Encouragement Archives | Council Fire

September 20, 2026

September 20, 2026

We Wrestle Not . . .

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood . . . ” Ephesians 6:12a (NKJV) We have been in ministry for many years. We started soon after we were married. My wife, Edna, and I learned that we needed Bible and ministry training, so we attended a small Bible Institute in Alaska outside of Palmer. Then we started ministry in her home village. The Lord led us soon after to Anchorage. We led a Native ministry for many years, where the above verse became very real to me when I encountered opposition. Surprisingly, the opposition came from Christians who […]

September 19, 2026

September 19, 2026

Where are the Directions?

“If a man love Me, he will keep my Words and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.” John 14:23 (KJV) It happens very often at Christmas. Someone gets a present that needs to be assembled. It’s easy to say, “It doesn’t look hard. I don’t need the instructions.” So, you kind of drop the instruction papers somewhere. This has happened in many homes, including ours. I still remember thinking, “Where is that instruction book? I hope someone didn’t burn it.” Sometimes life presents problems two or three at a […]

September 18, 2026

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September 18, 2026

On the Mountains and in the Valleys

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot . . . ” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (NIV) I had the opportunity to create and host a radio show called Pause, Praise & Rock! on 89.3 FM, The Raven. We are to praise the Lord, no matter the circumstance. God is good all the time. Seasons in our lives change, that is for sure. But God doesn’t change, so our circumstances should not dictate or limit our […]

September 17, 2026

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September 17, 2026

Love Sent Jesus to the Cross

“‘Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ [Jesus] said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.” John 12:31-33 (NIV) Many years ago, in a certain church, it was customary for new members to be called to the front at the close of the worship service. The first to be called one morning was a Chinese laundryman who had just moved to the area. He stood to one […]

September 15, 2026

September 15, 2026

Guitar Strings

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NKJV) New guitar strings always make a guitar sound better! You kind of get used to the “average” sound of your instrument, but it’s just so refreshing to hear new strings kick in that extra level of twang, crispocity (okay, that word didn’t clear Spellcheck), resonance, and reverberance. I remember bragging about my new Black Diamond strings to another guitarist, Ten-Foot Joe. He just laughed and said, “Cheapest on the market, eh?” I […]

September 14, 2026

September 14, 2026

My Cup Runneth Over

“Oh, how abundant is your goodness.” Psalm 31:19a (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 […]

September 13, 2026

September 13, 2026

Walking with God

“And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8b (NKJV) Walking. A natural, everyday practice. Simple. Uncomplicated. Generally speaking, everyone does it, or at least tries to. But what does it mean to walk with God? My second oldest son was born profoundly deaf. His story is one of miracles, as he does life with special needs and God’s amazing help. He now has a cochlear implant that helps him hear, but there are times when his little brothers can actually get too loud for […]

September 12, 2026

September 12, 2026

My Rescuer

“He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.” Psalm 18:16 (NKJV) Growing up, I always had a fear of water, especially if I had to swim a long distance. Access to a swimming pool in my northern community was not an option, so our swimming was in dugouts, rivers and lakes. One day, while swimming in a dugout, I was trying to make it from one end to the other. Fear overtook me, and I thought I wasn’t going to make it. However, I had a friend there who kept telling me, “You’re gonna […]

September 10, 2026

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September 10, 2026

Who . . . or What . . . is First in Your Life?

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” Malachi 3:8 (NKJV) In today’s society there is lots of pressure to have the best of everything. TV ads tout, “You deserve it!” Then, subconsciously and sometimes unrealistically, they embed in the minds of the susceptible that they can have it all. Lynda faithfully tithes to her church each payday, and also gives offerings. At Lynda’s workplace, though, Dana, a new employee, is hired. Beautiful and single, she dresses in name brand styles and drives an […]