been put into motion.   Let us continue to pray for the full healing and restoration of our American neighbours, because we know that it is not because of a man, it is because of Jesus.

A New Day and An Old Prayer

by Terry Long

     Today we at NHOP joined with probably millions of other people  to watch the inauguration on television for Barack Obama.  Today he bacame the 44th president of the United States of America.   People everywhere are watching this man with huge anticipation and adulation hoping that he will be the one to save America from all the economic troubles.   How many times did we hear the newscaster keep repeating,  “It’s a new day!” 

     It was an historical day in many ways to be sure.   But on top of all the pomp and ceremony there were some truly spiritual and God-honoring moments  that I am sure sent spiritual shock waves into a watching and listening world.  One such moment was when  the “new day” started with an old prayer.  Before any of the ceremony got underway, Pastor Rick Warren from Saddleback Community Church in California and author of the “Purpose Driven Church”  led the nation in the official invocational prayer.  He was purposefully hand-selected by Obama himself.    The prayer was amazing and at the end of it, Rick  invited everyone to join him in the Lord’s Prayer. 

     I wonder how many millions present and watching around the world joined together to pray it?  I would like to think that shafts of brilliant light shone around the world for a brief moment in time.  A great start to a new presidency.  Let’s continue to pray for President Barack Obama.  He will certainly need it.

     Read Rick Warren’s prayer in it’s entirety here: