Set Free

Realizing Potential

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renew al of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (ESV) It just sits there. There’s an old 1964 Mercury “Shorty” school bus behind my dad’s place that’s been sitting there since 1976 when one of my brothers blew the motor on it. It’s a sweet little three-window bus that I sometimes wonder what it would take to fi x up, rebuild, restore, and customize . . . it would sure turn heads as it chugged down Main Street! The problem is that it’s just “potential.” It’s just a thought of “what could be.” It may happen someday, or maybe it will just sit there and rust til it’s deemed as scrap iron. It kind of reminds me of us as people. God gave each of us a certain amount of potential — things that we are capable of, things that we could be, ways that God could use us, ways that we could maximize what we have going for us right now, ways to become what we are designed to be. The problem is that it’s just “potential” until we start to let God have his rebuilding, restoring, re-creating hand in our lives. It’s only then that we begin to see the new person that God can morph us into. It’s only then that our potential can translate to reality. — Kene Jackson   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

Grieving God

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4: 30 (NIV) It seems that pain has a way of drawing us closer to God. God knew all about pain and grief. He watched His Son die on the cross for our miserable sins. I remember one time when I was pinning a diaper on my daughter (back before Pampers). I caught her skin on the pin. My poor girl cried in pain, and I cried right along with her, knowing I had hurt her — not on purpose, of course, but still I had hurt her. I cried all day. I carried her, trying to reassure her that I loved her, and that I didn’t hurt her by choice. God chose to send Jesus to the cross. He could not hold His Son in His arms and try to tell Him that He didn’t mean it. God sent Jesus to the cross of H is own free will, and Jesus agreed to it. That time of grief for God the Father and His Son, Jesus, must have been beyond words. I can’t imagine the pain that Father God felt as He saw Jesus dying for our sins. Each time we stray from our walk, each time we make a choice that we know is not a godly choice, and each time we deliberately turn our ear from God’s voice, we grieve God. Of course, we are going to make mistakes because we are still human. But God, in His love and mercy, has given us the Bible as a roadmap to use here on earth. Let’s not grieve the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 30:21a says, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’” (NKJV). — June Cardinal-Howse   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

Set Free

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV) In my past I was a musician. I played guitar in a band. We played in bars, halls, conferences, and even the Toronto Skydome (I believe now called Rogers Centre where the Blue Jays play). We even met various rock stars along the way. But I paid a huge price for this. I became an alcoholic, drug addict, party-er, smoker, etc. The list goes on and on. One day, I made the decision to stop living this destructive lifestyle and seek the Lord . . . again. You see, I accepted the Lord back when I was seven years old. I went to church, Bible studies with my parents, youth nights, etc. My parents attended Bible school for three years, and I was with them while they were there. I met a lot of people who were following the Lord. Yet, I wanted to “experience life” myself. After 12 years of drinking and smoking, I gave up. I told God, “I’m a sinner and I’m sorry. I give up. Help me because I can’t help myself.” God did! As the verse above says, we are no longer slaves to sin. Christ set us free at the cross. We may be reminded of our past sins because the enemy wants us to think we have not been set free. But Christ, who dwells within us by His Spirit, has given us authority over the power of sin and the flesh. We can confidently say, “Away from me, flesh, in Jesus’ name. For Christ bought this body at a price with His precious blood.” Faith in Christ alone will set you free from sin and all its curse. Faith in Christ will keep us “on the narrow road” (Matthew 7:14). Christ set me free, and continues to do so. — Peter Constant   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

My Cup Runneth Over

“Oh, how abundant is your goodness.” Psalm 31:19 (ESV) I love flowers. God could have given us just one flower, and only three flowers are mentioned by name in the Bible — the Rose of Sharon, the Rose, and the Lily of the Valley. But there are over 400,000 kinds of flowers in the world! All colors, all kinds, some so small you can barely notice them. Others are huge, some have wonderful fragrances, others barely have any scent at all — but they bring such beauty into our world! It’s hard to look at any flower and not feel God’s love. God gives us love abundantly. He gave us over 2,000,000 species of living things … over 6,500 species of mammals, 60,000 species of trees, 20,000 species of fish, and 11,000 species of birds. He didn’t haven’t to do any of that. He could have given us a dozen animals, and a few trees, and a couple of birds — and we’d have never known the difference. Everything about God is about abundance, especially His love and forgiveness. He gave us a beautiful world. He gave us the sun and moon and stars and the seasons. Our cup is full and running over. There are eight billion people in the world and no two are alike, not even identical twins. We use flowers to celebrate almost every holiday and event. We have flowers at parties, celebrations, holidays, weddings and funerals. People take flowers to cemeteries to leave on graves of people who have passed away years ago because there is comfort in the act of leaving flowers on a grave. There is a Chinese proverb that says, “Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them.” Give some flowers to someone today and see them smile, and it will do your heart good. God, we are overwhelmed by your love. — Crying Wind   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

He Is With Me

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 (NLT) There are times in life when it feels so overwhelming that we just want to give up. Whether it’s our job, our finances, family problems . . . I’m sure we can all relate in one way or another. I wrote this poem as a reminder of Who is really in control. For those of us who have given our life to Christ, it’s just so great to know that He holds it all in His hand and has a plan for all of us who put our trust in Him. When I feel like this world is bringing me down, Your mighty right hand holds me up to not drown. As I walk through the water, You will be with me. My life is clay for the Potter to mold and uplift, The way God the Father holds my soul in His grip, His presence is present; the Holy Spirit’s a gift. He wants to know all of us: every woman, child, and man, No matter if you’re close or in a far-off distant land. The Lord calls out to those who hear His voice, No one will ever force you; He’s given all of us a choice. So won’t you bring what’s broken and lay it at His feet, As the gates of glory open and heaven’s host we finally meet? So, even during those hard or uneasy moments, He is there continuing to carry us — along with all of our burdens — through life’s storms. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for never leaving us nor forsaking us. Help us to strive to be more like You and to be less like us. Amen. — Jason Jackson   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]