Faith Archives | Council Fire

April 28, 2026

April 28, 2026

Giving Over to God

“Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” Genesis 22:12 (NLT) Not too many people like tests. The test that Abraham had received was a hard one—it was a testing of his faith. In Genesis 22:2, God tells Abraham to, “Take your son . . . Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains.” The next morning Abraham and his son head out. The fact […]

April 26, 2026

April 26, 2026

Mountain Rock—God’s Reminder

“I will set you up on a high rock where your enemies cannot reach you.” Psalm 27:5 “When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2b (NKJV) Our village is surrounded by beautiful mountains. A huge rock on one mountain sits by itself on top—a reminder from God in different ways. For one, it weighs tons. No one carried it up there, and no one can take it down! God placed it there. Nothing is too hard for Him. It’s a reminder that He is the Rock—the Rock of all Ages. It’s […]

April 25, 2026

April 25, 2026

This Side of Heaven

“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NASB) On this side of heaven, we may never understand how all things can work together for good for God’s children. If we trust God, He will turn all these into opportunities for spiritual growth. My daughter and I both had dreams of a very dark storm coming our way. I believe God was preparing me for what was coming. My husband had been sick for a few weeks and had lost […]

April 24, 2026

April 24, 2026

Be Ready

“You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:40 (ESV) One of my most difficult things in life is “time.” I think about when I would get to my doctor’s appointment just one minute before my appointment. I was worried that if I was late, I would have to pay the $50 charge for being late. I think about it when I am to meet a client for a meeting, and I just make it on time. I tend to forget that rush hour or lunch time rush […]

April 22, 2026

April 22, 2026

Praying in Jesus’ Name

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (NASB) Years ago, back in northern Manitoba, we met a young teen girl who was desperately asking for help. There were three of us in the home at the time, and she had been lying down in one of the rooms when she asked for help. So, I went in there, and prayed for her. As I knelt down beside the bed and began to pray, the other person in the home […]

April 21, 2026

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April 21, 2026

Getting Past Anxiety and Worry

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Growing up in my little community, I lived with a lot of anxiety. It seemed that I was worried about everything. I’d fret over things at school, things at home, and almost every aspect of life. One of the ways that I dealt with my anxiety was trying to control situations I faced. That approach didn’t work […]

April 20, 2026

April 20, 2026

Hiding God’s Word

“Your word I have hidden my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) I remember memorizing Psalm 23 in Sunday school. That earned me my first Bible! I like that the teacher said memorizing Scripture is like hiding God’s Word in our hearts. As I grew older, I realized what a treasure God’s memorized Word is. Keeping God’s Word with us this way serves in several ways. It is a reminder to not sin against Him and to draw on His many promises. It also helps us to be encouraged in moments we may experience fear […]

April 18, 2026

April 18, 2026

Clocks and Watches

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) I remember the first time I heard someone say, “I have a watch that does not have to be wound up every day; it runs by a battery.” In those days our watches and clocks didn’t have batteries to run them—they had a spring inside that was turned and turned until it was tight. Then the “time teller” was ready to go for another day. […]

April 17, 2026

Flight

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Imagine we are living in the 1700s. We’ve carried water from the lake or creek, chopped wood for the fire, and started a stew for supper. (You men brought game home yesterday.) How difficult would it be for us to believe the tale of an odd-looking stranger who shows up with a wild story about a machine called a “747”—that we can walk into, with all of our luggage, […]