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. 21H AGO

    Compassion One For Another

    “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV) A. God loves us. This is only one of the Scriptures that tells us that God loves us. Not just me. He loves all of us, the whole world. He loves not just the good people, but also the bad people. Drunks, alcoholics, drug addicts, murderers, thieves . . . all sinners are loved by God. God doesn’t love the sin, but He loves the person He created. Psalm 97:10 says, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.” (KJV) B. God looks after us. Remember that God created you and He loves you. He will not let anything happen to you that He does not will. If something bad happens in your life, don’t try to wonder why. It may be God’s way to use you later on in life to share with others who have or are going through the same or similar trials or tribulations. C. God allows hard time to strengthen us. God always has a reason for allowing us to go through trials in our life—to strengthen us and to use our testimony of how we handled it with God’s help. We are always to ask our Heavenly Father God for help to deal with our problems. We are to lay our burdens on Him to take care of. He wants to help us and take care of us if we call on Him. Just remember He is always there waiting on us to ask. He always wants to help take care if we ask. Dear Heavenly Father God, may my request be of Your desire to receive what is needed, also to seek what You desire in my life as I walk with You and for You. Amen. – Ed Bird   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

  2. 1D AGO

    Ungratefulness—A Hard Pill to Swallow

    “Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name” Psalm 140:13a (NKJV) There are few things more painful than doing someone a kindness and having them treat it with disdain. After working in secret for weeks, Margaret, a prize-winning bead crafter, has finally finished the intricately beaded vest for her daughter, Princess. She wraps it and places it beneath their Christmas tree. When the big day arrives, Margaret can hardly wait to see Princess’s eyes brighten when she sees the vest! But when her daughter unwraps the gift, she scowls and tosses it back into the box. She says, “Here, sell it at the next powwow! I’m not a bead wearing Rez girl! I deserve designer threads like the girls wear at school!” Margaret can barely hold back her tears. In Exodus 14, God—through Moses—parts the Red Sea so that the Israelites can escape Pharoah’s pursuing army bent on returning them to Egypt and slavery. Yet, once on dry ground, their constant grumbling against God and Moses rouses God’s anger. He punishes them by extending their time in the wilderness. Ten lepers see Jesus and cry out for Him to have mercy on them. Jesus tells them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” They obey. Each realizes he is healed, but only one is so grateful that he returns, glorifies God, and falls on his knees before Jesus in thankfulness. “Were there not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” Jesus asks the onlookers. “Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” Luke 17:14,17-18 (NKJV) In giving thanks it shows that we remember God’s goodness and the kindness of others. We must never forget to give thanks for what is done for us. Thank You, Father God, for Your goodness toward us through Your precious Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen! – Kiki BelMonte-Schaller   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org

    3 min

  3. 2D AGO

    God is True to His Word

    “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) Isaiah 55:8, 9 has stuck out to me throughout the years. It really helps me put in perspective how great and wonderful and all-knowing God is. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (NASB) These verses have taught me not to question what happens, but to ask God to show me what He wants me to learn. The reason I chose the title is because when child killer Clifford Olsen let the world know he had found God through Jesus, our neighbor Monty was outraged and asked me how God could forgive Clifford and take him in? “What kind of God is that?” he demanded to know. My answer was, “One true to His Word. Wouldn’t you want that?” It was amazing that this same child killer had stayed in the home of my husband’s supervisor who had two daughters around the age of Olsen’s victims. The father was a believer and prayed every night that God would protect his girls, not even suspecting that the man he was showing God’s love to was a murderer. There were times Olsen was left with the girls while their parents went to take care of something. He behaved as an ordinary man, playing with the girls, taking care of them. There was no reason for the father to suspect Clifford to be a danger to his daughters. God protected them through this time! Heavenly Father, thank You that You are never changing, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I can trust You every minute, every hour, every day. – 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

    3 min

  4. 3D AGO

    Maskepetoon—Peacemaker

    “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV) I’ve been intrigued by the story of a Rocky Mountain Cree of the mid-1800’s, a chief named Maskepetoon. Told by many, it has become a mix of myth, legend, and truth. However, all sources mark the man with the common denominator that follows the common thread of “Peacemaker.” Maskepetoon, a renowned warrior who came to faith in Jesus, found out that personal peace could only come when it was partnered with forgiveness. His only son had been murdered by a companion. Maskepetoon, faced with the choice of killing or forgiving him, offered his forgiveness to the man. His own dad had been killed by a fighter from another tribe. Years later, Maskepetoon met this warrior and extended his forgiveness to him, inviting him into his lodge and presenting him with a garment. But peace isn’t desired by all. Peace doesn’t come easily, and peace doesn’t come cheap. Maskepetoon paid the ultimate price when he later entered an enemy camp unarmed to negotiate a peace treaty. He was killed by a fighter from there. It seems rather ironic that his pursuit of peace would cost him hislife. In Maskepetoon’s eyes, the reward was worth the risk—the payoff was worth the price. Maskepetoon and his peacemaking endeavors were rejected by those around him but, if you had asked him, it was worth contending for! – 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

  5. 4D AGO

    Is Any Sick Among You?

    “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” James 5:14-15 (KJV) I was about 12 when I got stricken with a very bad skin disease. I missed a few of months of school and was eventually bedridden as the disease progressed. In my little village in northern Ontario, medical facilities were scarce. My mother was my main caregiver. Some kind neighbors would bring remedies, but they did not help. One day my mother came home from church and told my father that she had invited elders from the church to come and pray for me. That evening they arrived with their guitars and Bibles. They sang songs and read Scripture. They asked if I could be seated on the sofa, and they gathered around me. The pastor anointed me with oil, and they prayed as they laid hands on me. I found myself weeping as a sweet presence came over me. I got up from the sofa and was instantly healed by the power of God! I was sent out to a nursing station, examined, and they could not find anything wrong. The disease never came back. I met the Lord Jesus as my Healer that night when those men of God honored God’s Word . . . to pray for the sick and they shall be healed. Sadly, many churches don’t follow the Scripture. Many have created their man-made rituals or religious practices to deal with the sick. I share my testimony of healing to encourage believers to honor God’s Word, such as stated in James 5:14. God honors our faith in Jesus. – 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

    3 min

  6. 5D AGO

    Faithful Servants

    “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (NIV) I will never forget my mom putting us five kids to bed early on a Saturday night because we were going to go to Sunday school the next day. My six-year-old thoughts were, “What!? Why? It was our day off from school.” A faithful man named Mr. Staley from the Oakridge Baptist Church in Vancouver had been visiting mom, explaining the Christian faith to her. He was obeying Jesus’s words from Matthew 28:19. I’m reasonably sure he came at least three times to talk to her about sending us to Sunday school. As I reflect on these times, I can’t help but think there must have been a lot of people praying for her to say yes. As it was, she only sent my older sister and I because the others were too young. I expect it took some extra encouraging, since mom was a survivor of residential school—something she never talked about to any of us. It has made me believe that mom had a faith of her own, in spite of what she may have experienced or witnessed in residential school. She was a peaceful person, gentle, caring. Nevertheless, Sunday school was where I first learned about God and Jesus. Sunday school was a safe place, bright, full of love and learning, and exciting stories. We memorized verses, earned Bibles, and went to Bible camp. I really looked forward to going every week. A family came to pick us up every Sunday until we were old enough to take the bus. I am forever thankful for these faithful followers reaching out to our family. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your servants who brought us to Sunday school where we learned the Good News about Jesus and came to believe. – 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

    3 min

  7. 6D AGO

    Prayers Not Answered

    “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:21 (NIV) A woman had prayed and prayed for her children to turn from their ways of addiction. She even asked the church for prayer that God would help her children stop and turn from their ways. It was for about seven years that she continued to pray, and it seemed nothing was happening. She slowly stopped coming to the church. We think she has given up on God because her prayers were not being answered. Let me share some Scripture that might help us understand this story. John 3:19-21 in another translation says, “They are judged by this fact: The light has come into the world. But they did not want light. They wanted darkness because they were doing evil things. Everyone who does evil hates the light. They will not come to the light, because the light will show all the bad things they have done. But anyone who follows the true way comes to the light. Then the light will show that whatever they have done was done through God.” (ERV) God does hear and answer prayer. He wants to and is willing to work with this woman’s children. But everyone has a free will provided by God. In her case, it seems that her children are not ready to give up the darkness they are living in and choose to stay in that lifestyle. Everyone who loves evil hates the light, and that is the truth. The ones who are true believers love the light. This woman’s children need to see the light of Jesus and turn from their darkness. Sad to say, many can’t see beyond the darkness they are living in. Let’s keep praying. God waits for people who are living in darkness to come to Him. – 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

    3 min

  8. APR 4

    Pride and its Consequences

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

    4 min
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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
    102
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Intertribal Life Ministries
  • Show Website
    Council Fire