John Stanko

Pearl 143: Faith Stories

TOPIC: Faith and Testimonies

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard through the word about Christ" - Romans 10:17.

You must feed and build up your faith, and that comes in part by hearing faith stories and teaching. That is wjy testimonies are so important, for they build your faith and give you a vision for what you can do in faith. These stories can be from the living or those who have gone on in faith. What's more, you can encourage yourself with your own faith stories, reminding yourself of your past faith ventures to encourage your faith walk today. Who are your faith heroes? Where do you go to stimulate and encourage your faith? Who are you listening to, those who optimistic in faith or pessimistic in doubt?

Lord, You have been faithful to me, and I take time today to remember some of the instances where I stood in faith and You acted on my behalf. I choose not to shrink back today, but rather to advance in faith, remembering my past and the past of others whose faith you rewarded.

Pearl 142: Do Faith

TOPIC: Faith and

"But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.'
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show
you my faith by my deeds" - James 2:18.

You do not have to choose between having faith and doing something with your faith. It is not either/or. James indicated that he will show the world his faith by what he does, not only by what he says. Talk is cheap and easy and good intentions are noble but insufficient unless followed up with faith actions. Do you talk faith or do faith? What deeds can you point to which indicate your level of faith? What actions are a visible barometer of your faith, things like goals, projects, classes or other preparatory works for your future?

Lord, I want to talk faith, but not only talk but do faith. I will take stock today of my faith actions that indicate my faith levels. Then I will adjust my actions to include not only talk but tangible deeds that represent my faith in You. Then help me to increase my faith and the corresponding actions.

Pearl 141: Unfaith

TOPIC: Faith and Speech

"People who say such things show
that they are looking for a country of their own" - Hebrews 11:14.

As you saw yesterday, your faith should impact what you say and the words you use. Faith is always hopeful and optimistic, but not blind to reality. You can say, "I don't have any money but that will change."  When you say, "I never have any money" or "Things always go wrong or badly for me," you are speaking unfaith. In fact, whenever you use 'always' when describing your condition, you are speaking unfaith, for just one phone call or meeting can change that always into a 'used to.' Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Do you have use always when describing a negative situation in your life and world? Are you willing to transition from pessimism to hope?

Lord, I confess I speak unfaith at times, talking myself into pessimism and a downward spiral of negativity. How things are for me today is not how they will necessarily be tomorrow when You intervene on my behalf. So forgive my negativity and help me make the change from pessimist to carrier of hope.

Pearl 140: Lifestyle

TOPIC: Faith and Daily Living

"For we live by faith, not by sight" - 2 Corinthians 5:7.

Faith is not an event or expressed in times of dire need. No, faith is a lifestyle! It is something you live in, like a goldfish lives in its water, all day, every day. Faith is not a parachute you deploy when you are falling.  It is the currency with which you make transactions with God. As today's verse states, you live by faith every day and in every way. Is faith your lifestyle? Or do you pretty much trust yourself and your way of life, moving into faith only on special occasions?

Lord, I don't want to move in and out of faith any longer. I want to stay and live there, when I work, in my relationships, in my giving and when I express my spiritual gifts in ministry. That means I will need to learn to walk by faith and not by sight in all things. Help me as I commit to walk in faith as a lifestyle.

$41 For a Month

I received this update and these pictures (click to enlarge) from Pastor Francis this past week concerning Mary and the children at Upako Centre.

Dr. John,

When I look and the tremendous steps we have made since you started supporting Upako kids, I see the grace of God dancing in Kawangware. Revived hope of course, is amazing when you just look at the children and when you listen to them playing. You get the meaning for their joy. This is indeed a practical gospel that you and your team have been preaching in Kawangware.

Feeding and clothing them has changed their environment and am also happy because they are happy. It sounds like a big burden when a little cry of help rings in your ears for hours, days, months and even for years and the more you give it attention, the more its volume increases.  But because you want to help, you can only do what you can and let the noise be. Your help has lessened their cries

We are still appealing for help to feed the children.

Mary is back in her new school with confidence and in good health. I wish to give thanks to all involved in paying Mary's fees and i will make sure that she makes it to higher level academically. Thank you for hearing our cry.

Blessings

Pastor Francis

 And earlier in the week, I had received this update and report from Francis (note the children wearing the jeans we shipped over-click on it to enlarge the picture):

Dr. John,

I hope that this finds you well and under God's protection and provision. We are fine and thank God for all that we have. We received good number of books and this is going to help our children and other needy students in our community who would want to come to Upako and read them. We also received jeans trousers and a few pairs of shoes for the children, some from CMM two weeks ago and some from Peter last week. This is why i did not write immediately. The kids who received the gifts were very happy and I have attached some photos of them.Thank you very much. The books will reach as many students in the community as possible.

Pastor Francis

As you can read, Pastor Francis is asking for help with feeding the children and Alice has asked for help as well for Each One Touch One. Alice sent me figures to show that she can feed a child for one month for just a touch over $41.00 Will you help feed a child for one month by sending $41? You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.  Thank you for helping me help the children and those who are helping them.

Pearl 139: Faith Words

TOPIC: Faith and Speech

"It is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.'
Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also
believe and therefore speak . . ." - 2 Corinthians 4:13.

What you believe should affect what you say and confess. This is consistent with what you learned the other day: faith without works or action is dead. If nothing else, your heart faith should produce faith words that speak of what will be as though it already is. Can you speak of your purpose in 'now' terms? Can you set goals and thank God for their completion? Can you trust God for time and then act like you are, not speaking anxiety but confidence in your ability to get things done with the time you have?

Lord, I do believe, but sometimes my words betray my doubts. I am afraid to verbalize my faith at times, so I will not be disappointed and embarrassed if things don't work out. What's more, even my silence can be an indication of my fearful heart. Help me to be a person of faith who speaks words of faith. Amen.

Pearl 138: Fully Persuaded

TOPIC: Faith and Reality

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief
regarding the promise of God,
but was strengthened in his faith
and gave glory to God, being fully
persuaded that God had power to do
what he had promised" - Romans 4:20-21.

When Abraham beheld the reality of his age and his childlessness, he did not ignore the truth. He simply chose to focus on another truth, which was God's promise to him. When he did that, he was actually strengthened in his faith and gave God glory. What's more, he was 'fully persuaded' God would come through on His promises. Are you fully persuaded of God's ability to provide for you even though you live in lack right now? Do you look at your current reality and come away even stronger in faith? Do you base today's decisions on what you can see or what God has put in your heart about the future?

Lord, You have the power to do anything. I know that. Where I struggle is whether or not You will use that power for me! There are things in my heart to be and do, but I seem so far away from them all right now. Yet I choose to trust You, realizing that I am just a phone call away from a breakthrough.

Pearl 137: Current Reality

TOPIC: Faith and Facts

"Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact
that his body was as good as dead—since he was
about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb
was also dead" - Romans 4:19.

Faith does not require that you ignore the current facts or reality of your situation. It does require that you not base your actions, your words or your future on those facts. As bad as your current situation may be, you are just one phone call, meeting, or email away from where you are now to where God has promised you will be! Can you live in the tension of God's promise for the future and your current reality? Can you live in the promise of prosperity when you are broke? Can you live in your future purpose when you are stuck in a job you hate?

Lord, I look at my current reality and I could be depressed, but I refuse.  Instead I choose to remain strong in faith and trust You and Your promises to me.  In my finances, job prospects, and relationships I am as good as dead (just like Abraham was) but my faith in You is strong. I choose to trust you today.

Pearl 136: Today

TOPIC: Faith and Action

"In the same way, faith by itself,
if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" - James 2:17.

Faith is not just what you believe, it is what you do with what you believe. Faith is seen and proved by your actions, by what you do and in some sense by what you don''t do. And there is always something you can do with your faith. You can take a trip, write a letter, make a call, or read a book, all because you have faith that something is going to happen tomorrow. Therefore you choose to do something about that tomorrow today. What impact is your faith in God having on your vision of tomorrow? What impact is that vision having on today? What can you do today, right now, because you have faith?

Lord, I trust You, and I know this trust must find practical expressions in my everyday life. In fact, open my eyes to the today portion of every day, so that I may please You by acting out my faith right here, right now.

Pearl 135: Clarity of Reality

TOPIC: Faith and Perseverance

"All these people were still living by faith when they died.
They did not receive the things promised; they only saw
them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that
they were foreigners and strangers on earth" - Hebrews 11:13.

You may not receive what you have faith for in this lifetime, as happened to those mentioned in today's verse. Yet they saw something and welcomed it as though it already was! That's what faith does - it allows you to see something from tomorrow so clearly today that you can thank God for it and enjoy it now. What do you see? Are you basing your life's work on what you can see or what is yet to come, attaching your faith to the latter? Are you willing to die in faith rather than live in fear or presumption?

Lord, I want clarity of reality, not of what is today but what will be tomorrow. Once I see it, then I need Your help to take steps today to make it so, even if it means I give my life to it and it's not yet finished. At that point, I can die in faith, entrusting my work to Your hands and watchful care. Amen.