America's military might and the world's economic resources give some of us a false sense of security. Too many people stand in awe of those with billion-dollar wealth and international fame.

Just imagine, a wisp of air from God can become a mighty hurricane. Alternatively, a tap of his feet can cause an earthquake.

Man may have the equipment to track the trail of a hurricane or measure the force of an earthquake, but they cannot control either of them. They can only hunker down and pray for relief.

I believe everyone should be able to agree that the Lord is due all honor and glory. I subscribe to the belief that all praise should be given to God.

We would all know more, live nearer to God, be better, and grow in grace if we spent more quality time alone. Meditation chews the cud and extracts the real nutriment from the mental food gathered throughout your life's journey. Meditate helps you to find your center and prayerfully your center rests secure in the hands of God. Meditate is a prelude to contemplation. That's where you make a proper assessment of where you are and whose you are. Too many hasty decisions have created problems. Furthermore, many thoughtless acts have led to serious consequences and repercussions. An old song by the Softones would say, "count to ten."

The text informs us to get out of our little corners and to go into the wide expanse of the fields. It is there you see the handy work of the Creator and discern your place in God's world.

Furthermore, recognize that the meditation took place at night. Prior to going to sleep, it permitted an honest assessment of the day, a review of your interactions with people, and a benchmark to determine what did you really accomplish that moved you closer to God.

You should spend at least an hour in walking through the garden of a field in prayer and meditation. Watch the setting of the sun and allow it to excite your sense of awe and wonder. Yes, God is everywhere. He can meet you on a crowded street or even in your little room. Nevertheless, if you desire to go to meet Him. Take the time to meditate in a garden as the evening dusk overcomes the sky.

Just, a shout out for the firemen who came to my house today with three smoke detectors. They installed them in key areas of the house. I called the 311 number to test the announcement that local firefighters would come to you house to install free smoke detectors. I called the 311 number and within 2o minutes, three fire officials were standing at my door with the detectors under one of their arms. One official had a drill with screws. The third official pointed out the key areas in the house where they should be installed. The whole process took about 15 minutes, and they were gone.

This is the public service residents of Baltimore City deserve and expect.

If you don't have smoke detectors, or know someone who needs them. Call 311 before they are all gone.

Have you ever seen a rainbow and marveled at its beauty? Upon reflection, I imagine that ever rainbow you have seen emerged from the storm, rains, and clouds that had darkened the sky. It was the dark moments of life that gave way to the promise of the rainbow.

Everyone experiences dark moments. Everyone has storms that enter their lives. If one places their hand in the hand of God, you will discover that the storm will pass over, "hallelujah."

God's rainbow is hung over the cloud of our sins, our sorrows, our disappointments, and our woes to proclaim deliverance. To have a rainbow, you must have the sun, because clouds and drops of rain don't make rainbows unless the sun shines.

Friends, our God, who is as the sun to us, always shines, but we don't always see Him - clouds hide His face, but it does not matter what drops may be falling or what clouds may be threatening. When He shines, there will be a rainbow to assure us of His promise. It is said that when you see the rainbow, the storm is over.

There is no cause for anxiety as long as the above sentence is true. On earth, the Lord's power as easily controls those who are evil as He controls the winds of the sea. His love refreshes the poor with mercy as the earth with showers.

Recent events around the world should show man that his reign on earth is temporary. Rulers are falling, and man's kingdoms are failing.

I'm so glad the word confirms for me that the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our God. It's reassuring to know that no power on earth can subdue the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Let Mount Zion rejoice, Our Lord reigns forever and forever.

It's good to know that in the midst of life's struggles, God provides us with His eternal encouragement. "You can make it" He whispers into our spirits during moments of despair. "Keep on going," He urges us when it seems that all we can do is quit. "I am with you," He proclaims when all around us is sinking sand. “ I’ll fight you battles,” He declares when it appears our foes have overtaken us.

Eternal encouragement knows that Jesus has paid the price for us to be safe and secure in our knowledge that we are never outside of God's love and care. It's the "Blessed Assurance" one has when they know that “Jesus is mine”. It’s the foretaste we experience here on earth.

When sickness may get us down, we are encouraged that there is a state greater than healing and its wholeness. Wholeness is when we know in our spirit that there is nothing that will separate us from the love of God.

Accepting the "Beloved" is our eternal encouragement. To feel safe and secure in the arms of God is encouraging indeed.

I often hear the words that "back in the day" things were better. It's almost a glorification of the past. It's surprising to me that so many people view the past with pleasure, but regard the present with dissatisfaction. Some look back with a nostalgic view, forgetting any pain, and sense that the past brought them only pleasure.

I understand pleasant thoughts of the past, particularly when I hear music from back in the day. I think about basement parties, hanging out with friends, school day's activities, and budding love affairs.

Nevertheless, a true assessment focuses my attention on the present and looks into the future. My experiences in the past have deepened my relationship with God. The pressure pot of trouble has taught me in the present that God is a very present help in the time of trouble. Being abandoned by friends and foes has taught me that Jesus does stick closer than a brother. Having experiences of lost has taught me that if this earthly house is dissolved, we have a building not made my hand eternal in the heavens. Having some experiences of suffering lack has taught me that God rewards those who diligently seek him.

I have a healthy respect for the past, but I have no desire to swim backwards. I chose to swim forward and to look to the hills from whence cometh my strength, my strength cometh from the Lord. Good Morning!!!

God keeps watch even during the night to make certain that the enemy does not overtake us. Sin creeps in when darkness is lurking. Our prayer life must be strong to avoid the tricks, traps, and temptations nighttime brings. God is our heavenly protector that watches over us as Satan seeks to destroy us. He prays for us that our faith will not fail, when we are sifted like wheat. Watchman, what enemies are coming in the night? We must watch out for heresy and infidelity by observing the signs of the times. Watchman what stars are visible? Stars are the precious promises of God that illuminate any situation. The stars provide us with the blessed assurance that God will never leave us. The watchman lets us know, "morning by morning new mercies I see, great is Thy faithfulness."

I had to read this text closely, because all things are not good. The text says, God works for the good.

With that clarity, I can believe that nothing comes my way without God's divine purpose being attached to it. I believe that God is for the good.

This is not a theoretical statement. It is a statement of faith. Every event brings the most divinely blessed results; and so, believing that God rules all, that He governs wisely, that He brings good out of evil, my heart is assured, and I am able to meet each trial as it comes.

I can stand firm in knowing that even if it seems I'm in a storm. There is a bright cloud somewhere.

Flying through a storm is a harrowing experience. The pilot informs us that to get out of the storm he would have to fly to a higher altitude.

That’s what each of us has to do. When the storms of life come; go to a higher altitude in the Lord. There you will see that you are above life's storms.

Jesus is passing through the crowd to the house of Jairus, to raise the ruler's dead daughter; but He is so full of goodness that He works another miracle while on the road.

Jesus has no limit to his power or boundary of mission. He is so prolific in grace that, like the sun who shines as it rolls onward in its orbit, His path is radiant with loving-kindness.

He is a swift arrow of love, which not only reaches its ordained target, but perfumes the air through which it flies.

Virtue is forever going out of Jesus, as sweet odors exhale from flowers; and it always will be emanating from Him, as water from a sparkling fountain.

If our Lord is so ready to heal the sick and bless the needy, then, don't be slow to put yourself in His way, that He may smile on you.

Allow Jesus to speak a word into your heart. Seek Him where he may be found. He is present even now, for He always comes to hearts, which need Him.

I am standing in place, praying, knowing that He will pass by. Come by here my Lord, someone needs you!

God sees everything. The world, the universe and all creations has divine order. He sees the whole from corner to cornice, from base to roof, from foundation to pinnacle. In God, you find ultimate order and symmetry.

What about your life? How does it align with God's order? The word is clear, "all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called to his purpose."

Do you love the Lord? Are you called to his purpose? If so, you will find that life has ultimate order; because all life belongs to God.

When you think about the broad field of God's promises, you understand why there is abundance and that none should suffer lack. The God of the universe has so much goodness and grace that wherever you are and whatever you need; He can supply. God's fields are very rich. His sweet promises are yours for the taking. Don't be afraid, only believe. Grab the sweet promises of God, sort them out by meditation, and feed on them with joy.

These are comforting words for those who worry about life situations. It seems as if the events of the day are out of control.

I awake this morning with a rock- solid confidence that the God of yesterday is the God of today and tomorrow. I woke up this morning with my bed being a spring board instead of a cooling board. I feel deep in my spirit that God is saying to you and me, "Yet, I am always with you."

God is always thinking us. God's hand is continually holding us and shaping us. God's heart perpetually loves us. Even in affliction and turmoil, we can stand before the Mercy Seat with the knowledge that even in our midnight hour, God is always with us."

God's yet is my yes!

I ask that you meditate upon the promises of God. As you meditate on them, understand them as the word of God. When you fix your heart upon the promises of God, don't stagger because of the greatness of his mercy. Have a cheerful spirit because of the greatness of the promiser. His word is as true as His existence. He is an unchangeable God. He has not altered one word that has come from His mouth. He does not lack power. He knows when it is best to give and better to withhold. Therefore, seeing that it is the word of a God so true, so immutable, so powerful, so wise, you will and must believe the promises He makes. "He will never leave you, nor forsake you." God will always love you, because God is love!

Have you ever been ushered to the best seating? Alternatively, have you been a special guest at a five-star restaurant? Alternatively, have you sat in the best skybox in a stadium or arena?

God has promised to seat you with the princes!

You are one of his chosen people, one of his royal priesthood, and you are a part of his holy nation. You have a courtly audience were only princes have admittance to royalty, and the common people will have to stand afar off. As a child of God you will have free access to the inner courts of heaven. You will be able to approach the throne of grace with confidence of knowing you belong.

As one seated with the princes; you will have access to abundant wealth. Nothing will be spare. You will have to want for nothing. You will also find that you have a peculiar power, and your seat is a place of special honor.

God has all of this a more for you, not in the, by and by, but right now!

Do you want to sit in your special seat?

What stuck me in my morning reading was the term, "make every effort." As a new week and month begin, time is quickly winding down, strive to make every effort to add to your faith. Make every effort to demonstrate your faith. Make every effort to become stronger in your faith.

As we close out 2011, God wants each one of us to make every effort to become better than before.