Council Fire

Intertribal Life Ministries
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Council Fire is a podcast and book set of daily devotionals written by Indigenous followers of Jesus across North America. It's a year long journey through Scripture and story. Council Fire is a collaborative project between Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

  1. 24 min. geleden

    A Servant Heart

    “So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him.” John 13:4-5 (NLT) What a beautiful display of humility and love that Jesus showed for His disciples. Washing people’s feet in that time and culture was necessary, and usually done by the servant of the house. Sometimes, I find it easy to do things for people, but there are times when it is a bit hard to receive. I guess I have felt that I don’t deserve it. Maybe I felt dirty and unclean at the time — not talking particularly about my feet, but about my heart. Not too long ago, I was at a ladies retreat. At the end, we did foot washing. I was unaware that we were going to do this, otherwise I would have got a pedicure! Anyway, I was happy to wash another’s feet. But when it was her turn to wash mine, I did not expect my reaction . . . I cried! You see, at one time at a young age, I was abused. I did feel unclean and dirty inside, but God has been healing me. So when someone actually chose to bend down to kneel beside me and wash my feet, I somehow felt dirty and unworthy — but as soon as she started to wash my feet, somehow I felt that it was Jesus Himself washing my feet! That is why I cried — it was tears of joy and healing. It was Jesus showing His servant heart of love for me. — 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

    2 min.

  2. 1 dag geleden

    Music with Creation

    “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” Genesis 1:1 (KJV) “All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:3 (KJV) Just recently I was reading a short article about creation. The writer said that he believed that while God was in the act of creation, He did it with music in the background. He noted Job 38:4,7. It reads, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? . . . When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (NJKV) Somebody else pointed out to me at another time that if you were to watch a TV program with no background music, you would soon see how uninteresting it becomes. TV and radio advertisements rely on music to add to the effect of the ad. Animated cartoons rely heavily on music of one kind or another. The evolutionist says that there was no music — just a big bang. I never had a problem believing that God is the Creator — and that creation, as revealed in the Genesis record, says He did the work in six days. My faith is similar to one of my granddaughters. She was five at the time when her school teacher told the class that, “There will be a new moon tonight.” Her response was, “That’s what Jesus does. He puts away the old one and puts the new one in its place.” Psalm 149:1 says, “Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints.” Psalm 98:6 says, “With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King” (KJV). Lord, we praise You for Your goodness, greatness, and Your love to us. — 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

    3 min.

  3. 2 dgn geleden

    The Old Ways

    “Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim.” John 2:6-7 (ESV) The first miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding in Cana. The six stone water jars are said to represent the old order of Jewish law and custom. The old order of things said that you must use a stone jar when you purify yourself (stone jars didn’t catch impurities that made people unclean). But now the Lord was preparing to do a new thing. The old ways of purification and sacrificing were about to be fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Christ. The old will pass so the new can come. Jesus was the final and complete sacrifice for our sins. When we receive His gift of salvation, we understand that the Lord is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We need not make any purification ceremonies, nor do we need to sacrifice anymore, for He is the Lamb who came to take away the sins of the world. Our challenge today is to examine our life and our ways. From this moment forward let us re-evaluate how we do life, asking ourselves, “Is there anything in my life that doesn’t glorify God? Is there anything the Lord wants me to let go of?” In my old ways, I responded to life with unhealthy tactics (drugs, alcohol, anger, bitterness, etc.). But it was time to change. That old me — that old way — doesn’t live here anymore. I was born again, a new creation in Christ Jesus. — Mark Little Elk   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

    3 min.

  4. 3 dgn geleden

    The Great Mouse Scare

    “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22 (NKJV) A friend of mine shared unexplainable things that were happening in her home. I immediately asked the question, “When you are awakened to noises, what do you do?” I was reminded of a similar thing happening to me when I was in Bible college. I moved off campus and rented a basement suite. My first night there, I heard banging in the boxes at the end of my bed. I thought it was a mouse that had got into a box and was trying to get out. I was frozen scared at first, but as it kept getting louder, I got out of there as fast as I could. I walked real fast to the women’s dorm and found my care leader, and I told her everything. We prayed together and asked God to remove the spirit attacking me and trying to frighten me. We prayed in Jesus Christ’s name, then peace and calm engulfed me. The next morning, I went to class early and told the professor. His response was, “Praise the Lord!” I thought, “Whaaat?” (I guess my look and thoughts of, “Are you crazy, that’s not a ‘praise’” was evident on my face.) Then he asked the question, “What did you do?” I told him and he said, “You went to God in prayer?” I replied, “Yes, I did! He said, “That’s all God wants us to do.” Later when I went back to my new place, I checked the boxes and there were no mice in any of the boxes (I’m sure that’s something you would check, too). When we get spiritually attacked in any way, let’s ask the question, “What am I going to do about this?” Am I going to continue to live in fear, or seek God for relief? — Shannon Menelaws-Laier   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

    3 min.

  5. 4 dgn geleden

    The Overgrown Trail

    “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 (NIV) “So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10 (NIV) “Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV) A while back I went walking down an old trail I hadn’t been on since I was a kid. I guess nobody else had been either because it was all grown over with weeds, willows, and pretty good-sized trees. It kind of reminded me of our spiritual lives. When we begin our new lives with Jesus, it’s real important that we take care of the details in our walk of faith. You know what I mean — it’s easy to let little things go and then they grow into bigger things. Those times when we let our attitude deteriorate to “stench” level, times we start spouting those words we “swore” we’d never use again, times when we can’t find time to pray, times when we just don’t have any time for God at all, when other things take all our time and attention. Yeah, you know what I mean — like a trail getting overgrown with weeds and bush. The verses above all speak to the importance of making sure our behavior matches up with our beliefs. It’s the little things that — if we don’t get a handle on them — will eventually grow into big things that block and choke our walk with the Lord. We need to stay close to Jesus and make sure our lives show it! — 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

    3 min.

  6. 5 dgn geleden

    The Last Resort

    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Proverbs 3:5a (NKJV) I was listening to two elderly women talking in church. “So how is Robert doing?” Ann asked. “Not good, the cancer has spread,” May replied. “I guess there is nothing left to do but pray and trust God,” Ann said and shook her head. They both sighed. They had lost hope; they expected the worst to happen. It was a serious situation — an old man had cancer, his wife would probably soon be an old widow — but what caught my attention was that prayer and trusting God was their last resort. Not their first choice, but their last choice. When all else has failed . . . seek God. We should seek God first. Mark Twain said he’d had many troubles in his life, most of which never happened. I think that is true of most of us. We worry about what “might” happen. We expect the worst to happen. Sometimes it feels like it’s the end of the world — we are sick or sad or lonely or hurting, but things will work out in the end. And if they haven’t worked out yet, it’s because it isn’t the end. There is a phrase, “Let go and let God.” We could save ourselves so much anxiety and worry and grief if we’d let God take care of things. Every day we trust complete strangers to do the right thing. We trust people to drive safely. We trust people to stop at stop signs and red lights to avoid accidents. We trust the clerks in the store to give us the right change. We trust our doctor to prescribe the right medicine. We don’t know any of these people, but we trust them to do what is right. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” Psalm 56:3 (KJV). The Eternal, Almighty God of the Universe, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, loves us and cares about us. How can we not trust Him? — 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

    3 min.

  7. 6 dgn geleden

    What’s In a Name?

    “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) Humility is one of the characteristics of a godly person. It’s much better to have others speak highly of oneself than it is for us to do it ourselves! But a good and godly name is something to celebrate, and something to strive for. Notice that our emphasis is often on our last name rather than our first. If “Craig” is a good name, then it would mean me being measured up alongside all others named Craig. But it’s the last name that is being referred to in the Scripture verse above. It’s the family name this verse speaks of — which raises the question: what kind of reputation do our families maintain in our communities? Is it one of respect, or does it bring up a negativity about it? An old preacher once stated that there is one thing that shows up long before you and I arrive, and lingers long after we leave. “And that is,” he stated in his strong English accent as he rolled his “r’s” . . . “your r-r-r-reputation.” We don’t have much control over the actions of our family in the past, but we can do a lot to affect the family name into the future. And it starts with us! How we live our lives can change the narrative to the positive about our family’s name in our community. We can start now by living godly, honest, and trustworthy lives, and by raising our children to do the same. That honors the Lord and can start a new narrative about our family’s reputation. It’s something to work hard on today. Why? Because to be esteemed (respected or admired by others) is better than silver or gold! — Craig Stephen Smith   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

    3 min.

  8. 23 jun

    Walking the Trail

    “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 (NKJV) As I walked on a trail one day, I saw a footprint of an animal that was odd. I heard a cry in the nearby bush and the footprints led to the sound. I stopped to make sure the footprint was small so that whatever it was wouldn’t hurt me. I pushed open the bush. To my surprise I found a tape recorder making the sound of an animal! I felt embarrassed, and angry. I looked around to see if someone was watching but, to my relief, I didn’t see anyone. As I walked away, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I’d been tricked. My thoughts went to the Lord, and I also thought of the worst trickster, the devil. He tricked Adam and Eve into disobeying God, and believing that there was more to be had. The devil still uses this lie to trick people. As I kept walking on the trail, I was glad that we still have a choice to obey God. The door is not closed (Matt. 7:7). He sent His Son to die on the cross for us. God will keep us safe from eternal destruction. As I walked, I prayed for God’s guidance that I won’t be tricked to think there is more to be had outside of God’s will. The truth is that when Christ comes as judge, many will discover the horrible truth that they were wrong, and it will be too late to change and repent. I started to sing as I walked, knowing that the trick in the bush was just a joke, and that people still have a choice to serve God. As for me, I have made my choice, and that is to love my Lord with all my heart, and all my soul, and with all my mind. — Conrad Flett   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

    3 min.
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Council Fire is a podcast and book set of daily devotionals written by Indigenous followers of Jesus across North America. It's a year long journey through Scripture and story. Council Fire is a collaborative project between Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

Informatie

  • Maker
    Intertribal Life Ministries
  • Jaren actief
    2025 - 2026
  • Afleveringen
    184
  • Beoordeling
    Veilig
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Intertribal Life Ministries
  • Website van aflevering
    Council Fire
  • Provider