Good Morning,

There are crossroads we choose, and there are crossroads that choose us. Some arrive in seasons of grief, disappointment, failure, uncertainty, or change. Scripture reminds us that God is not only present on the mountaintop or in the miracle, but also in the valley, at the intersection of pain and possibility, calling us forward with mercy. He meets us not only at the polished edges of our lives, but also at the jagged places where we feel most fragile. He meets us where the questions outnumber the answers, where the tears outnumber the words, and where disappointments feel heavier than the hope we’re trying to hold onto.

In a world that teaches us to hide our cracks - brokenness is not the barrier to God’s presence - it’s the meeting place. God meets us in the dust, lifts us by mercy, and shapes us into something new. God takes the shame we’ve carried for years and replaces it with mercy that refuses to let us go. He takes the fear that has paralyzed us and breathes courage into the places we thought were permanently weak. He takes the disappointment that has settled into our bones and turns them into a doorway of trust. Psalm 34:18reminds us that “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Many people believe they must clean themselves up before they can come to God. They think they must get everything right, fix every weakness, and hide every failure before God will accept them. The good news is God meets us where we are, with the grace we need for our brokenness. God delights in meeting us at the crossroads of our brokenness, even with the cracks in our heart where life has left us wounded. Our brokenness becomes the very place where grace draws near - even when we pretend to have it all together.

Thank you for your financial contributions to support the church’s work. Please continue to mail your checks to Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church, 2701 Lee St, Houston, Texas 77026, or use Givelify.com (Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church—Houston, Texas).

Finally, I would like to leave you with this thought for meditation: “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence.” - Mother Teresa.

Rejoice and Be Glad, for this is the day that the Lord has made.

Kevin L. Bullock, Sr. - Pastor