I'm Tired And Weary But I Can't Quit Because God Is Still Working On Me

Mr. Bankson,

You are definitely doing what is best. Thank you for being a good Christian and a very good man.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you for reading my blog and emailing such a kind

comment. But I am what I am because of Jesus Christ. He lives in me and I beg

Him to use me to do His will. I want to let my light so shine before men and women,

boys and girls, that they may see my good works and glorify my Father, which art

in heaven.

God bless you Lacey. I have found that at this time of the year it is easy to become depressed. God uncerstands. Take heart, God is still in control. Your blog has been a blessing to me. You have been a blessing to me. God bless and Take care. I am praying for you.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you, Nancy, for promising me your continued

prayer, Yes, thank you for not just wishing me good luck or wishing me well or

saying that you hope everything turns out alright. But you promise me something

most precious, You promised me prayer and I could ask for nothing better from

you because prayers of the righteous availeth much.

Thanks for sharing your reality with us. When we arrive at eternity's door, the gift we will be given there will make all of this fade into insignificance. We will be who we were meant to be, what we were meant to be, thanks to God's King and what he offered to the Father on our behalf.

You are right - it will be on his timetable, according to his agenda. According to what I understand the Bible to say to us, his agenda is the creation of a worthy heart in me prior to my arrival at that door. That worthy heart starts with brokenness and contrition, continues on through recognition of my poverty and grief over my sin and evil. It continues through creation in me of genuine hunger for deep, real goodness; moral beauty that reflects God's own. It continues through into meekness, genuine love, gratitude, deep humility, and an increasing longing for the permanent reality that God only describes and promises here in this time and place.

Until then, I too am tired. It is hard to face one more day. I don't know where the inner resources are going to come from when I am hollow and depleted from many hard yesterdays. Then I remember - I am God's and this is his story that is being told. He is the hero of the narrative; I am one of the fortunate ones that he has chosen to show mercy to, and to recreate inside. Sometimes, when God's hand has steadied the focus wheel of my faith, I even get to see something of what is waiting for me, when God has finished the work he began when he granted me the gift of faith.

May his quiet confidence and joy sustain you, as he continues to tell your/his story.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Oh my, Bill, I am thunderstruck by your powerful,

purifying narrative straight from the heart. It sent warm vibrations through my soul

and the souls of others of kindred mind and spirit. It thrills me the way this deep

blog tends to bring together some of the most sublime minds and spirits on earth.

All along, you were all there caring and sharing, feeling and revealing, hoping and

helping to make this world a better world for all so that God's kingdom will come

and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I praise your sharp penetrating

sense in introspection. How rarely do we dare to look inside ourselves for the sake

of personal refinement and correction. I want to be better and better in every way

possible in every facet of my life and every fiber of my being. God bless you for

your rich eloquence of expression and elegance of compassion. And the core of

you comment in definitely in keeping with the Christmas season of giving. Thank

you for giving so much so well. God bless you Bill Moore.

What an amazing testimonial. I am surprised the Sun Times permitted this, but I'm glad it did. May God great you healing and continued wisdom. Merry Christmas.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Bill, they don't call the Chicago Sun-Times the Bright

One for nothing. Hopefully, this blog is just another way of this paper publishing to

put a little love and a little sunshine in the hearts of those living in darkness. I pray

that the Sun-Times be a newspaper unlike the bluespapers that most of our fellow

publications are confined to being. Yes, there is good news to report as well as bad

news. And this blog is one way the Sun-Times publishes good news and the Truth.

Blessed be the newspapers who dare to publish the good news as well as the

bad.

God Bless you--I too am suffering and will remember what you said and try to live it

BANKS' RESPONSE: God bless you, fellow sufferer. God suffers us to suffer

sometimes for the sake or cause of righteousness. He suffers us to suffer so that

the works of God might be made manifest in us. So in the meantime, we must

continue, as best we can, to work the works of Him who sent us while it is day. For

heaven helps us when the night cometh and serves notice that it's "quitting time."

When that time comes, let us be careful not to let Him catch us with our work

undone. God bless you, Miriam. And a merry, merry Christmas to you and your

family.

Lacy - your words are beautiful and inspiring. You are a well-hewn pot undergoing firing by the Potter. Your glaze is very fine: uncracked and unblemished. You are my inspiration for this season of hope, grace and love. May He heal you fully, completely, and quickly. Battle on, brother, battle on. The victory is yours already.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Nelson, you and I have seen many a calamity and many

a catastrophe befall so many in our day. But is there anyone who ever called upon

the Lord in faith and prayer and did not get an answer? Prayer is our lifeline with the

Potter. And we will rejoice and be glad in the fact that He holds and molds us in the

hollow of His omnipotent hands. And as He spins you and me on His wheel of

grace and mercy, He sculptures us so that in the end we will be fit for

eternity and scaled for infinity. I am heartened by your supreme kindness and

tenderness of heart. Thank you, Jesus!

Praise God for your faith and resilience. I WAS sick and the Lord healed me... I too suffered, but I praised him through my storm. He is our Healer, Redeemer and Saviour. As tears flow down my face as I read your testimony, I find great joy in knowing that you will be healed. As you stated, God has his own devign design and we must trust in Him and with all our heart. I thank God for your courage and I pray that God will demonstrate His glory and mercy by performing a miracle for you, so that all who know you and don't know you could bear witness to God's unfailing love for all his children. As a 35 year old mother of three young children and wife to a compassionate and dedicated public servant - I understand your physical and emotional pain, but this is a temporary situation and joy WILL come in the morning.

God is still working on me too!

Thank you Rev. Banks -- you have truly blessed me with your sermon today! It's so easy to be distracted from the important things in life (especially during the Holiday Season)... God, love, family, health, friends and community (I could go on and on of all our blessings). Thank you for sharing. Because of your words, I remember how much God loves us, John 3:16 reads, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not persih, but have eternal life."

May the Lord Bless you and your family always!

With Love, Veronica

BANKS' RESPONSE: Veronica, my cup runneth over from reading your

comment. Thank you for taking time out to read, care and share. Yes, there are

dear hearts still in the house today. And when one hurting person reaches out,

there is always a helping hand from another hurting person reaching back. The

language of human anguish is universal. As tough as we all would love to be and

as brave as we all try to be and as bullet-proof as too many of us pretend to be,

the heart tells the truth. We are all nothing without God. It's mighty nice to talk to

another who has been through the storm and rain and has emerged to testify of

God's deliverance just as you have done. Praise ye the Lord this Christmastide.

Essence of Life in a capsule. Thanks for the message. You got it brother! Be strong. May your strength be renewed in the Lord. Thanks for following Christ and leading us along the path. Love you. Will keep holding you up in supplication to our Father.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Praise ye, the Lord. At this Christmastide, when our

nation is in dire straits economically, socially, morally and spiritually because of evil

and gross incompetence in high places, there is unprecedented suffering

throughout our land. We need a voice in the wilderness, somebody in the proudest

tradition of John the Baptist. Somebody to cry out and inveigh against the evils of

our day. We have too many low men in high places of government, commerce,

corporate leadership and financial top management. Are we to believe that all of

sudden our finest business minds have all fogotten how to run a business

profitably or at least responsibly. Greed has replace need as the driving force

of our corporate CEOs and our chief government reps. What America needs is a

pervasive spirit of Christmas to become a way of everyday life where we are more

about giving than receiving and where we work hardest to make the most of peace

rather than the most of war.

That was beautiful!!!

Blessing and favour to you.

BANKS' RESPONSE: God bless you, Delois, for reading the blog and emailing

your comment, Merry Christmas to you and your family,

Lacy,

My heart and my prayers go out to you my man. I am so sorry you are suffering so...but your faith and understanding of God's higher ways show you have a wisdom and a strength inside of you that only we, as Christians can have. If we have our Lord Jesus in our hearts, we have no need of despair. We will hurt, and we will cry, because we are human, and God knows our pain. We sometimes are made to suffer as Jesus did. God bless you dear Lacy. I will remember you in my prayers. Eternity is waiting, either sooner or later for all of us. Keep the faith, and keep looking up....
Hugs, Cat

BANKS' RESPONSE: Cat, thank you so very much for reading my blog and

emailing a most profound and soulful comment. I like your language and the deep

penetration of your thoughts about the Kingdom empire of which we are a part.

That something within me, that you referred to, is really what keeps you and me

holding on and pushing forward. It's the Holy Ghost, fed and nourished by faith and

prayer. It is a realm of surreality off limits to the unredeemed. We have holy

hideouts that the world doesn't know about. It allow us, like it did the Negro slaves

in those ol' spirituals, to "steal away to Jesus." So in my otherwise lonely moments,

I know that Jesus is always just a prayer and sweet meditation away. And in ways I

can't explain, I can feel the vibrations of saints like you praying for me and radiating

a power that is most valuable. So, in reality, I am never alone. And that makes

sense because Jesus promised never to leave us alone.

I'M TRYING TO GET THIS MESSAGE TYPED BUT THE TEARS AND THE HOLY GHOST IS UPON ME. GOD BLESS YOU FOR THIS MESSAGE. I'M NOT SICK BUT I NEED TO WAIT UPON THE LORD. I NEED THE PATIENCE. THANK YOU.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Yes, Ferita, there's a heart in the house tonight. It's you,

Ferita. You are truly alive and well. You are a real feeling and revealing person. You

are a person of rich passion and deep compassion What comes from the heart

reaches the heart. Thank you for your encouraging comment.

Pulling for you Lacy.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you, Joe. Thanks for your pulling prayers. Prayers

exert tremendous pulling power.

Dear Mr. Banks,

I enjoy reading your blog. It puts my day-to-day "problems" into perspective. How anyone could read your words and feel your faith jump off the computer screen, then complain because the El is running late is beyond me. ((smile))

I am Jewish and feel no matter what religion we believe in, God is always there for us even when we have to ask "why?" certain things happen in our lives.

Thank you for sharing your journey. You are an inspiration.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and happy, HEALTHY new year.

BANKS' RESPONSE: I love you Ami from the bottom of my heart for your

deep abiding faith and your ability to project and connect. Please, I am not

trying to be patronizing in any way. I truly pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I know

that our destinies are intertwined in the New Testament and in the new covenant

under the dispensation of grace. No oppressed people anywhere in the world can

find truer, more understanding and compassionate friends that those of the true

Jewish faith. What God's chosen have gone through and continue to go through

while you remain His chosen people assure the world that there is still hope no

matter how barbaric and how savage man's inhumanity to man. I thank God for

your providential provision and how you continue to prosper with his grace and

glory. May peace forever reign within the walls of Jerusalem. And I, too, am of the

seed of Abraham. and by God, through Abraham's convenant, is God continuing

to bless the world through Abraham's seed, and even through a sacred satellite

like me, your humble servant.

OH Lord, Please hear me out. I don't know this man (Lacy L Banks) But I know enough from his article that he is a man of G-D and with strong faith. I pray for his healing.... "Jesus"! You said that if we ever ask anything in your name to the father as belivers that he will answer our prayers, So I ask in Jesus name for this mans healing.... Thank You Lord, Thank you so much for being our good G-D. Please Grant Lacy L Banks a patient heart in Jesus name I pray.

G-D Bless, Lacy

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you, Jesus, for that needful prayer rendered

short and sweet. I, in turn, pray that God prosper you profoundly with His grace

and mercy that your Christmas may be merry, your new year a happy one and

your joys full. You reached out to help me in the proudest tradition of that good

Samaritan that Jesus Christ immortalized in His parable. And though we have

never met and may live miles apart, we are still neighbors by caring for and

sharing with one another.

Hi Rev,

I love this entry! You really put the pen to the paper. I know you are tired but when you get to feeling like this, we take up the battle through our continuous prayers. Because I have followed you from the very beginning I understand how you are feeling and why. But you are "a good and faithful servant" and "He will deliver you out" I believe that. I can only hope that you will continue to be strong and HOLD ON. Putting your innermost feelings on paper is good. It get's it off of your mind so that you can focus on getting well. When you get tired, think of all of the wonderful people that you have met through this blog. Think of all of the hearts and souls that you have touched. Think of all the nayers you had when this first started and think of all the yayers that you have now. Think of all of those who needed to hear your words because they too are dealing with illnesses. You have and are doing a great work Rev. Some have already been healed. Yours is still on the way. I believe it, God said it and that settles it. During this holiday season Rev, I wish you and your family God's richest blessings and I continue to believe that your Balm in Gilead is right around the corner.

Blessings,

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thanks once again Donna for your echoes from

Heaven. We are the extension of God's grace when we reach out to aid and

comfort one another in times of need. We are obeying His word and placing

ourselves at His disposal to minister unto one another. The faith in Jesus that

saves us also motivates us to serve Him through serving each other. So I celebrate

your faith and your invaluable prayers and encouragement. You are right. When I

am weak, the prayers of the righteous availeth much to make me strong. When I

would otherwise feel forsaken and alone, the prayers of the righteous come to me

rescue to remind me that we are in this thing together and that your hope if my

help and my victory is your victory.

Mr Bankson, I have never read an article or been to a service by you in my entire life. However, as i have just now read your sermon/blog, I feel as if i have known you for those 56 years!
Thank you for giving yourself to me in typed form. For it is not typed form to me, no, your words are now inked in my heart and soul!
You have brought me to tears in the only article i have ever read from you....tears of salvation and glee!
Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas Mr. Banks.

Sincerely,
Gary P

BANKS' RESPONSE: Let the church say "Amen" sisters and brothers for the

wonderful, complimentary comment emailed by Gary. May the Word of God bring

rich fruit to your life and to your family. Merry Christmas to you, too

What an inspiration you are to all of us. May God bless you and your beautiful family. And prayer is the first thing...You are in my prayers.

Merry Christmas from a fellow Sojourner.

Jim
Austin,Texas

BANKS' RESPONSE: God bless you back, Jim. And, yes, please keep me

nestled deeply in your prayers of faith. For, indeed, it's me oh Lord, standing in the

need for prayer.

Mr. Banks,

Thank you for continuing to write this blog. It is such an inspiration and testimony to the truth that God's love is greater than any illness.

I will continue to pray for your healing and look forward to the day when you are once again standing in the pulpit witnessing about God's grace and mercy.

I wish you a Holy Christmas and a Healthy New Year!

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you Linda Sue for reading this blog and

emailing your comment. I share your faith concerning the love of God. It is the true

panacea for all ills. It is the origin of our existence and the source of our salvation.

Why else did He send His only begotten Son? And why else did Jesus shed His

blood as a remission for our sins and give His life in payment so that you and I do

have a right to the tree of life? And even now, though we fall short so many times

and sin, He is still ever loving and faithful to forgive us if we will repent and ask

Him for mercy. There is no greater love, no purer love, no more lasting love, no

more lasting love than the love of God.

I too am sick, just going through a transplant and your blog was an inspiration to me, one who is also tired.

BANKS' RESPONSE: God bless you, Dan. Thanks for reading this blog and

for sharing your blessing with us. I was on my way to where you are eights months

ago, needing and hoping for a new heart when brain cancer and prostate cancer

disqualified me from being a candidate for heart transplantation. I am happy that

you were able to get your heart and I pray that the transplantation of a successful

and lasting one. Please, Daniel, share with us what it was like before and after

you got your new heart. We thank God that He has blessed us with the medical

knowledge and skill to save lives through organ transplantation. Of course, you did

not say exactly what kind of transplant you underwent. I just assumed it was a

heart transplant. But patients are also being saved by liver, lungs and kidney

transplants. In any case, you say you are tired, too. I am told that that is often the

case in the early stage of transplantations. The body has to adjust to its new organ.

That takes time and often is uncomfortable. And sometimes it takes months before

the patient and doctors learn whether the bdy will accept or reject the new organ. I

pray that your new organ is as close to a perfect fit as possible. In any case, you

have our prayers. Merry Christmas for your new present.

Stay strong and continue being positive. You can get out of this thinking good thoughts. Benigna Marko enjoys funny movies. This helps the spirit and soul and keep you healthy. Remember laughter is the best medicine. Please smile and be fulfilled with the small things like the sun. Benigna Marko

BANKS' RESPONSE: You are so right, Benigna. And believe me, I do find joy

in the simplest of things. I find joy in sunshine. I find joy in flowers. I find joy in good

movies and conversation. I find joy in family and friends. But most of all, I find joy

in Jesus. He is the center of my joy and the hope of all glory. And the joy of the

Lord is my strength.

This sounds like such a reality check. Have you heard the commercial how do we talk to mom about this, if aunt judy and grandma lilly had cancern could we have cancer. this is such a serious topic and still many take their health for granted. we need to make sure more is done to improve our health care cost. everyone needs to join in and as part of the economy, home market, jobs - health issues need to be brought to the top. Benigna Marko knows this to be as simple as 1 2 3. Keeping our health is what it is all about, we can't' worry about all the other obstacles if our health is not in tune. Check yourself out and make sure you follow your doctor's care.
Benigna Marko

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you, Benigna, for your thoughtful comments

that are spot-on. We are all charged with being responsible custodians of precious

bodies. What a mighty God we serve. When we study the human body and its

complexities and wonders, we can't help but look up to heaven and praise God

for being so great. And here He has placed these blessed bodies in our care to

enjoy and we will when we eat right, sleep right, exercise right and try to live holy

as He is holy. I realize we bring a lot of hardships on ourselves by being wayward

and careful with our bodies, over-eating, smoking, taking drugs, refusing to

exercise and take good care of ourselves. You are right. It is so simply even though

it's easier said than done. But it is so simple. All we have to do is do our best and

trust God for the rest. But to be honest, I fail so often to do my very, very best The

spirit indeed is willing (i can't say this enough or too uch), but the flesh is weak.

Mr.Bankson keep doing what you are doing and what on the Lord. I understand your pain. I was diagnoised in april with breast cancer and I knew I was going to be ok because my father wasnt going to leave me. I have been thru chemo surgery in september and know doing radiation my doctors say i will be fine but I already knew that because I'm a christian and I know my GOD heals. You take care of yourself Mr. Bankson and I will pray for you everyday. God Bless

Carol
Albuquerque,NM
6yqhaw

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you Carol for reading this blog and emailing your

comment. I thank God for your faith in Him and how it comforted and encouraged

you in your health challenge. Isn't God good? Well, actually He is much, much

better than good. We simply don't have sufficient vocabulary to adequately

articulate how good he is. What matters most is that He loves us still and forever

will. Oh for the love of God.

First, I thank God for your life and your temporary affliction. I will remember to thank God for you in my prayer.

You cited some of my favorite passages from the Bible. Psalm 30:5 ministers to me every time.

I wish to comment on what Jesus said while he was in terrible agony while his disciples slept. You quoted "The spirit indeed is willing. But the flesh is weak." In the case of our Savior, you will agree that the flesh subjected to the will of the spirit. Christ's spirit was willing but his flesh was weak. It became apparent that the stronger (Christ's spirit) won the battle and we get victory through His blood! It is my prayer today that our flesh be weak day by day because I believe, that is the only way our spirit, like Christ's, will continue winning the battles of life.

Pastor, I say to you, like you wonderfully encouraged us in your writing, be strong in the Lord. Continue with the whole armor of God and as you know, your victory is sure. Your life is hid with Christ in God.

Please give my regards to your wife, children and grand children. God bless you all.

Merry Christmas!

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you for reading the blog and emailing your

encouraging comment. I know that I have the ultimate victory of God's salvation

and eternal life with Him in heaven. That trumps all earthy setbacks. I also know

that by His grace, I also will reap short-term victories, a load of them. I have already

received some in these health issues. And you are right about the spirit having

power over the flesh. The apostle Paul talks about his constant battle where his

sanctified soul is fighting to bring his flawed flesh under control. Some call it "mind

over matter," which pretty much amounts to the same. Fasting and praying are two

primary tools we have to try to beat the flesh into submission. There are health

benefits to be gained here, too, when we bring flesh under the control of a wise

mind and a holy spirit.

You are an inspiration to all of us. A true soldier of God. I pray that you hear God's voice through all the pain. He is your commander in chief right now and being that you have a soldier's heart, you are a fighter! If God is for you, who can be against you?
We need more men of God like you. I also lift up your family, especially your wife. I pray that she doesn't grow weary in well doing. Your are an inspiration to your kid's, grandkid's, and future generations. I thank God for this family and I will continue to lift you up.

God Loves You.
Sally

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you so much, Sally, for reading this blog and for

dropping your wonderful, encouraging comments into my spirit. They are a

high-potency vitamin for my soul. My drives to survive and thrive have been

greatly strengthened by your prayers and compliments. Merry Christmas.

First, I thank God for your life and your temporary affliction. I will remember to thank God for you in my prayer.

You cited some of my favorite passages from the Bible. Psalm 30:5 ministers to me every time.

I wish to comment on what Jesus said while he was in terrible agony while his disciples slept. You quoted "The spirit indeed is willing. But the flesh is weak." In the case of our Savior, you will agree that the flesh subjected to the will of the spirit. Christ's spirit was willing but his flesh was weak. It became apparent that the stronger (Christ's spirit) won the battle and we get victory through His blood! It is my prayer today that our flesh be weak day by day because I believe, that is the only way our spirit, like Christ's, will continue winning the battles of life.

Pastor, I say to you, like you wonderfully encouraged us in your writing, be strong in the Lord. Continue with the whole armor of God and as you know, your victory is sure. Your life is hid with Christ in God.

Please give my regards to your wife, children and grand children. God bless you all.

Merry Christmas!

BANKS' RESPONSE: It is so wonderful to be a member of God's household

of faith, where I am connected with praying saints like yourself. Thanks for reading

this blog and for uplifting me. I feel better now. I feel stronger and wiser, too. Merry

Christmas to you and your family.

Rev. Banks,

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

We are praying for you during your time of illness and we know God can and will strengthen you.

Pastor,
George Howse

The Christian Temple Missionary Baptist Church

BANKS' RESPONSE: Pastor Howse, and Evangelist MinnieJoe Evans, thanks

for joining me in a taste of prayer lockdown this morning. Prayers of the righteous

availeth much and there are a plenty righteous saints holed up in Christian Temple.

It's been that way for year since the outstanding, rich pastorage of Rev. Joseph

Evans. And now the mantel falleth on you. I pray your strength in the Lord. I count

it an honor and priceless blessing to suffer for righeousness sake because I am

trying to go about this pain thing in a righteous way. I'll say "Hello" to Job for you.

He's my new neighbor. Nowhere are my afflictions close to what he went through.

But because of the righteous way he went through his trials and untimately

triumphed to where God gave him double for his trouble, I am greatly encouraged

to wait until my change comes. And when it comes, I'm going to pray, praise and

preach better than ever.

Mr. Bankston
Keep on keeping on. I Think that you have the right outlook
on what's going on in you life. I don't have to tell you trouble don't last always. I'm 2years out. I was miserable to say the least every day. I won't even lie. But thank god I had people around me, that incourage me. There was day when I felt like I could not take any more. There were days when I honestly wanted to die. I have a 29 year old daughter who was wonderful to say the least. She resides in Evergreen Park Ill, but you would have thought that we live in the same state. God gives us just what we need, at every fase of our life.If my toe, hurt she was at the air port coming to see about mama. She logged a lot of air miles.
And she never complained. I have had about seven surgery in the last two years. I had kemo for 18 months, because of other medical problems, and radiogoly was never an option. I have some nerve damage due to the kemo, in my finger tips, and my toes. My nail turned black, and came off, I lost all my hair. And I would not take nothing for my journey. I no longer wonder why me LORD.
I always did what I thought was right, and pleasing unto GOD.
And yet I question why me? I was laying in the bed one day thinking about getting up to go to the bathroom. That was major, just getting up moving. One day while laying around feeling sorry for myself, it came to me. WHY NOT YOU. I truly thank god for him laying a healing hand on me. I thank GOD for all the angels that he brought into my life.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Tammy, to read of your trials made my flesh crawl. Then

to read of your triumphs in and through your trials made my heart leap for joy.

Thanks for reading this blog and for offering such a soul-stirring comment. I can tell

that you are coming out of this storm with a heart bubbling over with thanksgiving

and praise. We still have a way to go because complete recovery. But let's pause

right now and thank God for what He's already done. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Thank

you Jesus!

Rev. Banks, Rev. Banks. This one was pretty rough. My eyes are stinging, face wet, fingers trembling yet can't wait towrite. Hold fast! We are all so wonderfully blessed. God's plan for us is His plan and we just have to let it be. Dreary weather can put a damper on our spirit until we remember it's His dreary weather and He has allowed us to be here to experience it. Let's just keep praising Him, day and night, lifting Him up for men to see, letting His light shine and He promised He'd do the rest. I know you believe. The responders to this blog are so inspiring and so full of love. Oh, yeah, love, and lots of it. We are His children and that's exactly what He has asked of us. Love ye one another as I have loved you. YEAH! God is so good!

BANKS' RESPONSE: There you are again Qwen. Just when I needed a lift,

a kind work of encouragement and support, there you always are sharing and

caring in a manner matched only by a precious few. You stamp out any doubt

about whether God still sees and cares and whether he is awake and on the

job. You step forth to prove that there still is a heaven somewhere and the Lord

sits on His throne there. You are proof that angels still abound all around us and

that humanity is not yet a hopeless lot. You reassure those who badly need to

be reassured that somebody somewhere cares. Thank you for keeping that

prayer candle lit for me on the window sill of your soul. Thank you for not just

keeping your door of genuine concern slightly ajar, but wide open to a living room

of love replete with Lazy Boy massage recliner afront a fireplace all ablaze with

a rip-roaring flame. And beside the recliner in a small nightstand holding a big

mug of delicious hot chocolate. Yes, love is lives and pulsates in that rich, big

heart of yours. I thank God not just for you in particular, but for what you

symbolize in general. Go in peace, my daughter of Jerusalem. Continue to spread

hope and continue to care. But you are God to us in need. Merry Christmas, Gwen.

Hello Mr. Banks I would ask you how your doing, but in your latest blog I can see how your doing and feeling. I find your outlook as being very inspiring. I really hope you can enjoy this holiday season, and keep on living your life to the fullest. God Bless you sir and I will keep you in my prayers. Also I've enjoyed your work in the Sun-times. So keep posting here because we are hear to listen when you need us.
Again Thank You and hope things get better for you and your family
Happy Holidays
Richard Radke

BANKS' RESPONSE: Richard, Christmas is my favorite holiday. Even more so

for my wife, Joyce. She is Christmas through and through. She looks forwards to

enjoying her children and grandchildren and mother at Christmastide. I take great

joy in seeing the faces of my wife, kids and grandchildren light up around the

Christmas tree when they open their presents. For us, Christmas is a monthlong

holiday. Really. We don't hurry in and hurry out of this blessed season. And, yes,

for us, Richard, Jesus is the reason for the season. Unfortunately, this is the first

time in my life when Christmas finds me sick and in the process of getting well.

But rest assured, I'm still going to have a merry Christmas because I know the

true meaning of that holy day and I approach it from that angle. Merry Christmas

to you and yours, Richard. God bless us everyone.

Pastor BanksI have you on my heart.

BANKS' RESPONSE: God bless you Brother Brown. Thanks for dropping in

and offering prayerful encouragement. The best place you can have anybody and

anything is in your heart.

Rev. Banks,
I have been a "silent" reader of your blog since you have started. As a young minister, I've been able to draw from your strength, courage and faith. But THIS one really knocked me off of my feet. Simply because often time ministers of the Gospel are afraid to share their fears and frustrations and allow themselves to be transparent for fear of appearing weak. Sir, I must say that you have given me the "other" side of life.The reality that the flesh DOES get tired, the flesh DOES get frustrated and impatient. The side where the flesh has to cry out in order for our spirit to "wait" for an answer from God. Thank you so much for being REAL.
Be blessed Rev. Banks

Kevin M

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you my brother. I write as the Holy Spirit gives

me utterance. As such, I'm following our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He indeed

also wrestled with the flesh many times. Perhaps there was no greater time than

in the Garden of Gethsemane when His flesh quivered at the sight of the cross

and His pending crucifixion and tried to make Jesus chicken out by saying, "Father,

if it be Thy will, let this bitter cup pass from me." But thank God for the sanctified

side of Him that then took over, overruled flesh and moved our savior to say,

"Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done." So we can't always rely upon the

flesh and the way we feel. That's why we much walk by faith and not by sight. And

when we do that, we can't go wrong. Faith will lead and propel us to go beyond

where our eyes can see, our ears can hear, our fingers can touch and our minds

can comprehend.

HELLO, MR. BANKS, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME READING THE BLOGS, AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU CAN SHARE YOU JOYS AND PAINS WITH OTHERS. AT THIS POPINT NOW IN MY LIFE, I FIND IT MORE EASIER TO DO. SINCE MY DAUGHTER DIED 7 MONTHS AGO, I FOUND IT EASIER TO TALK TO PERECT STARNGERS, THAN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND ME DAILY. I'VE HEARD THINGS LIKE, GOD WILL MAKE A WAY, OR BELIEVE IN GOD, OR TURN ON SOME GOSPEL MUSIC. OK, IF I DID THOSE THINGS, WHY DO I STILL HURT. THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE, I CANT BELIEVE ASHE IS GONE. THE STRUGGLE EVERYDAY DOESNT GET BETTER. SHE LEFT ABEHIND A 6YR OLD SON, WHOM HAS AUTISM, AND THAT ALONE IS DRAINING THE LIFE FROM ME, PHYSICALLY. BUT, I HAVE TO DO THIS FOR MY DAUGHTER, EVEN THOUGHT THE FINANCIAL BURDEN DOESNT HELP AT ALL, I GOTTA DO THIS. YOUR WORDS TODAY WAS INSPIRATIONAL,A ND I ENJOYED READING IT. THANK YOU, SIR...MERRY CHRISTMAS TO.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the great faith

you have given Deloris to enable her to endure the loss of her beloved daughter

Ashe and to take on the tall task of caring for her austistic grandson. Nobody but

you Jesus can see her through these tough challenges. Sometimes, she feels so

down, Lord, she doesn't know which way to turn. And sometimes doubt drops into

her spirit uninvited and tries to steal her joy and break her spirit. But greater is you

Lord, who is within her, than he that is within the world. Please, Lord, in the perfect

name of Jesus Christ, renew her strength and increase her faith and provide the

resources she needs to excel and prevail. Please, Lord, in the name of Jesus, heal

that child. Stretch out your healing hands from heaven, touch, heal and deliver that

child. Smear the stripes of King Jesus all over that child inside and out so that

divine healing will erase that autism. And when you do so, Lord, Deloris will give

you the praise, the glory and the thanksgiving and so will the rest of us. Please,

Lord, in the name of Jesus, hear our prayer, incline thine ear toward Deloris and

grant unto her the peace that passes all understanding that will come from her

grandchild's healing. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

All I can say is GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! Like so many have said before, "hold on to God's unchanging hand". I speak healing into your life and I will pray that you receive continued strength during your recovery. Yes, I said recovery because you will recover and continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I really needed to read this today as I been experiencing some health challenges. However, after reading your testimony/sermon/words of inspiration, it reminds me that God is ALWAYS in the blessing and healing business.

Remember, "By His Stripes, you are healed". Many blessings to you Mr. Bankson and may you have a wonderful Christmas reflecting of the many good things that God has done for you and your family and the things He will continue to do.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you, Paulette, for reading my blog and for

emailing those priceless comments. As you pray for my healing, I also pray for

yours so that we will be gratified, the church edified and thee glorified. Bless your

holy name, Dear Lord. Have healing grace and mercy upon us, in the name of

Jesus. And we, in turn, will give you the thanksgiving and praise.

When I think of God's goodness, what he has already done, what he is doing and what he going to do, I have to say thank you Lord. I pray your temporary inconvenience be a permanent improvement. God has a way of taking us through to get to. I know your pain, I feel your heart, and I relate to your mind. I'm a 3 year survivor, I've had chemo and 33 rounds of radiaition, 3 surgeries, constant doctor visits and still have scans. But when I think about it all I have to say thank you God, I could have been gone, but his twins know as Grace and Mercy is the reason I'm still here. I now know what my ministry is. It is my prayer that God continue to give you strength and a full recovery, it your lowest moments remember, GOD CAN!!!

BANKS' RESPONSE: Praise the Lord! Thank you for reading this blog, for

caring and sharing so that His ministry can continue to spread all around the

world. Thank you also for your wonderful testimony about the goodness of God.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

God Bless you, Pastor!

I haven't written in a while and truly, I have only three words to say to you. Hopefully, you will continue to be encouraged.

Never Give Up; Never Give Up; Never Give Up.

For you, it is not an option...

God will Bless and Continue to Keep you.

BANKS' RESPONSE: NO, NO, I CAN'T QUIT. I can't give in, give out or give

up. I'm too close to my healing to turn around and allow me to give back any ground

that I have taken back from Satan. His time is short and his goose is already

cooked. Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ, our

Lord. So Satan, get thee behind us, shut up, get somewhere and sit down in the

name of Jesus, we command you.

You are stomping on the enemy's head everyday...

Love you,

e.

Thank you for this.

BANKS' RESPONSE: You're mighty welcomed, Mel. Charge all this to the

Master. He's doing it all with the help of our death.

Mr. Banks,

Just as some have written before me I to have never read your blog until today. I was reading a news story when the words " I'm Tired & Weary But I Can't Quit...." Jumped out at me. It was though someone was reading my mind so I quickly had to see who it was. When I went to bed last nite I wanted to quit, When I woke up this morning I wanted to quit, when I went to the mailbox and proceeded to pull out yet more bills that I can't hardly pay I really wanted to quit so as you can see the theme for the day has been "Just Quit & Give In". All day I have talked to numerous people most of whom know me very well yet without telling any of them what is really going on in my life none of them had any inspiring/positive words to say which furthered my intial thought that I really need not wait on God but proceed to attempt to fix things on my own and now as I wipe the tears from my eyes and read your message I know I can make it at least one more day. I have been waiting and wondering what the plan for my life is for so long and the road doesn't seem to be getting any easier and I find myself asking what about me every single moment of the day but after reading your story I can go on because I know that this is not the end of my story yet just the beginning of a new chapter but I just need to WAIT. I thank you sincerely for the reassurance.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Ooohhhh weeee, Qeauna, What a comment! There

are a lot of deep, deep, passionate people like yourself now reading this blog

and emailing back awesome, profound comments. You articulate so well what I

was talking about and what so many of us other fellow sufferers have to endure.

Perhaps, one might call it "the call of the wild" or "the call from the wild" or "the

call into the wild." It is a searching and a yearning for truth, for clarity, for relief, for

healing, for redemption. We call out even to heaven, even to God Himself from

time to time and all we seem to hear in return is the very echo of our call. It is Jacob

wrestling with the angel all over again. It is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

all over again. And then, sometimes in the stillness and the silence, He speaks to

us in a still small voice. He speaks peace to a turbulent soul. He calms the

terrible tempests in our lives. The deep crieth unto the Deep as the hart panteth

after the Water Brook. Then in due season, in due sweet season, Deep crieth

back to us and Water Brook cometh forth and embraces us with blessed

assurance that it is well, it is well with our souls. And so I say also unto thee oh

deep Qeauna, don't quit. Don't you dare quit. Quitting is not an option. Cry on

deep Qeauna. Cry out unto the Deep that is God. Pant on, thou holy hart of a

Qeauna. Pant on for the Living Water that is Jesus. But by all means, don't quit.

Don't even think about it. Neither give place to the devil. God didn't bring you this

far to leave you. The darkest hour is just before dawn. Can't you feel a rumbling

in the ground beneath thy feet. Joy is on its way to your house, Qeauna. So don't

quit. Get thee ready! Up with your faith! Up with your hope! Rebuke the devil! Tell

that beaten fool to get behind you in the name of Jesus. And tell him to straighten

up his mouth when you are talking to him. Kick his butt with prayer, praise,

fasting and scripture if he dares to try to give you any lip. Greater is God who is

within you than the devil who is without. Victory is yours, Qeauna. In spite of how it

looks now. Victory today is yours. Hallelujah.

Thanks. May the season highlight for you and yours the redeeming power of Christ.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Christmas is all about redemption. For God so loved the

world that He GAVE His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should

not perish but have everlasting life. Then on Christmas came the Christ, conceived

immaculately of the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, wrapped in swaddling

clothes and laid in a manger because there was no room for Him in the inn. Then

came Christ, God's gift to man and the world has never been the same ever since.

Thank God for Jesus. He is our joy and He is our healing.

Mr. Banks

You are such an inspiration to me when I am feeling sorry for myself or when it seems my faith is wavering I read your blogs and am uplifted, the Lord promised me when I was young that He was going to heal me and on that I stand not just for myself but for you also, I BELIEVE. It's only a test that we're going through it's going to be over real soon, just keep the faith!

BANKS' RESPONSE: God bless you, Sharon, for reading this blog and

emailing your encouraging comment. I still recall this mantra so often recited by

the late Rev, Cong. Adam Clayton Powell: "Keep the faith, baby." What better

advice to give anybody mired in the vortex of adversity. Keep the faith. For faith

can remove yonder's mountain and have it cast into the uttermost parts of the sea.

Keep the faith, baby. Because what prayer and faith in God can't do can not be

done. Keep the faith, baby. Because God has all power in His hands. Keep the

faith, baby. Because ye shall know the truth and the Truth shall set you free. And

when the Son of Man shall set you free, ye shall be free indeed. Keep the faith,

baby. Because many are the afflictions of the righteous. But God shall deliver them

out of them all. Keep the faith, baby. Because we are more than conquerors

and because we can do all things through Jesus. So keep the faith, Sharon. Keep

the faith and God faith will keep you.

Mr. Banks,
What a blessing your blog is. I to have gone through chemotherapy this summer. Some days were not so good but I would continue to read scriptures as the IV fluids drained through me. We are spiritually beings who God is using on a daily basis. Continue to be a light that shines as a ready writer. Ezikeil 21:27 is what I hold on too. God will overturn, overturn and overturn. Be blessed.

BANKS' RESPONSE: God bless my fellow sufferer. I am so happy to be in the

company of such a warrior such as yourself. God loves you dearly and is pleased

with your faithfulness, your patience and your hope in the face of adversity. Yes,

nothing can equal or replace the word of God. There is the old commercial that

says, "things go better with coke." Well, you and I know that that ain't necessarily

so. But what is true is that things definitely go better with God's word. God's word

will make bad things good and good things better. As a condiment and as a

compliment, you can't beat God's word. I find myself quoting scripture to myself

by itself because God's word is really good by itself. It needs no additives or

fillers.

Minister Banks,

I applaud the Jesus in your life. You are so encouraging especially at a time when people are reaching out for hope, peace and most of all a word from God. Only He can give us this peace, hope and truth. I thank God for you and how you are allowing God to use you whether you understand it or not. Your suffering will not endure long my dear friend and brother. I pray for your complete healing. But most of all, I pray for your patient journey while you await your crown. God Bless you and continue to do God's mighty work.

BANKS' RESPONSE: God bless you, Karen Moore. Indeed, may God bless

you ever so sweetly, lay your head on His blessed breast and breathe upon thee

peace that passes all understanding. I celebrate the Jesus in you, too. I applaud

the way you have let the Lord come into your life and reign supreme. May your

joys be fullest at this Christmastide.

Mr. Bankson

Like many others this is the first time I have read your blog. Also, like many others I have been touched by your faith, wisdom, and encouragement despite your battle. Even though my health is not failing my faith has. I was raised in a deep-rooted God fearing home and despite what I was taught decided to walk away from HIM. It was the title that jumped out and grabbed me because it is exactly what I was feeling. Thanks you have done more for me than you know.

BANKS' RESPONSE: I pray, most of all, that your faith be restored. You can

afford to lose anything else in your life but faith. By all means, rededicate yourself

to God through Christ Jesus so that you may sober up off of that ol' backslider's

wine and have your faith restored. In this ol' sinsick world of unprecedented evils

and growing hardships, you're going to need the Savior Jesus to help you,

comfort, strengthen, heal, lead, feed and keep you. You can't do without the Lord.

You've always need Him. You need Him now. And you will never, never outgrow

your need for Him. But without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please this God that you

need so sorely. For he or she that cometh to God first and foremost much believe

that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Believe with

your heart and confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and He will bestow his faith

upon you.

God Bless you. I really could relate to your story. In May 26, 2001 my husband and I lost our dear son at the age of 16 to a drunk driver. His confirmation verse was Jer 29:11. I know the Lord had plans for him, His plans were not our plans, and His plans was to have my own son with him in glory at the age of 16. What better plans are there than that? Then in 2004 my two children were diagnosed with a brain tumor. Unheard of. I was tired too, but God held all of us up and we stand here today (my two other children are now doing well thanks be to GOd) only because of our dear Lord's grace. I know we will all be together again in Glory and that will be forever. This time here on earth is only a blink of an eye. May God continue to give you comfort and strength during your journey. I know He will and your story will touch others as well to show them that God does keep His promises.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Great God from Zion! I am deeply, deeply touched by

your glorious testimony. yes, you know and I know that your darling son is resting

comfortably in the busom of Abraham. Perhaps, you may have heard a title of an

ol' Negro Spiritual in which the singer says, "Rock my soul in the busom of

Abraham. Oh rocka my soul." Yvonne, you are a precious jewel in God's heavenly

treasure chest. And the hardships in your life have polished you for a gleem that

shimmers all the way to glory. Thank you for reading this blog and emailing your

king, encouraging comment.

Mr. Banks,
I stumbled upon your blog from a link on the Drudge Report to another Sun Times Columnist. I grew up in Illinois reading your columns on my beloved Cubs and Bulls. Lately, I have to admit, I mostly read Chicagosports.com. But the title on the side this evening caught my eye and it could not be coincidence. My mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and had her first surgery. She found out yesterday she needs to go back in the 30th for more surgery. She (and we) had hoped she could move on to the chemo.
My neighbor lost her sister to pancreatic cancer nearly a year ago. She left behind a 3 1/2 year old and my neighbor's strong Catholic faith rocked. She can't bring herself to pray these days, even words of anger, and I can't ever find the right words to say to her.
Thanks for the reminder that our timetable is not the same as God's. And prayers that seem unanswered most definitely are, if we believe in an all sovereign God. Thank you for your testimony and I will pray you will continue to be a witness for your readers.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thanks Derek for reading this blog and emailing your

touching comment. It is true that sometimes burdens get so heavy that one is too

despondent and desperate to think straight. And in those moments of great

confusion, we lose focus of simple, easy answers. In fact, we don't even consider

answers, good or bad, reasonable or unreasonable. In short, we don't think. We

just sulk. We hold pity parties. We give in, give out and give out and feel there is no

hope. There is one of the devil's favorite tricks in keeping us from getting relief. But

believe me, the best time to pray is when you don't feel like praying. That's a sure

sign that the devil is at work. God wants us well. the devil wants us sick. The devil

wants us dead. But Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundant.

Mr. Banks,
I was very touched by your post.
I know you're a boxing fan, so, remember the last 15 round heavyweight championship fight, Holmes Vs Cobb?

My ex husband lost fifteen out of fifteen rounds that night. His first words after the fight were "Let's party." The next thing out of his mouth was "I didn't lose the fight, I just lost the first 15 rounds!"

So you've lost a few rounds. You still have plenty more to go, and you don't have Howard Cosell or anyone else screaming at you to stop the fight.

Keep your hands up. And when the devil comes at you in whatever form, just keep jabbing.

Get well soon,
Sharon Cobb

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thanks, Sharon, for that heavenly hunk of heavy-duty

happiness I got from reading your comment. Are we talking Randy Tex Cobb? He

was a mountain of a man who gave as good as he got in the ring. He also starred

in a couple of movies, if I'm not mistaken. And, yes, I covered some of his fights.

He was one super entertainer with a rick folksy flavor of a personality. I like the

way you use the sweet science of boxing as an analogy for what I and many other

serious sufferers are going through. We are fighting for our lives--fighting against

some of mankind's most formidable foes in cancer, diabetes, strokes, AIDS, sickle

cell anemia, congestive heart failure and other life-threatening health challenges.

And believe me, Sharon, we are jabbing, hooking, throwing overhands, uppercuts

and whatever other punches of prayer ad faith and medical assistance that we can

land for the victory. And we are not taking our illnesses for granted. We know that

all sicknesses don't play fair. So we are protecting ourselves at all times for cheap

punches.

Preacher, preacher, preacher: I keep coming back to this to encourage me. Satan slips into my mind sometimes and I began to plan the funeral, so to speak. THe devil is persistent, I'll give him that. But, oh, how uplifting your words and the words of your responders and your replies are for me. I am praying hard this morning and I'm thanking Him for the lights He has placed in my path. I thank you and our fellow journeymen for the lights you all have been for me. Keep me in your prayers as you and yours are in mine. I will not yield.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Gwen, my divine sister and daughter of Jerusalem, I

know exactly where you are coming from and what you are saying. I, too, get so

confident in my faith that God is healing me that I not only joke about death, I even

flirt with death. You see, I know that the worst thing that could happen to you or

me or any of your comrades in arms that we we'll die before the Rapture. So I don't

fear or really dislike death. What I dislike is the suffering I have to endure in life.

Life, believe it or not, is for the sufferers. Death is for the non-sufferers. I'm getting

so now that when I pass by cemeteries, I feel a breeze of serenity sweep from

those beautiful tombs and those well-groomed grounds with their beautiful mature

trees and flowers. So, yes, we, the redeemed of the Lord, have no need to see

death as some big, bad bogeyman. Earth has no sorrow that heaven can not heal.

And can't no grave hold our bodies down anyway if we die before the rapture. And

then when the rapture comes, the dead in Christ shall rise first. And we who have

not died will be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortal to immortal, from

matter to spirit, from time to eternity and from space to infinity. So I even joke

about death by telling people things like if they make me mad I'm not going to

invite them to my funeral. Or I'll tell my wife Joyce that when I die, I don't want her

having an expensive funeral. I'll say, "Baby, just throw my remains in a great, big,

brown paper bag and bury me out back behind the sun deck. But you and I and

the rest of know that we are not about to die any time soon. No, no, no. God is not

through with you and God is not through with me even though there are many times

when we feel our time ain't long. And every time we pray, preach and praise the

Lord, Gwen, we kick the butts of the devils and his demons. We put a mighty hurt

on hell. That's why we can't quit. We can't surrender anything to the devil. We got

the victory. Right now, Gwen. Right this very moment, we have the victory. And we

thank God for the victory that is locked up, tied up and tangled up in Christ Jesus.

GOD is good and HE'S still in the blessing business

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank God, He still is in the blessing business because,

as the song says, the Lord is blessing me right now.

Dear Mr. Banks ... A friend just sent me your article; 'I'm Tired and Weary'. I had emailed her for prayer; that I am so overwhelmed, feeling like my world is crashing down and just so tired. really, really tired. Tired of pretending and tired of trying to keep up a good 'front'. All the things you said I know without a doubt are true, but even knowing God is always with me, doesn't change the painful situations, illnesses, problems we are in. I do like to feel that God understands our pain and he weeps right along with us. Dealing with, absorbing the hugeness of my husbands serious illness has left me, a normally very strong person, a strong Christian teetering at times. Someone flippantly said recently ...'Oh, but God doesn't give you more than you can handle.' And to her I wanted to say ... 'how do you know?' You haven't gone through even half of what our family has gone through. And yes, sometimes it IS more than we can handle. Sometimes all we can do is force one foot in front of the other; hoping we'll soon be through some of the rocks and muck and briars. But I know I have made it through some very, very tough problems in my life, not on my own, but by the grace of God. God has seen me through, even if I doubted, even when I was so down I could barely utter a prayer ... except for Jesus, Jesus .... I am thankful I emailed my friend, who had just read your article and in turn sent it on to me. God is faithful and works in mysterious ways. Thank you for encouraging me even when you didn't know you did.

BANKS' RESPONSE: "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," the song goes, "Jesus, Jesus,

Jesus....." on and on and on. Go bless you Chris for your most moving email and

we all are praying for you, praying that your husband gets the complete healing

you desire and praying that your faith be increased and that your joys be full.

God knows just how much we can bear. And when we get to our limit, He's not

God for nothing. He steps right in when we need him most. Then He takes up the

slack between what we have and what we lack to pass the test and accomplish

our goals.

Rev Banks
To God be the Glory. I know you've been through alot this year, but God is still in the healing business. He hears and answers prayers, and I trust, He'll hear and answer yours. I listened to your Christmas sermon you preached at Fellowship several years ago, just the other day, and I want you to know it's still relevent in these perilous times. Young people need to listen to these great words of wisdom coming from a powerful MAN of GOD. I know you want a healing and you want it right away, but GOD works in his own time. I know our Faith is tested and sometimes it seems our test is greater than the next, but I'm hear to reaffirm, GOD is Still good. HIS Grace and Mercy is everlasting, and he is true to his word. I pray GOD will once again see fit to allow you to preach another Christmas Sermon...about the greatest gift ever known to mankind...His son Jesus, who was born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, because there was no room for Mary's baby at the INN. Be Blessed and Merry Christmas!

BANKS' RESPONSE: Oh what a priceless Christmas gift God has given us in

Christ Jesus. He is the gift that just keeps on giving unlike anybody or anything

else in existence. That's why we love Him so much. He gives us what we need to

wake up each morning and to see it through the way. What would we do without

Jesus? Nothing. But with Christ, we can do all things through Him.

Rev Banks
To God be the Glory. I know you've been through alot this year, but God is still in the healing business. He hears and answers prayers, and I trust, He'll hear and answer yours. I listened to your Christmas sermon you preached at Fellowship several years ago, just the other day, and I want you to know it's still relevent in these perilous times. Young people need to listen to these great words of wisdom coming from a powerful MAN of GOD. I know you want a healing and you want it right away, but GOD works in his own time. I know our Faith is tested and sometimes it seems our test is greater than the next, but I'm hear to reaffirm, GOD is Still good. HIS Grace and Mercy is everlasting, and he is true to his word. I pray GOD will once again see fit to allow you to preach another Christmas Sermon...about the greatest gift ever known to mankind...His son Jesus, who was born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, because there was no room for Mary's baby at the INN. Be Blessed and Merry Christmas!

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you Shara for the magnificent way in which

your marvelous comment ministered to me. I'm happy to know that my preaching

of long ago was a great lift to your soul. Rest assured that that seed I planted in

you then has germinated, bloomed, blossomed and gushed forth the sweet fruit

that is your comforting comment to me. Yes, bread cast upon the waters shall not

come back void. May God bless you with the merriest of Christmases and the

happiest of a New Year. Indeed, He is still on the throne and He is still healing

and moving across the land in a mighty way. Even me, Lord, even me. Let some

drop now fall on me. I am waiting, Shara, for God's complete healing. So are the

people. They are waiting because I have convened them through this blog

to wait and see the Lord heal me. And when He heals me, you will have a ringside

seat to the healing. And I will proclaim to the world this righteous revelation. Until

thee, let us watch and pray.

gives it to me,

God works in mysterious ways and your message is a manifestation of God's work. I really genuinely needed to hear the words you wrote, I believe through the gift of the Holy Spirit, I did.

I will be in Chicago tomorrow and God willing, I will follow the beacon of light that shines bright in your words.

The time is NOW to lead the prisoners out of darkness and to bind the wounds of Gods people, who are prisoners.

Matthew 10:26

Have No Fear
26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known."

Psalm 41:3

3 "The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health. [1]"

I look forward to one day praying with you in Gods procession, until that time, I pray the Lord restores you to full health and through the Holy Spirit which he gave unto you, miraculously heal all your ailments.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you so very much, Sister Bray, for reading this

blog and posting your concern. Indeed, please pray for me. Prayer definitely

changes things. I pray that God smiles on you for a merry Christmas and a happy

New Year.

Dear Rev. Banks:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanks God for Jesus and all the great things HE continues to do for us. I was in tears t his morning as I read your piece and as I read, I could hear you saying those words from the pulpit. I heard your wonderful voice singing the songs with much joy and gratefulness for all of Gods keeping power. I thank God for blessing you and giving you a great testimony to tell the world. I pary that our God continue to keep you in the hollow of His hands and rock you with much love, peace and joy. I pray your continue strength both physically and mentally, and look forward to the day when you stand in the pulpit and preach those words you wrote, so please, Rev. Banks, continue to wait on the Lord and He will renew your strength, because the righteous will never be forsaken!

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thanks so much, Joyce, for reading this blog and

emailing your heartfelt, encouraging comment. To be kept in the hollow of God's

holy hands is the best place for any mortal or anything. When all was said and

done after His earthly ministry, our Savior, King Jesus Christ, cried out and said

with a loud voice, "It is finished. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

And it was because he placed His spirit in God's hands that the resurrection on

Easter Sunday morning was guaranteed. No grave could hold His body down and

no Roman army swat squad could keep Him holed up in that dank, dark tomb

of gloom and doom. He arose just like He said He would. And now He sitteth on

the right hand of the Father pleading for us while His Holy Spirit indwells and

continues leading us. Thanks be to God for giving us the victory through Jesus

Christ our Lord. And it all started at Christmas, Joyce. It all started in Bethlehem.

It all started in the manger in the stable of a sold-out Inn. Thank God for

Christmas.

Lacy,

We really are happy for you but enough is enough. The best cure is getting back to what you do best and not morbidly dwell on this. Let's a column, for example, as to how the Chicago machine is about to take over the White House.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you for reading this blog and emailing your

comment. Actually, I am getting back to doing what I do beat, which is preaching

and writing, and I am still being healed also while inspiring others in similar or

worst situations to be aggressive participants in their own healing.

I have been there where you are before....HANG IN THERE! AND NEVER GIVE UP! Steve Harless

Here is how I survived Cancer!

After a what seemed to be a routine tonsilitis operation, I could not understand why the Doctor had called me back to his office so soon. Little did I know at that moment I was in for the surprise of my life. Yet, today, I can still hear the words echoing out of the doctor's mouth. "Steve, You have cancer of the throat, and 8 jellybean sized cancerous tumors in your lymph nodes in your neck" cut and dry. Just Like THAT he uttered these words:

You have less then a year to live.

That is when the tears started to flow and the reality set in that I have CANCER!

That being said, My Cancer drama started Feb 26, 2007. At the time, I recall how calm I was. That of course would soon change as a mirage of scenerios went through my mind. Then I went about asking the doctor, "So, How do I beat this thing?"

This smug Doctor, with no compassion and concern in his voice at all for my personal welfare, (at the time I had no insurance) said: Well, you will need a radical neck dissection, that could put you out of commission for about 3-4 months, and then he uttered the most shocking news besides the possibility that I would die,,,, You may never be able to talk again.

GEEZE, I started to panic...How will I survive? How will I be able to make a living?....Sales is all I have ever known....What will my wife do? my family!!! I almost fainted from this overwhelming sensation of fear. Then I remembered my Tony Robbins training about FEAR- (False - Evidence - Acquiring - Reality) and survival mode was kicking in. It was at that point I made up my mind. God willing, I WAS GOING TO SURVIVE. Not only did I make up my mind that I was going to survive, I re-focused my mind that I was going to rededicate my life, and perform life at the highest level possible.

Shortly after the bad news, I got a second opinion, I was referred to another doctor, Dr. Anita Pomeranz at the Nevada Cancer Institute. This angel directly appointed from God not only helped save my life, she helped give me the courage to fight like hell. Doctor Pomeranz then broke the news to me that I could not eat for 6 months or longer. I had to get a JPEG tube inserted in my stomache and had to go on a liquid diet. so much for steak and beer! (*On a positive note: I ended up losing 70 lbs. However I don't recommend the cancer diet for ANYONE!)

April 23, 2007 ,,,,I went on a program of Chemotherapy and had Radiation treatments for 7 weeks. It was grueling and I was constantly tired and worn out. The constant spitting up of blood, was absolutely the lowest point of my life. But, I prayed everyday, and as I begged God everyday to heal me, the lord delivered instant peace and comfort to me. With in days of starting treatment the bleeding in my throat stopped. I was still tired and exhausted (I would sleep 18 hours a day) Thank God for my broker..She was so helpful..Michele Sullivan was there for me. She helped with my closings and made sure I got paid and totally supported me. Then I started to realize about how lucky I was to have the people that were around me....slowly, and methodically, I constantly would think positive thoughts about how fortunate I was about everything in my life...good and bad. (when your sick, things like this happen) slowly but surely, I got better. I struggled. I was constantly vommiting everday from the treatment, I embraced this,,,,because I was still alive to vomit. my body would shake with weakness. GOOD! THAT MEANS I AM STILL HERE! It was this day August 23, 2007 that I realized that you have to embrace the Good, and the bad in life to live. What a life lesson!!!! It was at this moment I learned to make everything passionate no matter how trivial and small. even small things like being able to open a door, or walking outside, or being able to dress myself.

So, to make a long story short, My Cancer drama just ended October 22, 2007! I just got my tube removed from my stomach and The doctor told me I escaped from a tangerine size tumor in my neck (the worst he had ever seen) all my lymph nodes were clear! It was a MIRACLE!!!

The moral of the story and my personal message to the active rain community is this: No matter how good or bad things are going, count your blessings daily, hug your family, realize how lucky you are to live, AND LIVE PASSIONATELY EVERYDAY!

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you so much Steve for giving fear and doubt

the beating you gave them with your faith and determination to fight your affliction

and, by the grace of God, to prevail in magnificent fashion. What a testimony!

People need to hear this. Especially those being intimidated by fear and doubt, the

greatest accomplices of sickness and death.

Mr. Banks,

Thank you for these words of wisdom. I have been suffering from different ailments at different times for the past 14 months. I was in a vehicle accident. Maybe this is our Lord's way of telling me to slow down? Spend more time with your wife and children as I was working two jobs. I was feeling a little down after finding out my heart symptoms, although improved, are not where I was hoping. I may have to go back on disability and that gets me down. However, after reading your blog here, you inspired me to continue to move forward. Thank You. Happy Holidays. God Bless You And Your Family.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Be encouraged, Al. Many people are having to work

two or more jobs to survive comfortably in this worsening economy. But bad health

is the last thing one needs when he is desperately working hard to survive. Make

sure that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Savior so that

when you encounter burdens too heavy for you to bear, He will share if not bear

your heavy load.

Dear Mr Banks I stumbled upon your blog today and I cannot properly express what a blessing and encouragement it was for me! Thank you for your witness continue to endure your hardship as a good soldier.Our prayers are with you God bless

BANKS' RESPONSE: God bless, Ed, and thanks for reading this blog and

emailing our encouraging comment. Merry Christmas to you and your whole family.

Mr. Bankson, In the Mighty Name of Jesus you are healed. You are made whole right now in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. Spirit of Pain In the Name of Jesus I cast you out, Spirit of lonliness I cast you out In Jesus Name. Spirit of worry I cast you out in the name of Jesus, Spirit of self defeat I cast you out in the Name of Jesus. Spirit of anger I cast you out in the Name of Jesus. Spirit of impatience I cast you out in the Name of Jesus. Spirit of resentment I cast you out in the Mighty name of Jesus. Spirit of self pity I cast you out in the Name of Jesus. Spirit of unforgiveness I cast you out in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Mr. Bankson in the Name of Jesus receive this prayer. You are already healed, now receive It In Jesus Name and then walk in it In Jesus Name. You are already whole In Jesus Name. I have known pain too. I am now a published author and my pain is titled Redemption: Through The Fire located at www.lulu.com click on "buy" then click "biographies and memoirs" search brunell donald or Redemption: Through The Fire. You can read the first chapter free. I love you, God bless you and I look forward to meeting you soon strong, mighty, whole living man of Jehovah God Almighty. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen!!! I have decreed these things and they shall come to pass. In Jesus Name. Amen!!!

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you so much Brunell for that beautiful, powerful

prayer. I pray that you continue to be a blessing of hope and comfort to others in

dire need. Indeed, in the name of Jesus, we can exercise dominion over all and

any adversity.

I am sorry for your suffering, and I hope you heal quickly and thoroughly with as little pain as possible. As a hospital nurse, your remarks " I'm tired of needles and nurses who can't draw blood right because they don't know what they're doing and they blame their incompetence on me by saying silly things like ...."you got some funny, rolling veins."

I'm tired of nurses with attitudes." hurt me deeply. 1)Many people who draw blood are phlebotomists, not nurses, and have little training, unlike RNs. 2)Many people, especially cancer patients, have veins that are difficult to access and do, in fact, roll or collapse when punctured. 3)Most of us are overworked, most hospitals are understaffed, and we do the best we can. What appears to you as an "attitude" might be exhaustion, stress, worry over another patient, or sadness that she cannot perform her job to the best of her ability because the sheer amount of work she has to do takes more time than the hours allotted. We could make more money working other jobs, but most of us love what we do and do the best we can with what God gives us.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Dear nurse, I apologize for any undue criticism of

nurses. I know that most of you are good at what you do and are dedicated

professionals who don't get half the credit you deserve. My sister-in-law is a

veteran RN, who loves her job so much that she works double-shift at two

hospitals even though she is past retirement age. Nursing is her passion. And

often she shares her nursing knowledge with me. Thanks for correcting me on my

terminology. I did not know there was any such thing as a phlebotomist. So I was

wrongfully blaming a nurse for the errors of a phlebotomist. But I'm sure that some

of those people who could not draw blood well from me were also nurses. And in

that situation, your other explanations probably applied in terms of collapsing veins,

exhaustion, short staff, sympathy and frustration. I also know that the same greed

that plagues many American businesses also plagues the medical industry.

Accomplished veterans like yourself are often released or frustrated into leaving

because the hospital is unwilling to pay you what you are worth. Nobody can tell

me that the hospitals aren't making money. Hospital stays are the most expensive

in the world. More expensive than the world's finest luxury hotels. You appear to

be a model nurse. Indeed, perhaps one of the very, very best in your craft. I like

the way you defended your profession. You want it to be properly understood. And

you do it a service to acquaint us with the causes of some of the chaos that we

patients see and complain about when we are hospitalized. We know that there

are some wolves among you sheep. We've read some horror stories about some

mass murderers masquerading as doctors and nurses and other medical staffers.

But on the whole, I believe that American hospitals are the very best in the

world. That's why so many of your patients come from abroad. They can get care

here that they can't get anywhere else. I've met some of the kindest doctors and

nurses this side of heaven. People who rmade me feel that they are committed

to the Hippocratic oath. God bless you all. I know that many of our hospitals are

understaffed in terms of competent medical technicians. I know that many people--

more than 40 million, a record number--don't have medical insurance and run up

hospital debts that are driving some of our hospitals out of business. That's why I

pray that President-elect Barack Obama keeps his promise to effectively and

efficiently address our medical care problems.

I hate to admit, or perhaps not, that I'm more of a spiritualist than a believer in the almighty. However, I have leukemia, and am tired of it all. So let me go in peace, thank you, Mother Nature. And thank you for your inspiring words. Peace, Jenny

BANKS' RESPONSE: Dear Jenny. God bless even though you say are "more

of a spiritualist than a believer in the almighty." I must be honest. I don't exactly

what a spiritualist is. But I want to assure you that God loves you whether you

believe in Him or not. And please, don't be offended, Jennifer, but there is room at

the cross for you. Jesus loves you and so do . I wish I could stretch my hands

right now through these falling tears, touch you gently and heal you completely.

But, heck, I can't even heal myself. I'm begging Jesus like blind Bartimaeus and

everybody else. I go to the best doctors for whatever care they can give me. But

first and foremost, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood as

righteousness. I may not get the complete healing from my sickness that I want.

But I thank God for whatever He sees fit to grant me and I'm praying for Him to

give me the strength to accept His final will. I sense in your words your desire

perhaps to die in peace or in dignity with minimal fanfare or fury. I sense that you

choose to go to that dark, endless night quietly and not in loud, raging protest.

You appear to be expressing some measure of gratitude to Mother Nature for all

you feel she had done, is doing and will do for you. I also thank you for appreciating

my attempt to give you joy and hope. I know not what your tomorrow may bring.

But I know who holds tomorrow and into His hands I would love to commend

a spirit in you that wants to yield to Him. Only Jesus can save us. Only Jesus can

heal us. Only Jesus can help when all else fails. if I could have, I would have saved

you mother, my father, my sister, my brother, my two twin infant sons and other

who died and hurt me dearly. But I, too, am headed toward that same endless

night. But by the grace of God my so-called endless night is already quaranteed

to be swallowed up in eternal life. So can't no grave hold my dead body down

when King Jesus comes back in the air in the rapture for His church without spot

or wrinkle. God bless Jennifer. And I want to share with you a message from

Jesus, the Prince of Peace Himself. It is found in St. 14: 27. "Peace I leave with

you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not

your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." And so, dear Jennifer, I pray that

the peace of God be upon you, too. You bless you.

Lacy, a cousin sent me this site, and I have been blessed by reading it. I wanted to save your column, so I have copied the entire site (24 pages)! I was diagnosed with terminal cancer over six years ago and am still taking chemo three weeks on and one off.....don't have a hair on my head, but I have peace and joy in my heart, and I wouldn't trade places with anyone in the world! One of my favorite prayers is "Lord, prepare me for what You are preparing for me." And I love this quote from St. Francis deSales: "Do not fear what may happen tomorrow. The same lovin g Father who care for you today, will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfaili ng stre ngth to bear it. Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings." Since you are a sportswriter (among other noble professions), you may remember my husband, Bobby Crespino, who played football with the Cleveland Browns and NY Giants back in the sixties. May God continue to bless you, use you and hold you in the palm of His hand. Barbara Crespino PS I have a site on Caring Bridge at www.caringbridge.org/visit/barbaracrespino

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you Barbara for reading this blog and for

emailing a most touching testimony that is an encouragement to me and to so many

others who are suffering life-threatening health issues. I celebrate your faith and

toughness. How else could you find joy and hope in the midst of your suffering?

Somebody else is is going through what you are going through needed to hear

from you. Meantime, I pray that you receive complete recovery as soon as

possible because when you do you are the kind of person who will inspire others

who feel they can't recover. God bless you and merry Christmas.

Peace and blessings, Mr. Banks.

Thank you so much for sharing your trials and triumphs with your fellow Chicagooans. Every word in your blog had me on the tip of my seat -- ready to shout!

You are going to get double for your troubles! God just keeps on doing great things. I am a believer and a witness to His grace and mercy. You just hold on, sir! Eyes have not seen...you're next in line for a miracle.

I thank God for you and your inspiration on this day. Please keep us posted on your progress. Praying for you,

Barb Sanders

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you Barb. I needed that. And I accept your

encouraging words not just for myself but for other believers who are suffering

and trusting God for healing just as I am. We believers are charged by our

Savior Jesus Christ to encourage and comfort one another in needful times. And

at this Christmas season of giving, thanks for giving us a high-potency vitamin

of hope.

Hello Mr. Banks,

I stumbled upon the Sun-Times website today as I searched for a job because I am unemployed. I sat here complaining to my father that I can not find a job and I felt so frustrated. I complained for twenty minutes and then I read your story and I cried. I cried because complaining does not help and sometime life is not about me being in control of my situations. I'm crying as I type. When you said, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. But in our ways, let us acknowledge Him and He shall direct our path."I knew that I have to trust him through all of my journeys in life. I may not have a job but that is not important because God will see you through every moment. I pray that you are healed and I pray that you get better soon. Your words were my gift this Christmas, and you taught me that the greatest gift in life is learning to let God lead you. He will pull you through Mr. Banks and Merry Christmas. I will keep you in my prayers because I believe that God will heal and take care of you. You have such great strength and faith. God will see you through. God Bless You Always.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you so much Sherise for not just reading this

blog but for taking deeply to heart what I have been saying. Your tears spoke

volumes in terms of what you are personally going to and in terms of the good

will you have for others in needful situations. You are a sensitive symbol of a

growing multitude of unemployed throughout America. American labor is besieged

with unemployment and with failing businesses that are laying off workers of

droves. There are many companies who can afford to employ more workers or

keep the workers they presently have. And they take advantage of the fact that

so many other companies are laying off workers to save money and they simply

do the same to make more money. I pray that you not only find a job but a very

good-paying job that will be a comfort to work because you will be working for and

with good people. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Thank you for being

the fantastic feeling person that you are.

Rev.Banks

Thank you for your words. I was feeling low and not worthly of God's healing as a sinner. I was guided by the Lord to find your article and read it. Sometimes I am not good with words. I am 69 years old and have been blessed by the Lord many ways Right now I am on oxygen and blood thinners due to blood clots -pulmonary embolism in Febraruary. Fighting my life long battle with obesity. Knowing if I lose the weight I can be stronger. Thank you for reminding me to trust the Lord this monring and turn all of me over to Him. God bless you and heal you. Today I feel connected to my God and will ask for guidance today.

BANKS' RESPONSE: I am happiest to hear that you have decided to avail

yourself of a cosmic connection with God. Understand, however, that the supreme

cosmic connection is to confess your sins and imperfection, believe in Jesus with

your heart as the Son of God and confess Him as Lord and Saviour with your

mouth. Then He becomes your personal savior ready, will and able to hear and

answer every prayer and to provide grace and mercy sufficient to supply all of

your needs. This way, you will have sought first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Yes, sickness is no fun. That's why God's heavenly salvation is invaluable in

anchoring and healing us when we do get sick or get into critical, needful

situations. Thank you for reading this blog and for allowing God to touch your kind

and tender heart and curve it toward Him. As I pray for yourself, I also pray for

your complete relief and recovery physically, spiritually and mentally of all that ails

you. And when God heals you, don't forget to thank Him and praise His name

before others, letting them know what the Lord has done for you.

Lacy,

Thank you for being an inspiration to all of us in these dark, dark times. Thanks you for helping me remember what is important in life . . . Faith, Hope, and Love.

May God Bless you and may His mercy come to you!

Your Brother, in Christ, John

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you, Brother John, and a most merry, merry

Christmas to you. For this is the season of faith, hope and love. This is the

happiest time of year when we celebrate the advent of faith, hope and love in the

birth of the Prince of Peace Himself, Jesus Christ. So, oh come let us adore Him.

Oh come let us adore Him. Oh come ler us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Greetings to You Minister Banks
May this email find you and yours with increased peace, love, joy, health, wealth and prosperity.

I just so happen to be browsing on the Sun-Times website when the headline caught my eyes: 'I'm tired and weary but I can't quit God is still working on me.' I was jolted with a dynamic flood of mixed emotions that overwhelmed me.

Although I fully and wholeheartedly comprehend the profound truth of this concise statement; equally, I understood the humanistic frustration related to the uncertainity of no definitive time of completion and/or fulfillment.

I wanted to thank you for sharing this blog. This message holds truth for Physical,Spiritual,Emotional,Intellectual and Financial impediments.

I would like to place your quotation on my wall to remind myself everyday to be thankful and grateful. May God continue to Bless, Heal and Keep You.

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thank you Symiley for reading this blog and for

emailing encouraging words from the heart. Thank you also for daring to be

touched. Most people deservedly are very guarded about what they dare to let

touch them deeply. The heart is a very valuable and delicate centerpiece of the

human anatomy and there are predators on the prowl scamming to sneak into your

heart and steal compassion with false reports. Thank you for being so trusting and

I pray you have a merry, merry Christmas. I pray that God also prospers you with

a happy, healthy and wealthy New Year. I hope you are not allergic to money

because I pray right now, "Lord, in the name of Jesus, please make a way for

Symiley to get much more money in 2009 than was received in 2008. Amen." Now

that will cost you nothing but to join me in believing in Jesus for it.

Rev. Banks: In addition to appreciating and admiring your faith, it is a great inspiration to see the wonderful relationship you have with your Lord to be frank, honest, and genuine in your conversation with God. It is so foolish to think that we have to be so politically correct with God. He knows our very thoughts and I believe He wants us to open with our thoughts, emotions, fears, anxieties, and willingness to admit it when we are down.
Although I am not going through medical difficulties, I am experiencing relationship problems...but the spiritual principles are the same. We must trust, rely, believe, and yes, WAIT PATIENTLY! When I get down and discouraged, I encourage myself by the simple phrase; I believe in God, therefore I trust Him, therefore, I know that all things are working for my good, therefore it's going to be alright.
You are more of an inspiration to others than you will ever know!

BANKS' RESPONSE: Oh yes indeed, David, I join you in naming, proclaiming

and affirming in the matchless, mighty name of Jesus Christ that everything is going

to be alright in your life. And though you appear to having relationship problems,

make sure that your relationship with God is solid and that you know Jesus as your

personal savior. If that is the case, then trust Him to direct the social traffic in your

life. Because you are faithful and precious to God, He will watch out for you and

give His angels charge to watch over you so that you be protected also from bad

relationships. So sometimes what we may see as relationship problems may be

cases of relationship deliverance for there are some people we should not be

related to because they may be good to us but not good for us. God wants what's

best for us and we should pray that His will be done and that His kingdom come on

earth as it is in heaven. The somebody that God has for you is custom designed

for you alone David and nobody but nobody can take that person away from you.

It remains for you to redeem the times and to meet that person and you will. Trust

me. You are on a cosmic collision course with that person. And when you two

smash you will rock each other's worlds and sparks will fly every which a way. But

also remain prayerful and ever faithful looking to Jesus, the author and finisher

of our faith. Be blessed bountifully, in the name of Jesus, David. Merry Christmas

and happy New Year.

God bless you and Merry Christmas. I understand pain and how it "works" on you. But I also understand that God is greater than our pain. I have prayed for you and I know in Gods time we will be healed. Thank you for allowing God to speak through you. I needed a little confirmation tonight.
You Brother
Eric

BANKS' RESPONSE: You you, also, Eric for allowing God to listen through

you. Yes, God guides our ears, too, when we give Him charge over our lives. He'll

guide our hands, our heads, our hearts, our mouths and our minds to protect us

from evil invasions. Yes, we need not fear pain. For our God is omnipotent. He

rules over all pain and pleasure. And often He dispenses pain to teach us the

value and appreciation of pleasure. I pray, then, that your pleasures far outnumber

your pains and that your life will be properly balanced in an enriching way

physically, spiritually and mentally.. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year for

you and your entire family.

God entrusts you to heal yourself from the inside out. Let God's light shine through you unto others and find that you are well, loving, joyful, peaceful......all the 30 commandments that God asks that we be like him. It is God's trust in us that allows us to trust in the natural goodness of ourselves, others, and the universe. Send love, send wellness, send joy and peace and all that you FEEL to others and watch as it arrives within you.

With joy and peace,
Jeanne

BANKS' RESPONSE: Thanks Jeanne for reading this blog and for being my

Special Christmas Greeting No. 13. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you

and your family.

Tonight, I was laying here on my bed frustrated, upset with money issues in my businesses (most self-created of course) and out of frustration and somewhat tired of crying out to my Father for guidance, I "googled" my thoughts and your blog popped up. Providence at is finest! Brother, I didn't get the quick answer I was looking for in a Google search. I got one of His lessons instead. I realize that I am frustrated because God is not working on my timetable either, and I am suffering. I am desperately trying to right my wrongs, I have sought forgiveness on my knees prostrate before my Father, I seek and daily feel his restoration as I have returned to the cross and a faith of a saintly grandmother and Godly parents. I had my first 40 years. He gets my next 40 and beyond. I am tired. But I need to wait upon the Lord. Thank you for telling me that. I needed you, whose suffering is far greater than mine, to tell me that. God knew you would tell me that in this day, and in this hour. He has used you, and your suffering to encourage me today. Along with Google! What greater privilege is there for suffering than to be used by God in it? Praise Him from whom all blessings flow. Your blog has uplifted my spirits, renewed my strength and calls me out to wait upon the Lord for my problems, which pale in comparison to yours. He set the stars and the sun in the sky that number the days and mark time, not us. I am tired and weary too. My family suffers, my health suffers, my own mental stablity suffers as I struggle to move forward each day. But my God is stronger than any foe on this earth, including the evil one who struggles for our minds daily. Our Father suffered through his Son's suffering on a cross a million times more than any suffering I may ever endure, and His love will endureth forever and shall sustain me all the days of my life.
In closing, let me pray for you a prayer that I raise to the Lord for you health and your weariness in suffering, taken from the Book of Common Prayers, (Scottish Episcopal version) - - -
Lord God, our heavenly Father, we pray that with your divine pity you see the pains your children endure. Grant that the passion of our Lord and his infinite love may make fruitful for good the tribulation of the innocent, the sufferings of the sick, and the sorrows of the bereaved.
My prayers are with you my brother in Christ.

BANKS' RESPONSE: What a mighty testimony, Ed! You rocked my soul. You

rocked the house, brother. Best of all, you probably rocked heaven, also, because

nothing scores with God like a repentent sinner or saint. What I got from your

comments, Ed, was deep, deep contrition from a person who mans up with his

shortcomings and misgivings and admits to the world he has sinned or erred in

manners most costly to your wallet, your mental and physical and spiritual health.

One of the hardest things for people to do when they make mistakes is to admit

them and take responsibilities for them rather than pointing fingers at others. You

are not alone in your predicament, Ed. Far from being alone. You are a symbol of

a growing population of people who have been dealt seriously tragic and costly

setbacks financially, socially, physically, professionally, mentally and spiritually.

And in many of these cases, maybe even most, it was not really their fault. They

were misled and even robbed by so-called experts, friends and professionals that

they trusted. We are living in an age of unprecedented greed and thievery

especially in the highest places and it has been trickling down on millions and

millions of innocent investors. And so I pray that the Lord avenges you of your

adversary, forgives you of the wrongs you were responsible for and redeem you

from the damages that come with those wrongs. Again, thanks for reading my

blog and emailing your comment.

How can I thank you for what you are going through for me. I thank God for the ability to empathize because I repent. The fragrance of the offering of your obedience in suffering has crushed the arrogance of my soul. I repent! Who am I to demand of the Lord to relief me from my troubles before I praise Him and give Him what he is so worthy of – (My total confidence IN HIM, that he knows what's best for me.) I thank God for using you life to correct mine heart.
I pray in Jesus Name for your continued comfort in the Holy Spirit. I pray that you will always feel the presence of Jehovah-Shammah (God as the very present HELP in the time of trouble.) I pray for God’s perfect will for your life. I pray that these words in 1Th 4:14-18 will bless you the way your life has blessed me today.
Thank you.
I love you!
Your brother in Christ Cedric C. Anderson
ceddya7@yahoo.com

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

BANKS' RESPONSE: And you have comforted me abundantly with those

words and others equally consoling and empowering. The Jesus Network really

works in channeling God's perfect peace from Him to us and through us to each

other. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praise. The realization that you and all

our other sisters and brothers of the household of faith are out there caring and

sharing is priceless. I stand not alone in any dungeon of doom and gloom. I stand

out in the open, I suffer out in the open, out in the broad daylight of the world and

in the light of the Lord's love from Him directly and from Him through the likes of

you. Jesus not only is the Light of the world, but He said that you and I were also

the light of the world. He also told us to walk in the light, live in the light, fellowship

in the light one with another and to do our good deeds in the light so that men will

see our good works and glorify our Father, which art in heaven. So, Cedric, when

you just emailed me those kind compliments and expressions of hope, you shined

the light of God's love on me. You illuminated my hope and flushed out any

darkness of doubt and despair that so often would ensnare us. I am living in the

light so that the sun shall not smite me by day nor the moon by night because the

Lord remains my keeper and my shade upon my right hand and He will keep me

in the hollow of His hand and the haven of His heart. Keep shining for Jesus, Ced.