“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.” Colossians 3:9; “Lying lips are an abomination to the

Lord.” Proverbs 12:22 (NKJV)

Have you ever asked yourself why some people make up lies and why others so easily believe them? Well, there was one such story

made up about Willie, a jovial fellow that I knew from Little Buffalo, and the Metis leader, Stan Daniels. This happened while we were living up there.

One day, a messenger came from Cadotte Lake to tell me that there was going to be an important meeting the next day, and they wanted me to come and interpret for them. I agreed to go.

However, the next day the weather was 50 below zero (Fahrenheit). Cell phones were unheard of back then in the 1970s, but the two

guys who had come the day before got word to me that the meeting had been cancelled. Worse than that, we heard that Mr. Daniels and Willie, who were supposedly riding together from Peace River, had both frozen to death.

The next day, which I remember well, I went to the store at Cadotte. It was quite roomy and was a central gathering place in the community. You had to push the door hard, as it dragged, until it opened wide.

That day, there was a group sitting around the big stove talking about this bad happening. Someone said that Mr. Daniels’ last words

were, “I’m sorry that I couldn’t make it to your place.” Then he died! Then Willie said something that was barely audible, then he died!

We never did hear who this person was who witnessed this and brought the word back to the community. While the guys were talking

about having to dig a grave for their friend, Willie, the door opened and a cloud of fog came in, and then in walked Willie!

Please help me, Lord, to always tell the truth.

— 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

“Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that

had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.” Exodus 18:8 (ESV)

God’s people suffered 400 years of slavery. That’s a long time, my friends, but during that time the people cried out to God, and He heard them. Out of His mercy, God raised up a leader to deliver them from bondage.

Today, people are still enslaved and imprisoned in so many ways. Did you know that we can be enslaved by our own choices? Some

people seem to choose to accept defeat, and refuse God’s help. When we let the enemy lead us to sin, or allow our past experiences to define us, then we walk back into our own “Egypt,” slaves to the enemy. And most of our “prisons” are made up of our own thoughts about ourselves, our lives, and our whole identity.

Our past can also shape the building of our “prisons.” We may feel we need the approval of others or to meet certain expectations.

We can be held captive by our emotions and feelings. How much time have we spent in anger? . . . or plotting or seeking revenge, because of what someone did to us? But there is good news, my friends! Our God is the great deliverer. He alone is the great chain breaker. “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved along with everyone in your household” (Acts 16:38).

In your time of hardship, cry out, as the people of God did in the Bible. The Lord will hear you. As He raised up the prophet Moses to lead the people out of Egypt, so He has sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to lead us out of the condemnation of sin by dying on the cross.

With Christ, we walk as free people, straight “out of Egypt”!

— 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

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

I sure didn’t find anything “good” in the scalding grief I felt when I lost my husband. He was my best friend, the love of my life, the best father, the most loving grandfather and chapan (great-grandfather). He was the backbone of our family, a wonderful friend, and man of God. The person I thought would be with me until the day God called me home.

“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so,” we sing. But I didn’t feel like Jesus loved me in the months after Al went home

to be with the Lord. If Jesus really did love me, why was my life full of loss? As a young girl, I experienced the loss of family security due

to divorce, the loss of all five brothers, the loss of both parents, the loss of my kokum and mushum (grandparents). Every time I turned around, there was another loss.

After the pain and sorrow began to fade a wee bit, I realized just how much Jesus really did love me. He loved me enough to see that

I didn’t owe one penny when Al passed. He loved me enough to give me daughters and grandchildren that care about me. He gave me an adopted family that walked beside me in my grief, even though I tried to push them away a time or two as I didn’t understand they were trying to help me.

God never wanted people to die — death is a result of the first sin in the Garden of Eden. God made people to worship Him, to have

fellowship with Him, to do His will. I realized how much God cared because He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. Yes, even in grief,

we can find the good when we have Jesus in our lives.

— June Cardinal-Howse

 

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

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are

red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

The windshield was cracked. Not just a hairline fracture, but a “spider web” shatter that had the potential to make Spiderman sit up

and take notice! So, I got it changed. Such a difference — from the gravel-battered glass of yesterday, to the clear drivability that I could now experience. It reminded me of how God’s Word talks about His forgiveness.

Then came the road. That first stone hit right in the center of my vision! My perfect glass was no more. Know what I did? I took it right

back to where I got the windshield, and they took that rock chip out of there (they can do that now). I was back on the road until smack,

another rock! Where’d I go? Right back again to that glass shop, and then right back on the road! The next time the road threw a rock at me I knew the solution . . . back to the glass shop!

It reminded me of our humanity, how we slip up now and again and need God’s forgiveness again — not to get saved all over, just

cleaned up. It’s something like those rock chip repairs . . . I didn’t need the whole windshield replaced, just the chip fixed up!

As in all things human, parallels to spiritual concepts fall a little short. Alas, the glass shop only covered three chips and that was it. The

next one was 60 bucks from my pocket but, hey, it came with unlimited crack reparation (they do that now, too) and rock chip repairs. Now that sounds more like God’s forgiveness plan!

My windshield will probably get in a few more arguments with road rocks, but I know where to go to get the damage fixed.

Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and forgiveness!

— 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

“Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21 (NASB)

There is always a political cycle where we vote on civic, tribal, and even national candidates who want to lead us as a people. As believers in Christ, we must follow a different grid in evaluating who we consider the best candidates to vote for. It is the believer’s responsibility to not sit on the sidelines when it comes to these important issues.

Jesus reminded us of our civic responsibility in Matthew 22:21 (NASB), where He Himself says, “Then pay to Caesar the things that

are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” This indicates His desire for us to fulfill our civic responsibilities.

We must understand that it is God who ultimately sets up kings, presidents, and all other leaders, whether they be good, bad, evil or

godly — to accomplish His purposes in the world. Romans 13:1 says, “Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there

is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (NASB).

We learn this lesson from the Old Testament and what it says about the human leaders that led God’s chosen people. When you look at all their 44 kings, it defines them as either evil, wicked, depraved, godly, good, or righteous. Mankind evaluates effective leaders by whether they promote the political party’s platform they associate themselves with. But for God, it’s clear they are either evil or good, based on biblical standards. And we should think no less when choosing who we will vote for in the next election cycle. As Indigenous followers of Christ, it’s not towing the party line, but following the Bible that matters!

— 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

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NIV)

My life was out of control. Drugs and drinking had taken over and ruled my life. I was headed for a party on my motorbike. There were three of us riding on it, but we never made it. We ended up in an accident, and I was taken to jail in handcuffs.

I woke up in jail the next morning, and it was there that the Holy Spirit brought to my memory a verse that I had heard from a pastor —

John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, but by me.” Those words burned in my mind!

When I eventually got back home, that same pastor came over for a visit. I knew in my heart something was taking place because for every question I asked, he opened his Bible and answered with Scripture. I began to cry and that was the day I found freedom! The Bible became my roadmap. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

After walking with the Lord for a few years, I started to get complacent. I started to stay away from church and Bible studies. I began

to feel myself slipping away. God, in His mercy, allowed me to be involved in a rollover accident with an 85-ton truck (I worked in the oil

sands). Battery acid got in my eyes and took my sight away for three days. It was like a spiritual surgery. Feeling God’s presence and inner peace was like nothing I’ve ever experienced! It’s totally amazing how God works in mysterious ways to get His children’s attention, because it was that accident that brought me back to following Jesus again.

— Del Chalifoux

 

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

“Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

She was the tiniest puppy of the litter. Her brothers and sisters would push her away and Mama wouldn’t let her eat. One of the kids in

the house tried to feed her with a doll bottle, but that didn’t work out so well.

When I first saw this skinny little “runt of the litter,” I wanted her. It didn’t matter that she was malnourished, thin and kind of sickly — I

still wanted her! After the “rescue operation,” and when this impoverished puppy finally made her home at our place, things were very

different. The first thing that changed was that somebody wanted her. I’d fallen for that little dog big time!

The second thing was that somebody cared and looked out for her. Now there was Puppy Chow, vet shots, and her own little mattress.

That third change was that, for the first time in her life, she was special to someone!

It reminded me of how God relates to us. Firstly, the Bible tells us in John 3:16 that God loved us. For people who grow up in a home where there is no one who really cares for them, the concept of love may be a distant or distorted ideal. That is very sad, but there is good news.

Secondly, God cares for us. We read in 1 Peter 5:7, “He cares for you.” It’s a truth that I’ve had to learn over and over in my life — that

God cares for me!

Finally, God’s Word really brings out the thought of you and I being very special. Psalm 139:14 says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully

made: your works are wonderful.” That says that I am special!

That little puppy went from being rejected to being queen of the house. In God’s way of seeing us, we are loved, cared about, and very

special. Thank you, Lord, for loving and caring about me!

— 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

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no

hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NASB)

Grief is something that we all have in common. At some point, we will all experience loss. July 29th, 2023, was the day I felt it very deeply. My “Papa” (grandpa) Wesley Cardinal went to be with Jesus. After a long battle with dementia, the Lord in His mercy took him where he wouldn’t feel pain and healed his body completely.

After this loss, I was left feeling alone and very hopeless. I was a Christian, but I was so consumed by grief that I couldn’t see anything

good coming out of this. I wasn’t reading my Bible. One day I picked it up and was reading the (above) passage from 1 Thessalonians. The part where Paul says he is sharing these things so that we don’t “grieve as those who have no hope” jumped out at me.

Why was I in such despair? I had hope, and my Papa had that same hope while he was still here. The God of the universe is a personal God. He saw me in all my pain. He has plans for my pain and it will not be wasted. He will teach me to depend on Him more, surrender everything to Him, and trust Him to walk beside me.

The verse that reminds me of my Papa is Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will

complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (NKJV). My Papa is complete now and walking by His Savior. I still have this race to run and I

desire to finish it well.

— 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

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7 (NIV)

We always look to things in the world for hope. It seems that those things are always changing from day to day, and they never give

us lasting hope. If we would only remember that Jesus came to live with humankind to teach us God’s ways — so we will know that true

Hope is only in Him.

Hebrews 13:5b says, “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (NIV). He gave us salvation, the forgiveness of sins, when He hung on the cross and died. He loves us so much that He died for us. When His work of saving us was done, He said, “It is

finished.” On the third day, He rose again so we could have the gift of Hope when we believe on God’s one and only Son, Christ Jesus.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (NIV). Jesus was sacrificed for all our sins, to set us free from the penalty of sin. When we accept Him as our Savior, we can place our hope in Him. The Hope He gives is free to us, though it cost Him greatly. But we need to believe and turn away (repent) from our sins.

Psalm 33:18 says, “The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love” (NIV).

May God always remind us of the Hope He gave us in His Son’s life. He gave us salvation, and we can Hope in Him, the one and only

begotten Son of God. He takes the chains of bondage from us, gives us the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the Spirit, to love others as God loves us.

— 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

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1; “My times are in y our hands.”

Psalm 31:15 (NIV)

Experts agree that a staggering amount of time is consumed each day by interruptions. Whether at work or at home, a phone call or an unexpected visit can distract us from what we feel is our main purpose. God has given each of us exactly the same amount of time in

a day. The question is: how do we spend that time?

We hear a lot of expressions like: “Time sure flies” . . . “I don’t have time” . . . “Where did the time go?” . . . “Wish I had more time” . . . “Man, I ran out of time” . . . and so on! Perhaps the most often used word in the English language is “time.” To manage our time for everything

is not always easy to do. Sometimes, we have to ask ourselves, “Is this really necessary?”

God also has our time numbered while we are on this earth. So, we never want to put anything off to think we have lots of time. The

most important decision any person can make is to ask Jesus for forgiveness of sins and receive Jesus into their heart and life. Taking time for God in reading His Word and in talking to God in prayer would be another priority. Taking time with family and friends is another

priority, through conversations and just doing activities together and encouraging each other. Another priority is for everyone to slow down and to take time to relax and rest from our regular work. God Himself took time to rest (see Hebrews 4:4).

When our plans and time are interrupted by someone who really needs our help, we can ask God for wisdom in how to respond with

compassion. Sometimes, what we may call an interruption of our time may be a divine appointment the Lord has scheduled in our time for that day.

— Bessie McPeek

 

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