Forgiveness Archives | Council Fire

June 14, 2026

June 14, 2026

Love like Jesus

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV) The apostle Paul’s advice to the Corinthian church is better than any self-help book you’ll ever find. Our goal as believers is to become Christ-like. Have you ever heard someone say, “I just want to love like Jesus loved”? How do you do that exactly? Well, my friend, it begins when the believer is willing to venture from the church building to the streets, applying the Word they received while they sat in a church meeting — taking the Gospel message and closing the gap between them […]

June 11, 2026

June 11, 2026

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, […]

June 10, 2026

June 10, 2026

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 […]

June 4, 2026

June 4, 2026

Surrendering Your Pain

“For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.” Isaiah 65:22b-23 (NIV) Into my adult years, my relationship with my mom struggled. She had been to residential school and, right from my youngest years, her mothering skills were very poor . . . almost nonexistent. When I eventually got around to asking her […]

June 3, 2026

June 3, 2026

Experiencing Forgiveness

“We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates his brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 1 John 4:19-21 (NIV) After I asked my mom and dad for forgiveness for hating them, the wall that had separated us from experiencing a good parent/ child relationship began to fall away. I began to stop in and visit, […]

June 2, 2026

June 2, 2026

Learning to Forgive

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) At 32 years-old, I was doing a study with two other men. The Bible based book we were studying was called Stop Using Your Past as an Excuse for the Way You Are. My mom had been to residential school. Her mothering skills, when I was […]

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

Going Through It with Me

“Therefore, it was necessary for Him to be made in every respect like us, His brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.” Hebrews 2:17 (NLT) The High Priest mentioned in this verse is Jesus! In Philippians 2:6-7 it says, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up His divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form . . .” (NLT) God humbled Himself […]

April 9, 2026

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April 9, 2026

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 […]

April 8, 2026

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 […]