Council Fire

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV) It’s late afternoon. Jack, a bright all-around student, dribbles his basketball on his family’s driveway. He stops, aims at the net above the garage door, and shoots. A three pointer! There is no one to celebrate with him, so Jack whoops and dances around. A car pulls up. His friend, Dan, starts toward Jack. “Whatzup?” Jack asks in familiar slang as he continues to dribble the ball. “The debate team is meeting in a half hour. Can you come? We found out that Sohi College dropped out and we’ll be debating that tough Citywide College team on Friday. We need to get together. One of the subjects is climate change. There’s lots of research we need to do. Jack sinks another three-pointer. “Wow! You see that? It’s my third money ball today. For sure, I can go pro some day!” “Yeah, if you grow another six inches,” Dan chides. “Now, what about debate practice? You coming? We need you, man. I told the team I’d pick you up and bring you.” “I don’t need to practice,” Jack replies. “I can out-debate anybody, any place, any time. I’ll be there Friday for sure, okay? Have I ever let my team down?” “But what about that climate change topic? It can go a dozen ways, so let’s get going on the research. You’re our top debater, Jack. We really need you, man!” Dan pleads. Friday arrives. The rival teams are seated on stage. The moderator introduces them. The debate is on. But because Jack’s pride in believing himself unbeatable and too smart to need study and practice, he seems unfocused and cannot refute his rivals. His team loses. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” 1 Peter 5:6 (NKJV). Father God, grant me humility in my thoughts, words and actions, that I may be pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. – Kiki BelMonte-Schaller   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NIV) Often when we experience big tests, trusting God is not our first reaction. Then God speaks to our spirit and directs us to His Word. When more cancer was found in my system and I needed a second surgery, I was angry. Angry with the surgeon for not getting all the cancer the first time, angry that I was going back into surgery in two days and, yes, I think I was angry with God for my circumstance. I left to visit my brother who lived about three hours away. On the way, “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” popped into my mind. I did not know the reference, so I Googled it and found it in James. I was amazed that God spoke so clearly to me. He reminded me of where my experiences were coming from and that they were good. That scripture brought peace to my heart. God taught me many lessons in that season of my life. I gave up my job and lost my regular income, and my body was changed forever. In retrospect, I realized that these “things” had taken my focus away from God. I had given a lot of my time to perfecting my job, and I often wasted my earnings on frivolous, prideful buying. In the early months of my illness, I was afraid and unsure of the future, so I immersed myself in God’s Word. I spent many hours in prayer. I learned about His “rest” (trusting that He has me and is in total control of my circumstances). Father God, thank You for getting me back on track with You and teaching me that I can trust You in every circumstance. – Theresa Bose   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) The early believers were learning how to uplift and encourage each other through the use of their individual gifts. Peter was writing to them to instruct them further in this area. This reminds me of a little girl who always wanted to help. Anything she could do for somebody, she would do it. Whether it was helping her mom with the housework, or looking after her brothers and sisters, she was always there. She didn’t know at the time that her Bible called this the gift of helps. As she grew up, she found that she still liked to help people and, as she began to seek out her spiritual gifting, it turned out to be the gift of helps. She became a singer, and did a lot of counseling, as the doors opened for those opportunities. That little girl was me! I never realized that I had something to offer God. I was really shy and had a very difficult time to interact with people, much less counsel them! As I grew in the Lord, He transformed my thinking and my outlook on life. It was then that I was able to start using my spiritual gifting to help and encourage other people. What a joy! Dear God, You have given every one of us different gifts to serve you with. Thank You for the gifts You’ve given me. Help me to use them to honor You! In Jesus’ name, Amen. – Milly Jackson   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) Nothing in this world can give us the confidence and security that we need. Only God the Father can. Only God can do this, as He is the one who can give us His presence for eternity, wherever we go and whatever we do. Therefore, I will not fear whatever comes. I will keep my eyes on Him. I know He will lead me in the very best way possible. After my husband died, I wondered, “How am I ever going to survive without him? Am I ever going to be able to go out on ministry again, alone?” I was scared to go alone, as the memories and thoughts of singing together and traveling to places together flooded my mind. “I’ll have to drive alone by myself,” I thought. Then God’s Word came to me from Isaiah 41, a reminder that I do not have to be afraid, and that God will strengthen me. Praise God for His Word and His precious promises. I can have confidence in my God in everything I can do for Him. I don’t have to hide away in my closet and grieve. Yes, I have my grieving and my time of crying, missing my beloved husband, but I also have my joy in the Lord. Father, the joy of the Lord is my strength, for in my weakness I am made strong in You. You have been my Shepherd, led me beside still waters and never left me alone. Thank You for comforting in my grief. And thank You for encouraging me to not stop sharing your love with others. – Liz Genaille   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’” John 11:25 (NIV) A couple years back, about a week before Easter, a fellow musician shared with me this viewpoint on Easter Sunday. I’d like to pass it on to you. Read on . . . he said, “I don’t call it Easter Sunday anymore. I call it Resurrection Sunday. Why? Because every time I say that I’m telling whoever’s listening that Jesus is Risen—that He’s Alive!” Just by naming the day in that manner, he was testifying to everyone in his world that he believed in a Savior who was alive. After mulling that over for a while, I decided to start calling it that, too! I was reading some from J. F. McArthur’s writings and came across a really good resurrection quote: “If He never rose, He wouldn’t be alive. If He wasn’t alive, He couldn’t give us life. But He did arise, and He said in John 11:25, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in Me even though he dies, shall live again.’ So eternal life is dependent upon the resurrection.” He’s not “just” risen. Look at what Ephesians 1:20-22 (NIV) says: “He raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet . . . ” No, He’s more than just risen. The Word says, “... far above all rule and authority, power and dominion . . . ” He’s absolute deity! Not just risen! He’s Lord of All! On Resurrection Sunday, that’s the One we honor; that’s who we’re focused on! – Kene Jackson     Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) I always liked this verse, but I never really understood it until I watched some fishermen casting their nets into the water. The men waited patiently for the right waves to come rolling in, then they would take their circular nets that had weights around the edge and, with all their strength, they would cast their nets out into the water. The word “cast” had a new meaning. They threw their nets into the waves, and they cast them away as far as they could. They let go of their nets. When the nets sank, there would be fish caught in the nets and the fishermen would haul them back and remove the fish. The men did this over and over. They were strong men, but it must have been exhausting to cast the nets out and then haul them back when they were full of fish. Many of the disciples were fishermen—tough, muscular, strong men who worked hard pulling in nets full of fish and casting the nets out again over and over. They didn’t toss the nets, or let the nets float away, or let the nets sink to the bottom. They used all their strength to throw the nets as far as they could, to cast them away. I wanted to cast all my cares on God. I wanted to use all my strength to throw them as far away from me as I could—casting them away forever, never to think about them or worry about them or grieve over them again. The Bible says, “casting all your care.” It doesn’t say some of your care, or part of your care—it says all your care . . . care about your family, health, finances, job, marriage, children, problems . . . all your care. I will cast all my cares on God. I will let go and I will not remember. – Crying Wind Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26 (NIV) Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Luke 12:25 (NIV) I often remember Feisty, a little squirrel with a notch missing on his ear, who visited our yard in northern Alberta. Our cabin was located along a migration path and, in spite of the frigid temperatures, many birds wintered there. Hundreds of pine grosbeaks, evening grosbeaks, redpolls, gray jays, and chickadees visited our yard daily. Feisty took ownership of the feeders that we filled from a 50-pound bag of sunflower seeds stored near the patio. His greatest challengers were the blue jays. Feisty raced from one feeder to the other, chasing away the jays. His eyes sparkled with the challenge; his little tail waved as a banner of his success. Then he scurried back to fill his cheeks with seeds and ran to deposit them in his private store—our bag of sunflower seeds. Over and over he rushed back to the feeders, chasing the jays and filling his storehouse. I don’t know if he realized that, as he chased one group of jays far out into the yard, another group swooped in to eat at the feeders. Then, as soon as Feisty ran for his stash, the chased group came back to eat. We laughed at him, but it made me wonder if my flurry of activity amuses my heavenly Father. Dear Father, thank You for sharing Your wisdom with us through the antics of a small squirrel. Help us to listen to Your voice as You direct our days so that we will not get sidetracked with our own ambitions and plans that end up in futility. Help us to lean not on our own understanding, but to rely on You in all that we do. – Sue Carlisle Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org