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. 7h ago

    Facing Your Fears

    “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) Growing up I knew what fear was — I lived with it through a lot of my childhood. I was afraid of the dark. I was afraid of the alcohol related situations in my community and my home. I was afraid of what people thought of me. And I was generally afraid of the unfamiliar and unknown. Things began to change when Jesus came into our home. I began to understand that I was now able to let Jesus carry all my anxieties. What I’m trying to say is that all of the fears and uncertainties I once grappled with, I didn’t have to face them by myself anymore. Things that once seemed so big and scary now became smaller and manageable. What a relief to know that something I carried for so long, I could now let go and leave with my Savior! Now and then, I come across a situation where something triggers my old way of thinking, and I start to worry and get anxious over whatever that scenario brings up. I have to catch myself and look back at what God brought me out of, and what He’s done for me. I need to be reminded that I don’t have to give in to being afraid like I used to. Having that assurance that I can live without fear is a totally incredible feeling! There is a real freedom that comes with living your life for the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that whatever is ahead is in His hands, and that you don’t need to be afraid anymore. Is fear a part of your life? Does it control what you think and do? God’s Word says that His way gives us freedom from fear. Dear Jesus, I need You to take control of my fears. I give them to 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

  2. 1d ago

    Be at Peace

    “Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” Romans 12:17-19 (ESV) A good word about revenge: the message here is, “Do not seek retribution.” That is the way of the world. How many of the world’s wars would cease if people forgave each other? No forgiveness — no peace. In every conflict you will hear people say they are angry “because someone did this to me, or they did that to us.” There is no real victory in retribution when one side thinks they have gained ground in a conflict. What they don’t realize is that it only sets the stage for revenge, and a response equal to or greater than the initial attack. No one really wins. So, Paul urges us to do what is right, and do our best to live at peace with everyone. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” says Jesus. Live at peace with everyone as long as it doesn’t violate our Christian ethics. We oppose wickedness but seek righteousness. Don’t repay evil for evil, but in all things wait on the Lord and wait for His justice. Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 32:35 where God said, “I am the one who punishes, I will pay people back.” And we are to let God’s wrath run its course. He doesn’t need our help. It is not our duty to aid the Lord in His divine retribution. As hard as it may be, let us make it a practice to forgive. — 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. 2d ago

    He Remembers It No More

    “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm103:11,12 (NKJV) One Sunday our former pastor, Bill Jackson, was the guest speaker at Kikino Bible Church. It was Thanksgiving Sunday and he shared a good message. One thing he said especially caused me to think. It was something that we as Christians know, but I wasn’t aware that I needed to be reminded of it. God, in His abundant love, sent Pastor Jackson to remind me just when I needed to hear it. It was the idea that God remembers our sin no more. After we confess it and repent of it, it is no longer there. Our sin is not just “covered” like the Old Testament saints; it is removed completely. When the enemy, or people, or even when we ourselves bring it up, we can go straight to Scripture to combat those thoughts. The enemy likes to remind us of who we were in the past and, even as Christians, the mistakes that we make. In Romans 8:1 (NKJV) it says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Those condemning thoughts and feelings are simply not true; they no longer have power over us. The Lord desires for us to walk in freedom and to know that, not only is there no condemnation to us who are in Christ Jesus, but He remembers our sins no more! Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to pay the price for sin, and that when I confess my sin, You remember it no more. — Karissa Cardinal   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

  4. 3d ago

    Angus’s Way

    “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV) My friend Angus is an interpreter, one of the best I’ve ever worked with. He works as an Oji-Cree translator for various sovereign Indigenous governmental organizations and as a pastor in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. He cultivates a profound love for translation! Angus’ approach to his work is that of an expert, translating “word-for-word” and keeping the meaning as exact as possible. Other interpreters may use a “paraphrasing” approach that encapsulates the general meaning of what’s being said, but not the exact words. Angus operates at a higher level of linguistic definitude than that. I love listening to the oratory excellence in his work! When we consider how we view the authority of God’s Word, we may adopt the rationale that, because a verse doesn’t line up with our own beliefs, it can be overlooked and disregarded, or that certain things shouldn’t necessarily apply to our own spiritual walk. That’s a whole lot different than Angus’ targeted degree of accuracy and excellence in communicating exactly what is written or being said! God gave us His written Word as the standard for our belief system, the “override” button for false or erroneous teachings, and the ultimate authority over what’s true or false. It can’t mean one thing for one person, but something else for another. God’s Word is a constant in our changing world and His communication to each of us. 1 Peter 1:20 (KJV) says: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” How do we see the function of Scripture in our personal walk? How should we view those things that don’t line up with our understanding? Let’s take Angus’ perspective and allow God’s Words to impact our lives like God intended them to! — 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

  5. 4d ago

    Worrying Which Way to Go?

    “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink: nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25 (NKJV) You know that feeling, when you are worried about different things in life, and they are just too heavy? Well, this one day I had a major decision to make, and needed to get away and ponder what to do. I jumped in my car and just drove, not knowing where I was going. Stopping at a spot by a river, I had my Bible and notebook on the passenger’s seat. I grabbed both and headed to the riverbank. Sitting down on a log, I opened my Bible to seek God’s calming truth. I watched the river flowing by and started to relax as I read about how God doesn’t want us to worry about things. I was worried about the direction of my life and what I should do, and God put on my heart, “Look at the river, it just goes with the fl ow. It doesn’t worry about which way to go; it just goes with the flow.” So, I wrote down this poem: Humans always worrying which way to go, Unlike the river, going with the flow, Let go, Let go, Just go with the flow! Let Me show you which way to go. I asked God to open what door He wanted me to go through and close the one He didn’t want me to go through. It was a good life lesson I learned, and use to this day. Jesus, please help me to always seek You, to trust You, and go with Your flow. — 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

  6. 5d ago

    Persuasion That Leads to Salvation

    “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘Short time or long — I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.’” Acts 26: 28-29 (NIV) King Agrippa asks this probing question to the Apostle Paul that is common to all mankind: Do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian? Paul was standing before the king, who was very knowledgeable of all Jewish customs and controversies (vv. 2,3), and he was standing there because he had been powerfully proclaiming the Gospel throughout the region (vs. 20). This was the same Paul who, before coming to Christ, was not only traditional, but a religious zealot for the Jewish faith, persecuting, imprisoning and even killing Christians. He was bold to share the Christ that saved him and transformed his life, taking opportunities that presented themselves at any place and any time, even before a king who could do to him what Paul had done to Christians in his old life. Don’t you just love Paul’s response to the king’s question in verse 29! He said, “I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am” . . . a transformed follower of Christ who boldly proclaims the Gospel anywhere and at any time! Friend, remember who we were before coming to Christ — we were just as lost as King Agrippa. But now we follow the example of Paul, who didn’t waste any chance to share the gospel with others. We may see an immediate response, but sometimes it can take time. Short or long, we must passionately share the gospel with others! — 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

  7. 6d ago

    Just an Imitator

    “Don’t copy the behavior or customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT) I grew up in a family who, over the years, raised several hundred tropical birds. In our area, we became known as the “bird people.” So, when a baby magpie was brought to us, we took it in and nursed it back to health. We affectionately called him “Oscar,” and he was like no other. He walked with us more than he flew and talked a blue streak. He scared the telephone man, who was up on a ladder when Oscar landed on his head, talking like crazy! And it thrilled the school children when he’d ride the windshield wipers of our bus, singing and laughing. If you closed your eyes, Oscar sounded like a child laughing and talking. We’d even joke that Oscar thought he was a person. The reality was that, even though he sounded like a person, he was just like a recorder that could imitate a person. As we walk this life, we can say the right things, sound and act like a Christian, and go to church on Sundays. But if we haven’t received the knowledge and Spirit of Jesus into our lives, we are simply an imitator, just like Oscar was. If we are going to imitate something, let’s be a reflection of the heart of God. Ephesians 5:1 says, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children” (NLT). Let’s be authentic followers of Jesus. In that, there are no question marks of who is counterfeit, and who is real — no “Oscars,” but people who have been 100 percent transformed because of Jesus. God, help me to not be just an imitator, but let me pursue You in everything I do. Amen. — Corrie Hill   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

  8. Jul 20

    The Jigger

    “And He (Jesus) said unto them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’” Matthew 4:19 (NKJV) Among the many things used for fishing — such as rod and reel, dip net, gill net, fishhook, etc. — not much is said about a device called a “jigger,” which is a very important tool for winter net fishing. Jiggers are usually about 6 feet long, made from a plank 8 to 10 inches wide. It has a swivel arm attached to a spring to which a line is fastened. Once a jigger is let down through a hole in the ice, nothing else works like it. Every time you pull the line, the jigger works away from you. You keep on pulling and letting go of the line until the jigger is about a hundred yards away. Then you make another hole to get the jigger out, tie the line to the net, and pull it under the ice. As for the jigger, it has done its job. It will be used again in the winter and only under the ice. The jigger is of no practical use for anything else, but it is impossible to do net ice fi shing without it. Jesus talked about fi shing for men. Perhaps you have thought to yourself that, since you cannot sing or preach like others, you felt somewhat at a disadvantage. But wait a minute! There are important things that you can do for the Lord. You can pray for others that they will get saved. You can give to missions to help others share the Gospel, and you can talk to people one-on-one. Even if there is only one thing you can do, do it for the sake of Christ! Remember, the jigger is only good for one thing, but it is very important to that fisherman. The Lord looks at you as important to bring people to Himself. Lord, please show me what my part is in bringing people to yourself. — 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

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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Intertribal Life Ministries
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    211
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Intertribal Life Ministries
  • Show Website
    Council Fire