"The proud human heart is there revealed. We insist on paying for what we have done. We cannot stand the humiliation of acknowledging our bankruptcy and allowing somebody else to pay for us. The notion that this somebody else should be God himself is just too much to take. We would rather perish than repent, rather lose ourselves than humble ourselves."

As per me...I see this pride evident all around me - and even within myself - everyday to some extent! Would that we could HUMBLE ourselves and be rid of the PRIDE that ensnares us!

Only our Savior can accomplish this humbling of us through His indwelling Holy Spirit - Who can make it so...because I CAN'T DO IT!!!

By the way...NEITHER CAN YOU!!! And if you say to yourself, “Yes I can!!!” - just think about how much PRIDE there is in that statement to yourself…!

Only by being immersed in our Savior and His will for relationship with us...can bring us to this place - through us availing ourselves to His Holy Spirit through prayer and spending time with Him in His Holy Word! Only Jesus can give us "servant hearts" showing the love and humility which He Himself brought back to earth through Himself taking on human flesh and obediently adhering to His Father's plan for redeeming and reconciling us back to Himself from our sin!

As we are "filled up" with Christ, He enables us to be centered on Him and centered on serving those around us...rather than ourselves! This is where the true "joy of Christ" comes into our lives - when we are free from our selfish selves and bound up in Jesus Christ...and He can live His life through us - showing His love to those around us! AMAZING...huh???

Side note: I was at my dear friend John’s house (the one who had the stroke a few years back and lost the use of his right hand...), staying with he and Robin...his loving wife of 45 years. I went to San Antonio to check on him and his family - and they were doing great! John’s right hand was coming back from the stroke and what a blessing it has been to me to spend time with this man and his family! It has been a few years now, and his hand is about 98% recovered!

I’m finding that when the Lord uses me in these ways (going to visit my friends who need a brother in Christ to come and stand firm with them at a time of their need...)...it is I who am the one who receives such joy and blessing from doing so!

Jesus is doing this with another friend right now as well…as he is recovering from a stroke! Continue to pray for Pat would you please?

I’m so thankful that our Lord Jesus Christ has John, Pat and their families - right in the center of the palm of His hand!!!

Does Jesus have your family there...???

Think about it...

Side note: The angiogram was performed and they determined they will go ahead and do some surgery today on Frank’s foot. They were able to get some additional blood flow achieved and the surgeon feels this is the best option.

Frank needs our prayers as his pain is significant. Pray for great results, healing, and no infection.

Thank you all for praying!

In Christ,

Mark

Read utmost.org for Nov. 3rd... “A Bondservant of Jesus”… and for Jan. 13th... “Have You Ever Been Alone with God? (2)”… and for Aug. 3rd... “The Compelling Purpose of God”…

“"The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”

Jeremiah 17:9 NASB

“You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.”

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 NASB

“and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB

“When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.”

Proverbs 11:2 NASB

“A man's pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.”

Proverbs 29:23 NASB

“"For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”

Isaiah 66:2 NASB

“"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."”

Matthew 11:28-30 NASB

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

James 4:6-10 NASB

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 NASB

“But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:17-20 NASB

Side note again: (I made the following comments the week before President Biden was inaugurated in January of 2021. It seems like a decade ago doesn’t it…?) Okay folks, here we go! This next week will prove to be one of the more pivotal weeks ever - in our nations history! The smooth transition of power from one administration to another is one of the more unique things the world sees about our nation. Our Country is having a change of direction take place and we will be right there in the mix of the ramifications that will take place from here on out. Be in prayer for our Country and our leaders as you have never prayed before! Believe me...our Country needs it...!!!

Think about it...

As per me today, Nov. 3, 2026…

Go and vote today…like our Country’s lifeblood depends on it!!!

Guess what???

It does…!!!

Think about it…

Amen and Amen..!!!