Sunk in God like a Fish in the Sea

by Richard Long,

Today we refer you to the daily installment from Inward/Outward for a creative way to think about prayer.

Mystics, trying to tell us of their condition, often say that they feel ’sunk in God like a fish in the sea.’ We pass over these phrases very easily, and forget that they are the final result of a long struggle to find the best image for an admittedly imageless truth. Yet prayer is above all the act in which we give ourselves to our soul’s true Patria [founder; stronghold]; enter again that Ocean of God which is at once our origin and our inheritance, and there find ourselves mysteriously at home.

This strange, home-like feeling kills the dread which might overcome us, if we thought of the unmeasured depth beneath us, and the infinite extent and utter mystery of that Ocean into which we have plunged. As it is, a curious blend of confidence and entire abandonment keep us, because of our very littleness, in peace and joy: content with our limited powers and the limitless Love in which we are held….

Evelyn Underhill

Continue reading at inward/outward

Human Trafficking Bill C-268

by Richard Long,

    Today in the House of Commons, Bill C-268, a private members bill championed by Joy Smith of Kildonan-St. Paul  was introduced and began it’s initial debate.

  This is a bill that we have been doing a lot of praying about.  Beyond prayer, we have also had some of our former Nazarites, notably Lori Folkerson and Leena MacLeod, volunteering in Joy Smith’s office in the lead up to the day.

   Particularily, the bill would focus on crimes against youth who are kidnapped, confined and used in the sex slave trade.  A mandatory sentence is being proposed due to the heinousness of the crime.  Right now perpetrators are getting off fairly easily, and there seems to be no deterrence.

   As I write this, a team from Lori’s riding back in Milton, Ont. is praying in the gallery as they watch the presentation of the new bill and hear it’s debate begin.  There seems to be support from members of other parties, but a private member’s bill is a long shot to see enacted as law.  The first step is to get it passed this 2nd reading and into the committee stage.

  We encourage all intercessors to take up this cause, to pray for the success of Bill C-268, and ask the Lord to have mercy upon us, that slavery would indeed be punished and prevented in the nation of Canada.

Question Period or Accusation Period?

by Terry Long

        Well here we are just 6 weeks into the 2009 Government and already there is some “loss of decorum” in the House of Commons Question Period.  This is a little disappointing seeing as the beginning of January seemed so hopeful with some display of good manners even if it was under obvious restraint.   The goal this year was a greater effort of all parties to show some degree of respect especially in the language, attitude and tone of voice when asking questions.   Sad to say, after yesterday, it was almost back to where it was in late 2008.   So much preamble of innuendo, needless unflattering comments and accusation completely overshadowed the actual questions that it was hard to sometimes discern what exactly was being asked, and more importantly if the question was really even the main point of the diatribe being presented.  

   It seems to me that at least yesterday, that Question Period has become an opportunity to rant, rail and complain about the current government.  I have seen this behaviour before.  It was in my daughter’s kindergarten class during recess, you know, when cliques of children gang up on other children and all the bullying and posturing starts because someone has something that someone else wants.  

          This is my second year of fairly regularly attending Question Period.  I am hopeful that patterns of behaviour can be broken.  I believe that respect and decorum can be restored.  I believe in the power of prayer.  And that is why I still go everyday when I am able.  Would you join with us at NHOP in prayer that a real breakthrough would happen among our Parliamentarians.

The Deeps – a Puritan Prayer of Repentance

By Richard Long

    Since it is Ash Wednesday, it seems appropriate to feature a prayer that gives words to a deeper repentance that many millions are entering into today for the next 40 days. 

Here’s one that comes from the Puritan tradition that is titled “The Deeps”

Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach. Help me chastely to flee it and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be Thine alone.

Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in Thee, the ground of my rest, the spring of my being. Give me a deeper knowledge of Thyself as saviour, master, lord, and king. Give me deeper power in private prayer, more sweetness in Thy Word, more steadfast grip on its truth. Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from Thee.

Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly husbandman, that my being may be a tilled field, the roots of grace spreading far and wide, until Thou alone art seen in me, Thy beauty golden like summer harvest, Thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.

I have no master but Thee, no law but Thy will, no delight but Thyself, no wealth but that Thou givest, no good but that Thou blessest, no peace but that Thou bestowest. I am nothing but that Thou makest me. I have nothing but that I receive from Thee. I can be nothing but that grace adorns me. Quarry me deep, dear Lord, and then fill me to overflowing with living water.

40 Days for Life

 

by Kirsten Harty

It’s back!!

Life-loving citizens of Ottawa are tenacious in their prayers for the protection of the unborn, and they wanted another 40 Days for Life back in their community, only three months after the last event held last fall….

Conceived in the US only a couple of years ago, the idea is catching like wildfire… there are now five Canadian cities (Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Toronto) participating this season, in addition to 130 communities in the US and now other nations.

Join hundreds in Ottawa as they participate in 40 days of 24/7 peaceful prayer or fasting during the Lenten season for the life of the unborn… beginning February 25 to April 5th.

Click here to register for a time slot for the prayer vigil.

If your city is not yet participating, why not mobilize prayer from your church; a good place to start can be found here.

To Life!

Day by Day (the original prayer)

by Richard Long, 

     I have found that one of the most enriching ways to deepen my prayer life is to meditate on and repeat the prayers of great men and women througout the ages.  The one below was adapted to music in our generation and titled “Day by Day” by Stephen Schwartz in 1970.  (Wow that was almost 40 years ago.)  It has been covered by many different groups including DC Talk since then.  These words are actually from the 13th century and were part of a larger prayer.

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
For all the benefits thou hast won for me,
For all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother,
May I know thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
And follow thee more nearly:
For ever and ever.

A Prayer of St Richard of Chichester – 1197-1253

Join the Gadite Track

by Richard Long,

   Our good friends at Cityscape Prayer have extended the deadline to join their mentoring program until Feb. 27th.  That means more of you can take advantage of this unique opportunity.  Here’s their recent press release …

This equipping track has become a tool that God is powerfully using to strengthen and unite intercession in Canada.

Even intercessors in remote areas are able to join in with use of technology. We meet weekly on a conference call for prayer and coaching as well as receiving bi-weekly teaching  through email. This teaching reveals powerful principles that God is using to take us nationally into tremendous breakthroughs in prayer.  The conference call mentoring groups unite intercessors from all over the nation, bridging and building wonderful friendships.

Don’t miss this opportunity to benefit from being personally coached by one of the senior prayer leaders in the nation! Don’t miss this opportunity to build great relationships with those with the same passion for the Lord, from every corner of Canada!

Don’t miss this opportunity to grow in prayer like never before!

You can learn more about how to get involved here.

The Real Story on Canada’s Economy – You Need to Read This!

by Terry Long

    Got a few minutes?  You need to read this.   It is from the United States published earlier this week Feb. 16 in the Worldview section of Newsweek.  It is an article called “Worthwhile Canadian Initiative”.  Sure our economy is facing tough times, no, let me say very, very tough times.  But contrary to what has been said in the recent media, Canada should definitely not be grouped with the nations being flushed down the  economic toilet of despair.  Let’s get a reality check.  Here’s is the first and last paragraph of that article in Newsweek that you should really really read in it’s short but amazing entirety.   Remember…this is an American analysis!

 “Guess which country, alone in the industrialized world, has not faced a single bank failure, calls for bailouts or government intervention in the financial or mortgage sectors. Yup, it’s Canada. In 2008, the World Economic Forum ranked Canada’s banking system the healthiest in the world. America’s ranked 40th, Britain’s 44th……………………….

         If President Obama is looking for smart government, there is much he, and all of us, could learn from our quiet—OK, sometimes boring—neighbor to the north.  Meanwhile, in the councils of the financial world, Canada is pushing for new rules for financial institutions that would reflect its approach. This strikes me as, well, a worthwhile Canadian initiative.”

       I believe that the nations of the world will look to and learn from Canada for many reasons.  It appears as though it is already starting in the financial sector…..but you didn’t hear it from me!       Read it in Newsweek right here

PS.  I may be many things, but quiet and boring is not one of them.  Are you a quiet and boring Canadian?  Sounds like a stereotype to me…. yah, eh?  Pass me some more back bacon!

Obamamania? What About Harpermania?

by Terry Long

     According to the newspaper headlines, Obamamania has arrived.   It is hard to describe, but there is definitely a buzz in the air here in Ottawa.  Maybe it is because of all the “Obama Fans”.  Bus loads have come from Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener and Montreal to see him.   All of these people came here knowing that there is virtually zero chance of a possibility of actually see the man!  Turns out there was a 30 second wave on the Hill with the Prime Minister.   One Obama fan is quoted in the local paper saying, “Even if we don’t see him, he’ll see it on TV, he’ll read about it and  he’ll know that people were out there to welcome him. “   Now that is what I call a true Obamamaniac!

         I have a confession to make.  I am a Harpermaniac!   I get that same buzz when I am around Stephen Harper.  He is our leader and is worthy of all the respect and encouragement that we can give him.  Why?  Not because he is a Conservative or a Liberal or a whatever.  It is because  he is our Prime Minister!   We are called by God to honour and respect him, to pray for him and to be thankful for him.  (Check out I Tim. 2: 1-7)  Let’s go a step further.   I say that we should  start cheering him on!    I am not saying to go overboard like a maniacal fan, but how about showing some  actual appreciation for our Prime Minister?   Would it be so “out-of-the-box” for Canadians to  rise up out of our apathey and actually voice our appreciation?   We do it for our hockey teams,  why not Stephen Harper? 

       Let me help you to take some baby steps.  For starters, why not send him a simple, genuine hand written encouragement card?  (typed ones get sent in the garbage)  Sending a card is so very very easy and it doesn’t even need a stamp!   Just address it to ” The Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Parliament Hill, Ottawa” and he will get it.   I hope you do this.  I hope he gets hundreds, no thousands of encouragement cards.   I guess you could call that real “fan mail”.

Get Ready, Obama is Coming!

by Terry Long

       Ottawa is getting ready for the President of the United States and it is involving lots of special preparations.  On Parliament Hill for example, all public tours are cancelled, the boutique is closed and the centre block facility is basically shut down to all staff except security and essential personnel.   A  large bullet proof barrier has been put up outside to shield the president as his limo and motorcade drive up tomorrow.  There is more.  Media cameras are everywhere.  All this to welcome the President.

        What about the church?  How are we preparing for this visit?  Let me make a suggestion.  Let’s pray.   Of all the nations to visit,  the President specifically chose Canada first calling our nation their greatist ally.  I believe that this is signficant. The Americans can actually learn something from Canada.  (See my blog on Thursday to find out more!)   The American flags are up and flying side by side to the Canadian flags on the hill.  Let us think about this.  Two great leaders of the western world are meeting right here in Ottawa for 6 hours.  This is the time for the church in our nation to arise and  ”Stand on Guard” to be ready and pray not only for Obama but  for our own nation and our own Prime Minister too.  Let’s pray that the relationships between the two countries and the two leaders would be strengthened and that they would be greatly encouraged from having met with each other. 

     Let us bless all the good things that can come from this visit.    These two men have a lot in common.  The are family men who love their wives and children.  They are intellectuals who want the best for their countries.  And they both profess  faith in God.   We need to lift these men up before the Lord that they would receive  divine strength, patience and grace.  May they increase in all godliness and divine wisdom, and govern with justice and mercy.  Let us pray for safety and protection for them as well.   And, let it be said of us that we too were  prepared  to pray for them before, during and after their visit.    To view the detailed  daily itinerary click here