Tag Archives: prayer

Blindfold Me Lord (A Prayer)

Posted by Michael in Things to Pray and tagged with ,

Blindfold me Lord.

Blind fold me Lord, because I no longer want to see with my eyes. I want to see with yours.

Blindfold me Lord, because I want to have to trust.

Blindfold me because Lord, I want you to lead.

Blindfold me Lord, so that I won’t rationalize things.

Blindfold me Lord, because I want to follow.

Blindfold me Lord, because I want you to hold my hand.

Blindfold me Lord, so that my faith continues to grow.

Blindfold me Lord, because I want to please you.

Blindfold me Lord.

In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:7  “For we walk by faith, not by sight”

Putting God Off Until Later For Our Incredible Hulk’s

Posted by Michael in Perkins Family, Personal Growth and tagged with , ,

I try to be the best dad that I can be.  I want to play with Ethan and make sure that he knows that I love him.  On Sunday, I went to his room because he was playing and watching The Incredible Hulk.  This is one of my favorite things to do with him because it gives me an excuse to yell and “act” goofy. (more so than normal)

Well, the thing is: we didn’t play.  He said that he was busy and that I should go away and come back later.  He said he wanted to play by himself.  I left his room feeling sad and disappointed.  I couldn’t help it, my own son had just rejected me.  I know that he loves me, but he had more “important” things to do. (like pretend to be The Incredible Hulk)

Psalm 1:2 says, “but who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his law day and night.”

I could not help but think about God later that evening.  How often do we tell Him that we are too busy to spend time with Him because of our own Incredible Hulk’s?  Things like little league, work, bills, groceries, etc… But when it comes to spending quality time with Him (prayer and reading Scripture), some put Him off until later.  They decide that their Incredible Hulk is more important.

Putting God off until later breaks His heart.  God loathes rejection.  I am urging all of us to take a look and re-evaluate today.  Are we putting God first or are we putting Him off until later for our Incredible Hulk’s?

No Request Is Too Small, Even If They Are Dry-Heaving

Posted by Michael in Personal Growth and tagged with

On Sunday night my son (5) got really sick.  He started throwing up. (sorry so graphic) I felt horrible because there was nothing that my wife or I could do.  I stood there for moral support and my wife lovingly patted his back, but nothing helped him feel better. 

Between dry-heaves, he asked me to pray to God and ask Him for help.  My heart literally broke and busted at the seems at the same time.  I was overwhelmed with joy that a five-year-old would know to ask God for help in a situation, but I was broken-hearted because I hadn’t asked God yet to help my son feel better. (If you are a parent, I know you can relate)

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

God wants to be involved.  He wants us to turn to Him in any and every situation.  He is a God who is not apathetic.  He cares for you.  I think too often we try to take matters into our own hands and forget that He is there waiting to hear our cries.  No request is too small for God, especially if someone is dry-heaving.

Do you have any small requests that you have not asked God about?

God Still Listens After The Amen By Toby Keathley

Posted by Michael in Guest Blog and tagged with

Today’s guest blogger is Toby Keathley.  He currently lives in Germany with his family.  Toby’s writings are usually drenched with his love of people and his love of seeing lives changed.  He has truly been a blessing to my life.  You can find him at What’s This Life For?  You can also find him on twitter @Pastor_T. 

The five of us sit down to eat dinner.
We hold hands, without knowing which one of us is going to pray.
Chaya (4) usually is the first to speak, but today she’s silent.
Gabriel (8) starts….
“God is good, God is great, thank You for this food today.  Amen.”
Immediately after the Amen, Ria (my wife) says, “Thank You for the beautiful weather and a wonderful time with family.”
Gabriel says, “that doesn’t count…..I already said Amen!
I went on to explain how “Amen” doesn’t end the listening session and how God is always listening….to our words, our thoughts and everything in our hearts.
Then I wondered how often I go about my ‘normal activities’ of the day, subconsciously thinking, ‘I’m done praying, He’s on to the next person now.’
Therefore belittling God and basically saying He’s not big enough for all of us all of the time.
Hebrews 13:5 jumped to mind….
Keep you lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said
Never will I leave you,
Never will I forsake you.
Now, you can replace the first line with many things, but it’s the last 2 lines that hit me hard.
It doesn’t read, I’m with ya a few minutes a day or I’ll be around when I feel like it or most of the day you have my attention.
I won’t bother to look up the Hebrew translation for NEVER.  I get the point. 
There isn’t a point in ANY day, after ANY prayer, during ANY meal, that we can escape God’s attention.
Kinda like how we used to wait for moments when Mom and Dad weren’t watching so we could continue being the heathens we were on a usual basis.
Well, we’re not escaping “The Father”. 
The key, I think, is getting to a point where we’re not only aware of His presence, but welcome it.
Not as a nosy parent trying to bust you, but as the Creator of the universe who cares deeply about your EVERY thought and EVERY move.
I’m not at that point.  Sometimes far from it and I may spend the rest of my life trying to get there.
And if so, He’ll STILL be there.

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I’m Praying For

Posted by Michael in Things to Pray and tagged with ,

God my heart is heavy today.  I am praying for:

Those who are hurting and don’t know why…

Those who are having relationship problems…

Those who have lost a child…

Those who are battling addictions like pornography, alcohol, or drugs…

Those who feel like they are unappreciated…

Those who are longing for acceptance…

Those who desperately need something to give…

Those who are longing just to feel something…

Those who need a job, but can’t find one…

Those who have been hurt by the church…

Those that I have hurt…

That I literally perspire you…

Most of all Lord, I pray that people come to know that you are with them no matter where they are in life.  No matter what the circumstance you are there watching over them, walking with them hand in hand.

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Take Off The Headphones

Posted by Michael in Get You Thinking and tagged with , , ,

Recently I have been running a lot outside.  My wife has totally inspired me to do this.  I guess you could call what she has  done a lifestyle change and I am in the process of one.  When I run, I love to put on my headphones and listen to anything from Underoath, Red, to Chris Tomlin.

Saturday afternoon I went for a run and put on the headphones.  I was about 20 minutes into my run and some dude evidently told me high.  I was oblivious because I had the head phones on.  He started flailing his arms in the air wildly to get my attention, which he eventually did.  I took off the headphones and asked, “Is everything okay?”  He laughed hysterically and said, “I was just trying to say high, but you couldn’t hear me because of the headphones.”

I think that sometimes we wear headphones when we pray.  Recently I have been convicted to shut up at times when I pray.  Why?  Because if I am always talking, how can I possibly hear God speak?  God may be waiving his arms emphatically trying to get our attention, but we just keep going.

While praying today, take off your headphones for a few minutes because God may be trying to get your attention.

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In Awe

Posted by Michael in Perkins Family and tagged with ,

I am sitting here writing this and I am just in awe.  I am in awe of how amazing our God is.  I shared Saturday that my son had gotten sick Friday night.  What I didn’t share is that he has been sick off and on for a while.  We couldn’t figure out what was going on with him.  Well on Saturday morning we were sitting in my living room debating whether or not my family was going to go with me that afternoon to drive to where I have been serving as pulpit supply.  It is a four-hour drive so it requires us to leave on Saturday and spend the night there.  We just didn’t think he would be able to endure that drive.

If you know my son you know that he is vibrant and full of life.  Well, on Saturday morning he looked terrible.  He was pale and didn’t want to move because he was afraid he would get sick.  We were scared for him because WE couldn’t do anything.  So what did we do?  We got down on the floor and put our hands on him and prayed.  We asked God to make our little boy feel better.  Here’s the awesome part:  A few minutes later he sprang up like nothing was wrong and went to play.  It was as if nothing was wrong with him at all.

There are some things that we like to keep private, but there are also some things that are utterly amazing that will bring God the glory.  When those things happen we have to share because it brings glory to His name.  I hope that does.  I hope that you read this and it brings a smile to your face because we serve a God who can do ANYTHING at ANYTIME.  What about you do you have a story that is amazing that you would like to share?

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