“Six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look . . . and one who sows discord among brethren.”
Proverbs 6:16,19 (NKJV)
With Sophie and her friends, it’s playing cards every Saturday night. Each player places 100 pennies in “the pot” for a “winner take all.” But they seldom have a winner because juicy gossip always takes over.
“Guess who’s getting a divorce?” Josie says. “Mrs. Better-and-Richer-than-Thou, Marcia. That’s who!” “You’re kidding me! After all that bragging about what her husband buys her? I bet that ‘diamond’ ring she flashed around was nothing but a shiny piece of glass!” Josie
shuffl es the cards, Barbara cuts them . . . then talk takes over.
Sandra wags a finger. “I heard they were about to lose that fancy house of theirs! That husband of hers lent out some money and never
got paid back. Well, wifey found out and things went downhill after that!” She tastes a slice of cake, then says, “What’s this, Sophie? Store brand cake mix?” Everybody bursts out laughing. Dabbing tears from her eyes, Gloria says, “Well, it’s better than at Josie’s house last time we were over there!” Celia speaks up, “Yep. Ran outta food …!”
Hours pass. Sophie glances at “the pot” on the card table that is still filled with pennies and the still-undealt cards. “Nobody won the pot,” she says, and glances at her watch. “Well, goodnight, girls. Always good to have you over. I have to get my clothes ready. See you
in church tomorrow!”
“And the tongue is a fi re, a world of iniquity . . . it defi les the whole body . . . and it is set on fi re by hell” James 3:6 (NKJV).
Our Father in heaven, help my thoughts to be pure, so that my words may be pure in Your sight as well. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
— Kiki BelMonte-Schaller
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