Council Fire

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And God said, ‘Let there be light: and there was light.’” Genesis 1:1-3 (KJV) I am not sure how much I can grasp the power of God’s Word as in the above Scripture. With one word Almighty God created the heaven and earth to existence. With one word, there was light. Let that sink in a bit. We serve a powerful and amazing God! Throughout the Bible, here is how He displayed His power: The parting of the Red Sea to bring His people out of bondage (Exodus 14) . . . Jericho’s walls fell as the Israelites marched around the city (Joshua 6) . . . God saved Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6) . . . Elijah was lifted to heaven on chariots of fire (2 Kings 2) . . . The birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Matthew 2) . . . Lazarus raised from the dead (John 11) . . . Jesus died to save us from our sins (John 3) . . . God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 6) . . . Jesus ascended back to heaven, and in the same way will return (Luke 24). These are just a few examples—you may have your own favorite Bible stories about God’s power that have impacted you. Hebrews 4:12 says: “For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner (able to judge) of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (KJV, clarification added) I often mention, when counseling, that my own words are so limited. But when we apply God’s Word, it goes way deeper into our hearts and can bring us out of bondage. It is so important to mediate on His Word each day. David said in Psalm 119:11: “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee.” (KJV) I pray God will give each of us a greater desire to understand His Word. – Liz Beardy   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

“Canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job 38:32b (KJV) I felt like I had missed something. I needed to go back to the library and find the astronomy book again. I had researched the star groupings of Pleiades and Orion that God had pointed out to Job (in Job 38:31), but I had no idea what I had missed. I thumbed through pages, searching chapter headings. Then I saw it: Arcturus. We can find Arcturus by locating the first bright star off the handle of the Big Dipper. Arcturus (also called “the Bear” in the NIV) is 23 times the size of our sun (we can fit nearly a million earths into our sun), and it is 37 light years away. The most amazing fact is that it is one of the fastest moving stars in our Milky Way galaxy and was headed straight for our planetary system! This would not be good; yet, over the years, its forward speed slowed and its sideways speed picked up, causing it to miss us. Have you ever felt like your life was out of control? Job went through great loss as Satan plotted to cause him to curse God to His face. God even allowed Satan to touch Job’s body with suffering. Satan wanted God to know that no person would ever simply love Him for Himself, but only for what humanity could get from Him. After God revealed Himself through His creation, Job said, “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:5, NIV). God, in all of His magnificence and power, loved Job. He hoped Job would love Him back, even when things were difficult. As we look at what God made, we can ask ourselves: is He worthy of our love? Lord, open my eyes so I can see who You really are. I want to love You no matter what—not because of what You give me, but because You are You. – 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

“Children are a gift from the Lord, they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 (NLT) As a child, I remember going for a ride with my parents and siblings one day after sundown. My dad was trying to convince my mom to send us to residential school, since our family was growing so fast, and he wanted to save mom from having too much work. I remember Mom saying, “No, I will never send my kids there. Those people don’t know who God is!” She convinced Dad that this was not a solution. Dad believed in God, too, but didn’t go to church (though he had been raised going to church). Once again, Mom strengthened my faith in Jesus just by standing her ground to keep us from potential harm at the residential school. She never spoke of her own experience in the residential school but was very sure she did not want us girls to go there. It wasn’t until I met and married the father of my children that I started to hear the terrible things that happened in residential school—the very poor conditions. He spoke of having to steal apples from the orchard due to hunger, and children who tried to escape being brought back and punished in front of everyone. The abuses were many from these people who claimed to represent God. It is miraculous how some people who suffered these abuses came to believe in Jesus and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior! As it says in Jeremiah 29:11, “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” (NIV) The man I married did just that, and trusted Jesus, amazed at God’s love for him. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your plan for our lives. Thank You for Your Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who seals us as Yours. – Loretta Oppenheim   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 answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 (NIV) Cain was the first one who tried it. Multitudes have emulated him over the years, and it’s become a popular theme in today’s post- Christian North American spiritual quagmire. Simply put, it is the concept that a person can come to God via some other way/bridge/ road/belief or approach than what God has mapped out for us. The story in Genesis 4 tells how Cain thought he could replace the required blood sacrifice with the fruit, veggies, and grains that he had grown. The desired outcome of spiritual cleansing (forgiveness of sin) should be available no matter what methodology was used . . . right? Nope! He was wrong, just like every copycat since then. God had outlined to that first family how they were to approach Him, but Cain thought he could do it his way. And, like those who try today, he failed miserably with that approach. We also have been given the God-given and God-approved way to reach Him. John 14:6 says that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that no one can approach or access Him by any other means. There is no shortcut or “secondary GPS routing”—just Jesus. Let’s keep Jesus at the center of our message and ministry. – 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

“So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” 2 Kings 5:14 (ESV) Yesterday I mentioned how the Word of God, prayer, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit empower us with spiritual endurance and strength to hang on with all steadfastness. Faithfully maintaining our devotional life during these times may decline and can become a practice of the joyous past. To help us understand this, let’s consider Naaman, a great honorable mighty man of valor and captain in the army of the King of Syria. Despite his significant status in the kingdom, he suffered tremendously as a leper. Certainly, afflicted with physical pain, but undoubtedly tormented with thoughts of hopelessness and despair daily. Scripture tells us that the remedy the Lord offered to Naaman (through his prophet Elisha) was to “dip” himself seven times in the Jordan River. Initially, Naaman was angry and dismissed washing in the Jordan River as foolishness. However, once Naaman submitted, yielded and obeyed the Word of the Lord, his life was totally transformed! Can you imagine the great joy that Naaman experienced once he realized that leprosy had left him? The solution was the very action that he had recently dismissed! Friend, your season of discouragement is coming to an end. Continue to submit, yield and obey the Word of God and your life will be transformed! Ask yourself: “Holy Spirit, is there anything in my life that I need to submit to the Lord?” Lord Jesus, remind me to spend time in Your Word and prayer each day. Help me to be faithful in this difficult season of life and trust that Your love will transform my situation. – Steve Keesic   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

“So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God.” 2 Kings 5:14a (ESV) As a follower of Christ, I have found that life can be difficult and unexpected events can challenge our resolve in our pilgrimage. The unexpected storm of grief, death, pain, trauma, or abandonment in life can lead to a long, difficult, dry and discouraging wilderness season. The storm seems to be invincible and hope of overcoming seeps from our hearts. Despite the trials that confront us, the Lord in abundant mercy and grace has given us spiritual gifts to help us endure these seasons. The Word of God, prayer, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit empower us with spiritual endurance and strength to hang on with all steadfastness. Faithfully maintaining our devotional life during these times may decline and can become a practice of the joyous past. Every follower of Christ knows this truth. Satan, our adversary of old, desires that dust will accumulate on our Bible and that our active prayer life discontinue. Inevitably, this will diminish the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit, as the seeds of doubt and discouragement germinate and take residence. The enemy will attack us with the thought that maintaining a consistent devotional life is not the solution and is counterintuitive. However, instead of throwing in the proverbial towel, the secret to enduring is to submit, yield, and remain obedient to the Word of God despite the ongoing trial. You can read more about this tomorrow. – Steve Keesic   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

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve . . .” Joshua 24:15a (KJV) This scripture was forever ingrained in my mind as a young child. Growing up in our home a plaque hung on our living room wall with the above Bible scripture. “Choose ye this day whom you will serve,” it said. I was blessed with Christian parents who modeled the verse for us. Our late mother was the first to accept the Lord in her heart, and life at home forever changed. From that point on our home had Christian material, and church became a part of life. Even though I was exposed to religion all my life, it was mandatory that we attend church once a week, as encouraged by our late father. It was from that background I found myself attending a revival service one Sunday evening at our community hall. The evangelist shared a salvation message and made an altar call. I found myself at the front with at least 15 other young people who had responded. We were convicted of our sins, repented, and it was that evening God revealed his Son Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It was the beginning of my spiritual journey. The main point I am making is the importance for parents/homes to create an environment where children/loved ones are exposed to God’s Word. You never know what it will do for young minds. Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (KJV) – Liz Beardy   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

“A friend loveth at all times.” Proverbs 17:17a (KJV) I ate a bug . . . not just any bug, I ate a roach. My friend, Francis, was sweet and painfully shy. She worked as a bank teller 20 years and she lived with her parents until she was in her forties. At last Francis got the courage to leave home and get her own apartment. Francis decided to have her first party in her new apartment and invited her closest friends. She’d worked hard to have everything perfect, and she’d cooked all the food herself. I sat next to Francis, and she filled a bowl with her homemade soup and set it in front of me. I scooped up some soup in my spoon and, just before I got it to my mouth, I saw a dead roach floating in the soup. I looked up to see Francis smiling happily at me, waiting for me to taste her special soup. I looked around the table—everyone was watching me. I couldn’t say, “Oh, there’s a roach in my soup.” If I put my spoon back into the bowl someone else might see the roach floating around. If Francis knew there was a roach in the soup, she’d be humiliated and probably never have another party in her life. I couldn’t embarrass her. I smiled at Francis, opened my mouth, and swallowed the soup . . . and the roach. Everyone had a wonderful time; the food was delicious; Francis was thrilled her first party was a success. Every few months, Francis would invite her friends for a special dinner, and I never missed one of them. Francis is loved by her family, her co-workers, and her friends. I need to let Francis be Francis because that is what she does best, and I like her just the way she is. I like her so much, I’d eat a bug. Thank you, God, for friends. – 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

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’” . . . “But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:21, 24-26 (NIV) We are just getting through a technical electronics issue at our place. A friend thought it would be a great idea to “link and sync” all our electronics . . . so we let her! It didn’t take too long to figure out that it may not be that good a concept. Now, every time a FaceTime call comes in, both our iPads and both iPhones start ringing at the same time (all with different rings)! It sounds like 11 cats scrapping it out in the feline division of WWF’s Battle Royal! Even if I’m 100 miles away, I pick up my wife’s calls, and vice versa. We’ll be “de-linking and de-syncing” very soon. This is just not working! But meanwhile, it kind of reminds me of the description of God’s family in 1 Corinthians 12. We see there that we are all linked as family and, when one member is hurting, everyone hurts. When one is celebrating, the others celebrate with them. That’s because we are one as a family. I hurt for my brother, and they do the same for me when I’m the hurting unit. God put things together that way and, in His Family, it works! (It just doesn’t translate when it comes to electronics!) – 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

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (NKJV) In 2017 God was calling me to leave my husband, family, and home for three weeks to do security work nine hours away. Also, it was time to do some personal work on myself with God. I called it a “paid retreat”—where I learned to trust God and listen to His loving voice. In the past I experienced mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual abuse at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Trusting others didn’t come easy. While away, during the pitch-black dark nights of the far north, I talked with God and asked why it still hurts so much from when my dad left in 2005. Can you envision a child lost and broken without her daddy? That was me. As I talked to God, tears would roll down my cheeks. Soon they wouldn’t stop. They were like steadily flowing streams. I shared with God how much I missed my dad. When I spoke about my dad, my throat got hoarse and tightened. My body trembled, and the tears rolled down my cheeks like a waterfall that would plunge over the bank. I was wailing and telling God, “It’s stuck in my throat. Get it out. I want it out!” I was sobbing uncontrollably. It took many conversations with God to be able to finally talk about my dad without crying. As I cried, He brought healing to my heart and spirit and, as I shared with Him, He reminded me of who I am in Him. Heavenly Father, please guide me into a place of healing. Show me what issues I need to work on. Lord, let my weakness be your strength, let my pain be victory for your cause. I want to follow Your lead and be freed from the chains that hold me back from You. – Jennifer McEwan   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

“For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 (NASB) I never thought my life was worth much while growing up in the community where I lived. It seemed that I was the only one who would never amount to anything. Those days were lonely and frustrating, as many of the other kids would make fun of me. “Why are they doing it?” I wondered. To this day, I don’t know why they did that to me. It made me feel so alone. As I look at Scripture and read about the people who Jesus chose, today I can look back and see how Jesus had me in His mind long before I was even born. He probably said, “Here is one I can use.” And He knew who I was. It’s not that I am someone perfect or special, but Jesus can use anyone He chooses. If I was Jesus, I would never pick me, but He came to save and seek the lost, so I fi t in that category. One day I knelt down and gave my life to Him. Zacchaeus in the New Testament was despised by the people in his time. He was even hated, but Jesus chose him and used him. Zacchaeus gave his life to the Lord, and he was used by the Lord. You can read about him in the Bible in Luke 19. Have you ever considered how God is willing to meet you right where you are? All He wants you to do is admit your need for Him. You, too, can come to Him by accepting His gift of salvation. Father in Heaven, I feel so alone. But when I read in Luke 19, I read that Your Son, Jesus Christ, came to seek and save the lost. I don’t want to be lost. I want to be found. I need You. I believe in You. I give my life to You. – 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

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (NKJV) “Each one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last. All of them hope that the storm will pass before their turn comes to be devoured. But I fear—I fear greatly—the storm will not pass. It will rage and it will roar, even more loudly, even more widely,” wrote Winston Churchill. During the outbreak of World War 2 there were countries that chose to be neutral to the onslaught of the Nazis’ invasions, in hopes of maintaining peace. But Churchill knew that closing their eyes to danger doesn’t make it go away. It, in fact, emboldens the enemy. Every day we are reminded how unbelievably chaotic our world is. And things once thought wrong are now acceptable. When we think bad is not that bad, we are in trouble. That kind of sentiment is sure to mislead us into believing all is good . . . or at least in the end will work itself out. Turning a blind eye to works of the enemy is a poor approach to dealing with such a dangerous foe. For our enemy, that “food for thought” turns into a feast, and our enemy has an insatiable appetite that will not be satisfied. If we believe we can maneuver through life without getting attacked by our enemy, we are sadly mistaken. If we believe we can deceive our enemy into believing we are no threat, we are deceived. Our enemy is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). He does not play favorites. To remain neutral is not an option. It is essential we make a choice about who we will serve. “Christ is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all,” wrote James Hudson Taylor. “Our choice, our decision . . . every man is free to choose it or sadly refuse it.” – Rose Buck   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

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) The apostle Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh.” Some scholars believe it had to do with his eyesight. Whatever the case, Paul prayed that God would take it away. However, God did not take it away. Why? God had allowed Paul to see amazing visions and revelations (vs. 2)—definitely something to boast about! Yet God says to Paul, “My power works best in weakness.” Paul was not complaining after that. Instead, he said he is glad when he is weak, insulted, going through hardships, persecutions, and troubles. Even when suffering for Christ, he can say this because it was not his own strength, but Christ’s strength in him. Although we can’t boast about things like Paul, there are times when we can find ourselves in “boasting mode”—not realizing that it is God who helps us. When I became a follower of Jesus, I knew that someday I would have to share my testimony with people. I was painfully shy. Well, God sure had a sense of humor when He called me and showed that He is able to use even me, this shy girl. Yet I needed to be willing to be used for God. So, I surrendered my shyness over to God and was willing to speak and share my testimony to many people about how He has forgiven me and given me new life in Him. To the world’s standards I was weak to start with, but He saw His child willing to step out of her comfort zone to share about Him. Now He has also given me opportunities to teach the Bible! What greater way to be used by Him—by His strength and marvelous grace! – Myrna Kopf   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

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22 (NIV) It was early September and as the first green tree morphed to yellow, the thought came to me, “Here we go again. Pretty soon the snow’ll be flying!” In Cree we’d say, “Kiiyipa wii mispoon.” No matter how you say it, there’s no getting around the changing seasons! The changing tree color brought to mind the passage in Genesis 8:22 of how the seasons came to be. It came out of God’s promise made to Noah after the worldwide flood was over. Well, that got me thinking about God’s promises. When He gives us a promise, it’s not a half-baked “maybe,” but an absolute certainty! Did you ever stop to think of how the seasons come about? Very simply, they are caused by the “tilt” of our planet that is spinning like a top as it circles the sun. That’s the cold hard science behind our annual seasons and “cold weather coming.” This postdiluvian (after the biblical Flood) promise about the seasons would have involved God putting His hand on our planet and tipping the axis of the earth to create what we now know as seasons. That’s awesome! It’s just so good to know that our Creator keeps His promises! – 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

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) The Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. How can you know Him? By getting into His Word. It talks about Him forgiving our sins as far as the east is from the west. They are gone forever! We sin because of our human nature. I’m not saying it’s okay, but when we sin we need to go quickly to the Lord and ask for forgiveness. God’s Word says that He is faithful to forgive our sins. He did that yesterday. He’s doing it today, and He will continue to do it! God’s Word also talks about His love for us, even when we were so far from Him. He loved us then, He loves us now, and He will love us forever. His love is the same as the day we came to Him. He never changes . . . we do! God also talks about His plan for our lives. I know we will hit bumps in the road. Sometimes we feel alone. Sometimes we feel He is not answering our prayers. Sometimes we get confused as to what He is doing in our lives. We must remember He just wants the best for us. He says that we give our children the best gifts we can give—how much more will God give! How we live our lives is very important. We aren’t like Him—we can’t be the same yesterday and forever, but we can determine in our heart that we will serve the Lord every day. Take account of your life to see if you are still walking with and talking to Jesus. Do this often because one day we will stand before Him and give an account for how we have lived for Him while on this earth. Besides, we want others to see Him in us. We want to be true to Him . . . always! – Pat Hall   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

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV) The human soul . . . my soul, your soul . . . is most precious to God Almighty in all His creation. He created the human soul in His likeness and image to live forever and ever, eternally! Jesus said, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36, NIV). The word forfeit means “losing.” The sober thought here is someone could lose their soul for eternity, apart from God’s eternal Kingdom. Some years ago, I was fowl hunting with two other individuals on the mouth of a river in James Bay’s west coast. Our hunting spot was on a shoal called Long Point. It was a good hunting spot, but only if the water tide was out. But it was also risky because when the highwater tide comes in, it can cover the whole shoal, making it dangerous if you’re not careful. After our hunt we came back to where we anchored our boat and motor. To our surprise our boat and motor were anchored further out into the water because of the high-water tide coming in, and we were unable to get to them with our hip waders. Fortunately, the anchor was still holding tight enough to the mud part of the ground to keep the boat from floating away from us. I removed some clothes to walk into the cold water waist deep and managed to reach the rope. I pulled the anchor out and pulled the boat safely to the shore. The anchor held, otherwise we would have been in a tragic situation. Be careful. Pay attention to your soul. Make sure your soul is anchored safely to the other side where Jesus is, who alone is our Hope. “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him” (Psalm 62:5, NIV). – Abraham Jolly   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

“And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.” John 18:25 (KJV) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (KJV) Peter had just done the unthinkable! He had denied Jesus and, with a lot of swear words, insisted that he didn’t know Him. It didn’t matter that this was his closest friend on earth and, indeed, his teacher and master. Three times he denied Him! Now, days later, perhaps he’s thinking that his denial of Jesus is unforgivable. So, he gives up and goes back to what he knows—fi shing. The story goes on how the disciples fi shed all night and caught nothing. Then a stranger on the shore told them to put their nets on the other side of the boat. When they did, they caught tons of fish! Peter realized the stranger was Jesus! When Peter came to shore, Jesus fed him breakfast and reassured him that he had been forgiven, that he was still needed, and that God had a big place for him in the gospel work! Read the story in Luke 22:54-62 and John 21:1-19. It’s really good! Sometimes we can get like Peter and began to think we are unforgivable. We may look at what we’ve done and think we can never be forgiven. But like all the Adams, Eves, Pauls, Davids and Rahabs of the world, we’ll find that we can never go beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness! Dear Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and Your forgiveness. There’s been so many times I’ve come to You, and every time You’ve been faithful to Your Word! Thank You so much! – 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

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart; but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) In the past few years, much has been said regarding reconciliation between residential school survivors and the government. I held all that rhetoric at arm’s length until last year. Two incidents opened up feelings that were hidden away under years of denial and suspicion. The first incident was the recounting of my Day School experience. Memories of small children housed in a one-room school with rows of desks for grades 1-6. Everything that happened in that room was a common experience. For many of us, it was our first experience with a non-indigenous person. She was very cruel, subjecting us to corporal punishment and inhuman acts such as refusing bathroom privileges, until it was too late for comfort or pride. The second incident was hearing about the discovery of 200-plus graves in the Kamloops Indian Residential School grounds. I had heard of these stories back while I was in residential school in Williams Lake, but it was an unfathomable horror, so I pushed the thought out of my mind. I recount these things to give a capsule of the hearts of a broken people needing reconciliation. Even after many years of living the Christian life, I experienced a deep sadness in realizing that human beings can commit such vile acts out of their own selfish desires. Even if their initial purpose was for good, their methods were not godly. For “true reconciliation,” one must first be reconciled to God. Romans 10:9-10 says: “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (NASB) God in heaven, I pray for the hurting people of the residential school era. I ask that you would open their spiritual eyes to see You. – 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

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11 (NIV)Have you ever been flat broke? There’ve been a few times I’ve been there, and it’s not a real enjoyable place to be. At the other end of that gamut is having more than enough, which is a whole lot more comfortable and easier to appreciate!The Apostle Paul, like most of us, didn’t have a whole lot of trouble dealing with the upper end of the “poverty to plenty” spectrum—that wouldn’t have been an issue.Writing to the Philippians about the downer end of that prosperity scale was more where the tires met the tarmac. He might have been referring to some of the Mideast dungeons he’d been a “guest” in on a number of occasions. These were often just a hole in the ground; the food was just what friends and family would come and toss in; it was either bone-chilling wet or sweltering dry, and there were no set release dates. Paul had learned how to handle hard places!Verse 13 is usually quoted in the broader field of “God strengthening His people for any situation they face.” That isn’t wrong but, in this context, it focuses on being able to live contentedly and work effectively in this unpredictable “poverty to plenty” life space of the believer’s journey.“I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13, NIV). No matter where a person is on the comfort, financial and social registers, our God gives His people the stamina and staying power to be content in whatever scenario life finds them.– 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

“When I fall, I shall arise.” Micah 7:8b (KJV)It doesn’t take courage to run the race you know you will win. It takes courage to run the race you know you can’t win.When my daughter, Storm, was in school she joined the track team. She was small for her age and she had asthma. She would enter every event and she always came in last . . . and not just “last,” but sometimes minutes behind the winner. At times it was painful to watch her struggling to cross the finish line when every breath was an effort.At one event she was so far behind that the race was not just “over”—people were leaving the bleachers and headed toward their cars before she crossed the finish line. The only people there to cheer for her were her family and the coach.She ran the race she knew she couldn’t win, but she ran anyway and she always finished the race.She never felt shame or regret; she never felt she had to apologize or explain why she kept running; she never dropped out or quit the team. She would shrug off the loss and say, “Someone has to win the race and someone has to come in last. If I didn’t come in last, someone else would be last, and maybe they would feel badly about it. But I don’t feel bad. For me, it is enough to just run and feel the wind in my face and my hair and my sneakers hitting the track. That’s enough.”Eventually, Storm graduated from university and traveled the world, and every night she runs a mile in a park for the joy of running. Lord, remind me that I don’t have to win worldly races, or even worldly prizes. You love me just as I am.– 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

“Jesus said, ‘Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ ” Matthew 19:14 (NASB)I can remember when a certain woman came to me. She was very distraught. She told me that her grandson had just been born, and she had been told to go find a priest to baptize her grandson, or else he would go to hell. I told her that, as a pastor, I don’t do water baptisms for babies. I told her what I do is called a “dedication” to the Lord, and we wouldn’t have to rush right into it.She was surprised that I said this. I told her that in Scripture Jesus Himself was dedicated. I also told her if her grandchild would die as an infant, he would be accepted into the kingdom by Jesus himself. So I told her not to worry, and that I could dedicate her grandchild. She said thank you and walked away. I am not sure what she did because I did not hear from her again.This is what Scripture says in Luke 2:21-23 (NLT): “Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. The law of the Lord says, ‘If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD.’ ”It is written that Jesus was dedicated after birth, and it would be great if all babies could be given this opportunity—to be dedicated to the Lord by parents who follow Jesus.– Kirby James   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

“The chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, the Roman Governor, ‘Do not write, “The King of the Jews,” but, “He said I am the King of the Jews.” ’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’ ” John 19:21-22 (NKJV)When asked, “Why do you believe in the white man’s God?” by those who reject Christianity, many if not most Native/Indigenous Christians may feel a level of discomfort. The long history of mistreatment of Native peoples by Euro-Americans on many levels speaks for itself, and many still feel the psychological lashes of that brutal and unfortunate era.In Native communities, Native Christians may find themselves being treated (subtly or outwardly) as traitors to their cultures. Witnessing— telling others about God and the sacrifice Jesus made for the redemption of all who believe in His divinity—can be especially difficult under such circumstances.But, although Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor (an unbeliever as far as we know) was shouted down when he tried to save Jesus from the mob that called for his crucifi xion, he stood his ground: “Why? What evil has He done?” He pleads to a crowd that was crying out for Jesus’s death all the louder. Standing his ground, Pilate risked losing the support of the chief priests and possibly other Romans when he retorted, “What I have written, I have written.”When challenged by others when sharing our faith, we believers must stand as well!Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I ask that You be with me in my moments of trial. Help me to hold on to Your promise that You will never leave me or forsake me. And having done all . . . stand.– 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

“Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” Psalm 86:1 (NIV)“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)The God of the Bible is a God of love, mercy and justice. I gave up trying to understand God a long time ago because His ways are far higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Both my wife and I came to know Christ in 1979 as a result of a terrible tragedy in my brother and sister-in law’s lives. Their five-year-old son drowned in a small creek in central Winnipeg.God spoke to me “loud and clear” about my own life and the direction I was going. I was definitely on the road to hell and destruction. But the good news! God took that tragedy and turned it around for the good— not only for my family, but many other family members and friends, as well. Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for the good to those who love God and have been called according to His purpose.” (NET)I don’t know where you are at today, but I ask you to seriously consider the God of love, mercy, and justice as your personal Savior by receiving His Son Jesus. He died for our sins; but He also rose again to give us victory over our sins. Simply pray, “God, I am lost in sin, please forgive me of all my sins and shortcomings in life; I turn away from that lifestyle now and receive you as my Lord and Savior. Amen.”If you have prayed the above prayer … or one similar … Welcome to the family of God! I encourage you to get a Bible and begin reading it. Get into a community with people who teach the Bible. Seek to make Christian friends and meet regularly for encouragement, support, and prayer. And start sharing your faith with people whom God sends your way.– Marshall Murdock   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

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)When my father passed away in 2019, it was the first time in my parents’ 57 years of marriage that my mother would be alone. We had assured my father not to worry, that my four brothers and one sister and I would take care of her.We were all taught that in the first year we should let the grieving grieve. So, we let our mother do that and, like we promised our dad, we were there for her. In 2020, I started to notice a change in my mom. I didn’t think much of it, but the signs became clearer. In 2022, my mom was diagnosed with dementia. At first, we didn’t know what to expect, and it was hard learning how this neurological disease was robbing our mother of her memory.This was a very dark time of my life, as the woman who I have always looked up to was slowly disappearing. In the beginning I cried many nights, almost becoming consumed in grief. During those times I cried out to the Lord to help my family and I through the journey we were about to take.Now, as I awake in the mornings after a year of her diagnosis, I am thankful that my mother is still with us, in spite of her illness. I am also thankful that, because of her own faith, someday she will become whole again in reunion with my dad and the loved ones that have gone before her—in the presence of God Himself.This illness has reminded me to lean on God for His strength. He has never left us, and we continue trusting in His love. This is not the end, but the beginning of something beautiful. Today I just continue to keep trusting God’s faithful love for us.– Laurie Wood Ducharme   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

“YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV, caps my own)Time has a way of changing things—well, not everything, but some things. One of the things that sometimes needs to change is the way we do ministry. I remember back in the early 1980s, reading some of the writings of NEFC Founder, Tom Francis, and his successor, Joseph Jolly.There was a section in our NEFC objectives that said: “NEFC yearns to share the Gospel in every Native community in Canada.” My unspoken thought at the time was, “Yeah, right! That’s just dreamy. It’s not reality! How could we ever reach a goal like that?”In the early 2000s, NEFC’s radio broadcast “Christ Jesus the Light (CJTL)” was born. As time went on, it became more and more of a gospel tool that has been used effectively for Jesus. When we added internet audio broadcasting several years later, it became globally accessible. Anyplace that has internet can now tune in to the 24-hour, 365-days-a-year gospel programming that CJTL offers! About 90% of our Native communities can now get nonstop gospel broadcasting! (That’s besides the 28 communities that have a local CJTL FM radio broadcast.)The words that were penned back in the early 1970s are becoming reality many years later! The message hasn’t changed, only the methods.– 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

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (NIV)“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)We once had trophies lined up in our house from accomplishments, and we were especially recognized and known for the sport of volleyball. One day, as I was sitting there looking at those trophies, I realized that I, as a father, was missing the whole point if I was raising my children to base their lives only on who they are and what they can be through education and sports.In Deuteronomy 6:7, the Word of God commands us parents to impress upon the hearts of our children, to talk to them about loving God with all our heart, soul and strength. We thought we had achieved a lot, and yet sin had crept in because I was not alert as a father, a leader, a spiritual protector of our household.I needed to prepare my family not only for this world, with its presence of evil, but to prepare them ever so greatly to put their trust in Jesus Christ, to follow Him, and walk with Him to enjoy the abundant life by having a close relationship with Jesus Christ.I started “cleaning” my house. I put aside the gold trophies that get tarnished by time, and I brought out the more important thing: the Word of God. I have never made a better choice. I love my Lord and thank Him for the time He has given me to share what is the most important thing in life.There are so many distractions in life, even good ones, whether it be music, sports, jobs and security. We can become so busy that we forget our calling from the Lord, to seek first the kingdom of God.– Ken Mitsuing   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

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (ESV)Our Ladies Bible study is really bolstering my faith and how I see myself as a born-again believer. I admit the enemy was gaining in holding me down. It has been difficult these past two years as I age, and physical problems persist. Yet I remember all that Jesus endured before His death on the cross and I say, “Why not me? Jesus, you went through so much more, this is trivial compared to the pain and suffering you had.”Our study is based on Colossians. We are reminded that our words should be gracious and seasoned with salt to give the unbeliever a reason to hear more and come to Jesus. I have also learned to turn off the accusations, the attempts to burden me with guilt and, most of all, to turn to Jesus every time and acknowledge His strength is sufficient for me in all things. The study book is called He Is Enough.I remember when my husband first came to the Lord. He led singing at fellowship on Sundays, and we had Bible studies in our home. All the learning I had growing up came back and had so much more meaning and brought joy to my heart. Because my husband had become sober through Alcoholics Anonymous, most of the men who came to study were also in the AA program. They liked what they saw and heard in my husband’s sharing. Several were men he grew up with in Merritt, B.C., and two accepted Jesus because of his example.Dear Heavenly Father, may we always shine for You so others will be attracted to You.– Loretta Oppenheim   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

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-9 (NIV)God called Gideon to save Israel from the Midianites. Gideon started with 32,000 men, but that was too many for God’s purpose, so He reduced them down to 300 men. The victory would come through God’s power—not their own. God wanted His people to trust Him and shine. Gideon divided the men into three groups; each carried a trumpet and a hidden torch inside a clay pot. Upon command, they blew their trumpets and broke their jars and let the light pour out. The enemy believed that each trumpet and light had thousands of troops behind it, so they panicked and turned on each other.My pot’s artistic decoration wore off years ago. It carries a few chips now, and a crack runs part way down one side. I pray that God’s light will shine through the brokenness. I thought of Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV) A potter’s hands work the clay, shaping and forming it to fi t his purpose.Dear Father, thank You for working out the lumps of my transgressions so that You can form me into the image of Christ according to Your purpose. Please give me insight and understanding from Your Word and Your Holy Spirit so that I can take advantage of diffi cult times and use them as an opportunity to share Your light with others.– 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

“Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” Genesis 37:3-4 (KJV, clarification added)We see that Jacob practiced favoritism. This show of affection for one boy from a large family did not help the brothers in their attitude toward the favored one.There is no excuse for sin at any time, but there are also actions that can be offensive, and could hinder a person from coming to the Lord. Joseph’s testimony was not received by most of his brothers, who treated him rudely and sold him into slavery.This problem of favoritism showed up again when the brothers came with the coat of many colors, which had been dipped in blood. Note Genesis 37:32: “Your son’s coat”—not our brother’s coat—as it might have been said.Ask God to give you love for all the children in your house, and be sure you teach them God’s way, even if it is not the practice in your community. Being fair to all members of the family is God’s way, and you will see that God’s way is always best.“Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘in truth I perceive that God shows no partiality’” Acts 10:34 (NKJV).– Bill 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

“But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” Jonah 1:3 (NKJV)A few years ago at our Kikino Family Bible Camp, one of our dogs was sniffing in a small white garbage bag, and his head got caught in the handle. He took off running for his life, as the bag was following him wherever he went! He was scared and running in all directions. Finally, after calling our dog multiple times, he came so I could rescue him.This incident has always stuck in my memory for various reasons. Many people run from many things in their lives, and they can run from those things for many years. They can run from painful hurts of the past that are diffi cult to work through. However, God can heal all pains, and the running can stop.Then there are those people who are running from God because they are unwilling to surrender an area of their lives or unwilling to obey a calling from God for their lives. The psalmist David wondered about where he could run from God—since God was everywhere at the same time.The prophet Jonah had a specifi c calling to his enemies, and his unwillingness to obey that call set off a sequence of events that finally brought him to a place of humility and obedience. Truly we can never run away from God. Instead of running from Him, let us run to Him like the Prodigal Son (see Luke 15:11-31) running back to his father. What are you running from? When will you stop running? Will you run to the Lord?Lord, enable me to run to You in all of life’s struggles and problems. Amen.– Frank Ward   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

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of diffi culty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fi re of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)I was watching a news report this morning about an earthquake in Asia. It wasn’t as bad as some earthquakes, but it got me thinking about the “storms” we all face in life. Everybody has their share of storms—storms of health, relationships, finances, employment (or lack thereof) . . . storms of scenarios we didn’t choose, and then the “reap what you sow” quagmires we find ourselves in.God’s Word gives us answers to the storms we face in this life. Everything from attitude struggles to marriage breakdown, from noisy neighbors to out-of-control credit cards—you get the picture . . . everything! You or I might not be too thrilled sometimes about the answers we find in God’s Word, but that’s not the point. God’s Word is the truth, and the truth doesn’t change.Storms come whether we deserve them or not—that’s just how life goes. God’s Word has the answer to each tempest. It’s up to us to apply those principles and parameters to the life scenarios we find ourselves or put ourselves in. Our response to the storm is in our hands.– 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

“Honor thy father and mother; which is the fi rst commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:2-3 (KJV) The Bible is full of God’s wonderful promises for us to obey and reap His blessings. Exodus 20:12 is another scripture that instructs us to honor our parents—with a similar promise. For the most part, it was natural for me to love and honor my parents. But there was a time in my life I struggled, as I wanted to go my own way. It began when I left home to attend residential school and later, high school. This is where I was exposed to ungodliness. I believe it was the prayers of my parents that kept me alive. After high school I made the decision to follow the Lord, and it was a blessing to be a part of a Bible- believing church where I was discipled. Living out God’s Word became more meaningful, and I was still guided by my Christian parents, as our relationship became God based. Moving forward, my parents reached their time to retire, and I became the main caregiver. It was both an honor and the most challenging task to fulfi ll until they both succumbed to illnesses. My mother was 84 years old when she died of heart failure, and my father was 86 when he died of cancer. It is never easy to watch loved ones suffer, but the quality time we spent together outweighs the pain. I will forever treasure the memories of my time with them. Today, I thank my heavenly Father for the opportunity and strength He gave to be a part of honoring my parents. He is faithful, and He will always fulfi l His promises written in His Word. In my role as a mental health counselor, I get to encourage others to do their best when given the opportunity to look after their parents. Truly it is an honor. – Liz Beardy   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

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV) I remember when I fi rst came to Jesus. I was 16 years old and didn’t have a clue of how to follow the Lord! Over the years I learned many things about living for Jesus. I want to share with you the three biggest things that have helped me grow in my walk. (1) Getting into God’s Word. At fi rst l didn’t know much about the Bible and wasn’t too interested in getting deeper into it. But that is the way the Lord speaks to us. It’s only when I began to read and understand the Bible that I grew in my faith. It’s now a part of everyday life. (2) Praying. I love to pray now, but it wasn’t always that way. I didn’t understand the importance of open communication with God. At first, I would run out of things to pray after fi ve minutes. As my relationship with the Lord got deeper, I found that I could talk to Him about absolutely anything! (3) Making the Right Choices. Before a person becomes a believer, the Lord is not part of their decision making. That’s how it was for me. Then His Word began to come alive to me and was what I would base my choices on. God’s Word helped me to realize when I was in the wrong, and I came under the Holy Spirit’s conviction when I made selfish choices. My relationship to God today is the biggest thing in my life. Everything else is secondary to Him! I wouldn’t want it to be any other way. Dear God, thank You that when I become anxious and worried, I can always come to You. You are faithful and have shown me that I can leave my burdens and cares with You. 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

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 40:28a (NIV) Do you ever feel tired or a little dizzy? It might have something to do with our space travels. We ride on a spinning planet, traveling over 24,000 miles each day (at the equator) at a speed of 1,000 miles per hour. At the same time, we journey around our sun for a year at a speed of over 67,000 miles per hour, completing a tour of 92,960,000 miles. As we rotate on our axis and revolve in orbit around our sun, we stay in tandem with the other planets in our solar system as our Milky Way galaxy circles among our super-cluster of galaxies rotating throughout the universe. Gravity holds us attached to the planet so we don’t fall off. But it seems that with all this spinning, we should fling off into space. Not only do we stay on our super amusement park ride, but our moon stays right with us, helping us to stay in proper rotation, moving our tides and illuminating our night journeys. This frenetic traveling may explain why we get tired, but it doesn’t explain how we can move such great distances at astronomical speeds . . . and then go about our business as if we were in complete control. People work to change time (daylight savings time). People work to try to control the climate. I would not blame anyone for being nervous about life on earth, but I think about the real reason we are on this planet. It helps me see my life in perspective to the One who “holds all things together” (Colossians 1:17). Dear Jesus, I have no idea how You hold our universe together. Please increase my knowledge of who You are and open my heart’s understanding of Your invitation to me to be a part of Your kingdom today and forever. – 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

“I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NKJV) How do we know if a person is fi lled with God’s Holy Spirit? What should we look for? We cannot see the way God sees, and we may not come to a proper conclusion. However, God does give us wise counsel. We are to look at the fruits of his or her life. Galatians 5:22-23a (NKJV) says: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” A fruit tree is an example. While the sap is fi lling the tree, you and I may not notice much difference—we may not even know what kind of fruit tree it is until the fruit appears. Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) says, “Walk in the Spirit.” This is the continual submission to God that will result in fruit bearing of the Spirit through you. Receiving the power of the Spirit (or the anointing, as it is sometimes referred to) is not possible without submission to the Lord. There are no short cuts—it is still dying to the old self life and being led by the Spirit of God. Jesus said, “I am the Vine.” If the branch is detached from the main source of its water supply, it will wither. So it is with the believer. You cannot live a victorious Christian life, or help others to know the Lord, unless you abide (live close) to Jesus Christ. Spirit-led Paul was concerned about his walk with the Lord. First Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV) says: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualifi ed.” Paul was not thinking of being lost again but being disqualifi ed in his service for the Lord. Lord, I want to be filled with your Spirit. Please teach me. – Bill 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

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 (NIV) I have found there are many people who are not living for today. That includes me, at times. The enemy would love for us to live either in the past or in the future. It is so easy to live in the past, and we could be living with much regret . . . “If only I did it this way; if only I didn’t do that.” You can be so busy thinking about what you did or didn’t do. This is the tactic of the enemy so that we aren’t doing what the Lord wants us to be doing today. If you are feeling that way, and you have children, you are missing out on what they are doing today. You could be missing out on helping them to choose the Lord and His way. It’s just as easy to be living in the future. You know . . . “When I get more money, or when I get a better job, or when I can do things better.” Now, I fi rmly believe that it’s good to have goals—because if you don’t have any goals, how can you aim for something? But sometimes we find ourselves worrying about tomorrow and what it will bring. I remember one time my husband saying to me, “Why worry when you can pray?” My thought at that time was, “How can I pray while I’m worrying?” Now I fully agree with him! Don’t let the worries of this world control you to a point that you are not present for the people around you. You will not be present for God to use you. You will miss out on so much of what God is trying to teach you and His blessings. Live your life to the fullest today! – Pat Hall   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

“For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:13-14 (NKJV) King David, who wrote this psalm, was overwhelmed by God’s awesome creation in the womb. God knew everything about David. In Psalm 139:1-12, scripture indicates that God knew everything that David was doing and going to do—such as sitting down, resting, or when he was traveling. God knew what David was going to say before the words came out of his mouth. No wonder he was so overwhelmed with God’s awesome power, close presence, knowledge, and creation that he had to give God all the praise! There is no doubt that God’s presence is always with us, even before we were born. This whole chapter of Psalm 139 speaks about God who created us . . . fearfully and wonderfully. The teenage years can be a diffi cult time. For me, I had trouble accepting who I was and what I looked like. I did not like my dark skin color, dark eyes and hair. I did not view myself as anyone special. Oftentimes I felt that I was overlooked and ignored. Yet, when I fi rst put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, these scripture verses spoke directly to my heart. God’s Word helped me to see who I really am . . . fearfully and wonderfully made by Him. It did not matter how I looked on the outside—whether I had dark skin, eyes and hair—the important thing was my relationship with Jesus. As a result of learning this beautiful truth, God showed me that I was seen by Him right from the start! Now I am thankful for the way that God has created me . . . dark skin, hair, eyes and all! – Myrna Kopf   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

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:19(NIV) The power was off here at our country home for a few hours this morning. No lights, no coffee, no phone charger, no Calgary News on TV (no TV!), no heat, no nothing! The obvious solution? Drive 30km to the nearest town for breakfast, hang around and wait for the repair guys to do their thing! Bacon and eggs should help dull the pain. It got me thinking about how dependent we are on electricity for a power source, and how “hamstrung” we can get when it’s not there! Life just sort of grinds to a standstill (if you don’t count the bacon and eggs). It seems like everything in our lives has to plug in somewhere! Our spiritual lives have a similar dynamic; they need to be plugged in! Spiritually, we are powerless to follow God in our own strength; we’re like disconnected appliances that don’t work without electricity. Living God’s way is impossible without God’s help. I guess that’s something we all need to learn. Once this realization kicks in, we start to trust the Lord for the strength to truly live for Him! “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed.” Psalm 28:7-8 (NKJV) – 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