Deborah Perkins's Blog, page 22

Infuse Your Life with God's Power

“Therefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…” -Philippians 2:12, NKJV 
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This week, I woke up early one morning to the unmistakable musing of the Holy Spirit. As I opened my eyes and peered into the darkness of our bedroom, I heard Him saying, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling!”   
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This seemed a strange sort of thought at first. Until I padded my way downstairs, where I could pray and write without disturbing anyone, I wasn’t sure why this fragment of a verse from Philippians 2 was reverberating in my spirit. It was as I sat with the Lord and listened further that He began to clarify…         
​       The Hour of God's Power
Just two mornings before, God had awakened me with another saying: “This is the hour of My power! Think not that I have hidden Myself or disappeared from view, for it is only YOUR view that changes, not Mine! …The hour of My power has arrived. Just as it was in the day of Peter, so shall it be now for you.”

I must confess, while I welcomed these words from my Master, I couldn’t help but entertain some doubts. After all, there is a decided lack of real power in the church at large today. Church services are typically programmatic and predictable, not always demonstrating the power of changed lives.
(Currently, I am blessed to attend a church which has more testimonies than most, but I still hunger for the kind of Acts 2 power the Bible promises!)

So for several days I had been pondering the lack of power in the church as compared to the obvious desire the Lord seems to have to display it. And I had come up empty. What would it take, I wondered, to move people from passive to powerful? From “preached-to,” to being preachers themselves?

In answer to my question, in the early hours of that morning, the Holy Spirit began to give me a broader perspective on what is happening within His Body right now, along with what needs to change if we are to regularly display the kind of power He speaks of.
 
I saw that a solid foundation for the Word has been laid by pastors and teachers in recent times. After much darkness and doubt historically, we have at last elevated the Word of God to its rightful place of authority.

We teach the infallibility of the Bible; we are learning to make decrees and claim the promises of God as our own. Millions of believers worldwide now understand the importance of reading the Word daily, some at great cost to themselves and their families.

Prayer, also, has taken a more prominent place. Movements like The Call, Intercessors for America, and Awaken the Dawn in recent years have combined with the 24/7 worship and prayer movement to bring together prayer warriors and worshipers worldwide. Technological advances allow us to pray together anywhere, anytime, with astounding breakthroughs.

Finally, there has been an increased emphasis on merging the two; we emphasize praying the Word as the ultimate source of power, and it is powerful. We pray for the salvation of our loved ones, proclaiming: “I and my entire household shall be saved!” (Acts 16:31.) We pray and decree the promises of God over our lives. We (somewhat carelessly, at times) “fling” the Word at our situations, knowing that the Word of God “will never return void.” (Isaiah 55)

Yet as I watched the sun rise that morning, I saw that what many people still lack is the kind of interaction with the Word that the Bible teaches from Genesis to Revelation. The kind of life-changing power that comes from heartfelt, personal interaction with the Word.
​Let the Word Change YOU!
​In Exodus, God commanded that the tabernacle have, in its passageway from the outer court to the holy place, a laver. This laver was made of the bronze mirrors women possessed at the time, and was used for washing.

Priests – those who ministered in God’s temple - were required to wash the filth of the world and the sacrifices they had just made off their hands and feet before they were permitted to meet with God in the holy place.

This became a symbol of the transformation that takes place in Christ. Jesus, who is both Word and Living Water, washes believers – the holy priesthood – from all sin by His sacrifice, opening the way for us to meet with God behind the veil.

While temple sacrifices and lavers are now obsolete, Jesus upheld the spirit of the law when He washed His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper:

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 

John 13:2-10, NIV; emphasis mine
 
Unless we allow the Word to wash us, Jesus says we have no part with Him. Unless we prayerfully apply Scriptures to ourselves, allowing them to search us and praying for transformation, we will not become carriers of His power.

The Holy Spirit Wants to Give You a Makeover!Following in this vein, James the Apostle aptly describes the Word as a mirror. To be blessed, we must gaze intently into that mirror and allow it to show us our imperfections, thus demonstrating our need for transformation.

James 1:21 says: “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (NIV)

Like Esther, who needed Hegai the eunuch to cleanse and prepare her to meet her king, so we need the Holy Spirit to give us a divine “makeover,” preparing us to contain God’s power.

Sadly, most people today are not willing to invest the time it takes to deal with their “filth” –  so they are not filled with God’s power, either.

Gazing intently at the Word is not always pleasant! Like the little book John ate in Revelation, the Word can taste sweet as honey, but it can also be bitter when injested. It is designed to purge us of that which contradicts God's ways!

The fallacy we have believed is that once we are saved, we are "good with God." We vehemently reject works-based Christianity in favor of grace, forgetting that salvation is just the first step on a lifelong path of deliverance. It's not either grace or works. There's a balance.

“Working out your own salvation” is not a call to earn the forgiveness and grace that is freely given. It is, however, a call to effort on our part to keep moving towards holiness as we interact with the Living Word in prayer.

It is a call to hold ourselves up to the mirror of God’s Word, see where we fall short of glory, and allow the Holy Spirit to do a makeover.


It is a call to meet with a “personal trainer” - the Holy Spirit - who shows us how to apply the Word, molding our unfit spiritual bodies into the sleek carriers of strength and power we are designed to be.
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It is a call to both inward and outward transformation that leaves us so radiant with glory and full of dunamis-power that it has a “wow!” effect on those around us. Others cannot help but want to “work out,” too!
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The difference is that this very biblical type of Christianity focuses on the transformation of self, not simply the reformation of others. 

Have we missed it? Perhaps we have been so focused on using the Word to change our circumstances - or others - that we have not really allowed the Word to change us.

Yes, the Word is powerful. Yes, it effects change wherever it goes. But to live a life of power yourself, you must first allow the Word to change you. 
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Questions for Reflection
1. Do you pray the Word? What results have you seen as you have done this? Share a testimony that demonstrates the power of the Word. 

2. "The Word is powerful. The Word in you makes YOU powerful!" Do you agree with this statement? How can you “implant” the Word in your spirit more deliberately?  

3. Challenge yourself: go beyond just reading a passage from the Bible every day to praying through each verse as you apply it to yourself. Are there sins that need to be confessed? Is there a gap between what is promised and what you are experiencing? Taking one verse at a time, pray through every Scripture you read and ask God to manifest in your life the changes you want to see. 

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Infuse Your Prayer Life with Power: Order Deborah's New Book, "Why Pray?" About Deborah Perkins

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Step into Destiny, Convergence & Unity!

This weekend will forever be marked in the Kingdom of God as a weekend of DESTINY, convergence, and unity! Approximately 125 believers from New England gathered together at Freedom Worship Center in West Boylston, MA, for the Destiny Conference, an amazing time in the presence of the Lord. We experienced powerful worship that broke into heaven's throne room, anointed speakers and ministry times, and - best of all - unity with each other. Glory to God!                

If you were unable to join us, I strongly suggest you get copies of the audio downloads here . You do not want to miss what each speaker shared, and we were able to record all three Saturday sessions. These MP3 digital downloads are available for you in the His Inscriptions store . 

I also want to share with readers a corporate prophetic word (below) that God gave us during the conference. Keep reading to hear what the Spirit is saying to those who feel scattered or pulled in too many directions - there is hope for your future!
​God's Timing is Perfect.
The week of the Destiny Conference, several notable celebrities (including famed designer Kate Spade and world-renowned chef, Anthony Bourdain) committed suicide as a result of mental anguish and depression. The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and other news media noted that suicide and mental illnesses are reaching all-time highs in our nation. These deaths call attention to the fact that even in the midst of tremendous external success, many people feel internally disoriented and purposeless.

How amazing, then, that the very same week , God would call New England believers to come together in various places to celebrate Him and to be reminded of the plans and purposes He has for us! Not only that, but that He would give us prophetic encouragement that was tailor-made to address just such a dilemma in our nation. Here is the message of hope that He released to us. Let the Holy Spirit minister life and joy to you as you meditate on these words!
​Prophetic Word: Destiny, Convergence & Unity! 
​As I prayed, I had a vision of a pool of water in heaven, white and clear as crystal, which spilled over into a waterfall that became like a spring, feeding the rivers of the earth in the Spirit. I saw the Lord beckon me to come and touch, taste, drink of this water, of which He Himself is the Source. I saw that His robes were living water, and that when He wraps Me in His mantles, He is wrapping me in living water also, submerging and drenching me with His Presence.

We can come to the river’s edge in the Spirit, it is true, but better than that is to come directly to the Source of the water Himself, embracing Him and allowing Him to wash and shower us together with Him! All was naked and exposed here; light permeated everything, so that what was seen was invisible and what was invisible was seen.

I saw Jesus turn me inside out, completely revamping the way I am seen and the way I see myself, so that my heart was laid bare and the essence of it spilled out before Him. My heart, it seemed, was in pieces, each piece representing a different element of who I am or a different gift or purpose I had to do. I saw Him gathering up in His hands all these pieces, which – although sacred to me - seemed fragmented and disconnected.

Holding these pieces, He rearranged them as if gently caressing, molding or healing them in His hands. After examining them, He put them back together in a new way, and it was as if all the jumbled mess of my heart was reorganized and restored in such a way that it had new meaning and new purpose: something that made more sense. Pieces long lost and mixed up inside were brought together and assembled correctly in His hands. They now appeared unified and whole; my heart felt purposeful and ready to lead me forward into the next things.
 
Immediately after this vision, the Lord gave me this word concerning your Destiny:

“Some of you,” He said, “have become so split, so fragmented in your heart that you feel your heart is a dry and brittle mess of pieces inside. Each piece holds value; each piece represents a gift or a call or a direction that you could go, but because there are so many of them you have been unable to pick one and move forward. It is almost as though you have become a ‘Jack of all trades and master of none.’

But the Lord would say to you today that He is the Maker and Master of all things, and He intends to reassemble the pieces that seem so divergent, so completely opposed to one another, and bring about a convergence in the Spirit so that you can move forward in victory. He will take the dry, brittle pieces of your heart represented here and caress them in His liquid-soft hands, reshaping and remaking them, rearranging them into something new.

This new thing you have not perceived before – there has been a process of building and mastery going on in your life – a developing of individual skills, talents, and passions one by one.

“But now,” says the Lord, “if you will give Me these pieces of your heart which seem so unrelated, jumbled, disorganized and fragmented, I will rework them so that they make sense. This is more than just the giving of perspective,” says the Lord; “this is the remaking of a new heart, which will then lead you into your Destiny. It is your heart that guides you, and you have not moved forward because you have needed the touch of the Holy Spirit on your heart to unify the pieces and bring them together.”

“I decree to you now that you will have one direction, and one focus, and that focus will be MY DOING,” says the Lord. “That new direction you take will be the result of a new purpose that comes from seeing and visualizing your new heart – the heart I give to you.”

“Some of you will see that the elements of your life are coming together in a passion for the lost, as missionaries.

“Some of you will see that the various people you have known and sown into over the years must be brought together to achieve a mutual goal for My Kingdom.

Some of you will find that gifts of talents you have left by the wayside will now be taken up again and used in greater measure and effectiveness to advance the Gospel.

“Whatever these pieces represent, you can be assured that it was always My design to bring them together in a unified whole, and to remove the “scattering” you have felt as you tried in vain to pursue each one individually. This unification that takes place by My Spirit will cause you to settle down emotionally, to leave behind the frazzled mess the enemy has stirred up in you and to move forward, single-mindedly, into your new vision.”

I prophesy light to your eyes and hearing to your ears. Peace to your mind and unification to your soul. Destiny in your footsteps and purpose to your life. “Behold, I do a new thing,” says the Lord, “and surely YOU WILL perceive it!”  Amen.
 
6-7-18 via Deborah Perkins / His Inscriptions. See Psalm 42:7; Isaiah 43:19; Jeremiah 29:14; Revelation 7:17 Order Conference AudiosAbout Deborah Perkins

Announcing Deborah's New Book Release: "Why Pray" is now available!

Dear Readers, 

Why Pray? What reason do we have, in a world that depends almost exclusively on what we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell, to reach for a supernatural God? This is the question I answer in my newest book, which was just released on Amazon this week.

If you've wondered what difference prayer makes, or need a faith-building resource that is easily shared with a friend, this is your book. It is short (four chapters) yet packed with stories, scriptures, prayers you can pray and questions you can answer in your quiet times. A compilation of several recent blog posts, this book provides four compelling reasons why we should pray: to know God and make Him known; for power to become effective Christians in a fallen world; to overcome a supernatural enemy; and to fulfill the Great Commission. 

Order your paperback copy today on Amazon.com for $7.00, or a Kindle version of the book for just $2.99. Click here for more!

Deborah
​Order Deborah's New BookHave YOU signed up for the Destiny Conference? Last chance! Make plans to join us in West Boylston, MA next week, June 8th & 9th, for a powerful time in the Holy Spirit! Click Here to listen to our Radio Ad. Click photo for Registration information.
Power Thought:
​When you live in Jesus, your words are as the words of a King. Every sentence you speak is an edict in the Spirit, for better or for worse! Watch that your words are doing what they are designed to do: to edify, exhort and encourage others. 
​© Deborah Perkins / www.HisInscriptions.com

Please Share! Destiny Conference Video and Registration Link

Destiny Conference Video Just Released - Please Watch and Share!Register by June 6th
*Please note: $30 Registration online by June 6th, 2018.   
$35 registration at the door on day of event.   
Registration fee includes catered lunch by Tabitha's Table!   

​Location: Freedom Worship Center, West Boylston, MA (Rte 12)   
Click registration button for more info and full schedule.   

Need a printable flyer for church bulletins? Click here!
​Questions? Contact Deborah here.

The Measure of God's Love Does Not Depend on the Size of Your Container!

This morning as I prayed, I heard the Lord saying: "When you realize that I never leave you, it will change your life. Where you see separation, I see unity. Where you feel division, I feel only love. The measure of My love does not depend on the size of your container! I will pour until you overflow... you cannot contain My glory!"                                               Overflowing Love            
I believe one of the greatest things we can understand about God is that He is beyond understanding. Unfathomable.  Better than the best things we could imagine about Him. Loving past the unlovable. Staying when we would have left. Pouring overflowing love and glory into vessels that could not contain it if they tried, no matter how big they were! 

I think of the tents and tabernacles Israel tried to build for God. How they were built according to God's specifications - intricate details and measurements that seem almost "nit-picky" to us modern-day Bible readers. Angels measured so carefully, plumb lines were drawn, messages given to prophets who would then communicate the details to the builders. Why? To build a house for God. A place where He could rest.

Yet the same God who commanded a house to be built is full of glory so great He cannot be contained! Indeed, His glory, like His love, was never meant to be contained; even in the house He commanded to be built, glory seeped out over the thresholds and into the streets, rushing out into the world He created, flowing rivers whose tributaries found their ends at the sea. (See Ezekiel 43.)

So it will be in these last days. The whole earth cannot contain the glory of the Lord, the love and goodness of the Lord! Love is meant to reach the farthest corners of the world - and Jesus will not come back until this task is completed. Glory is meant to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14).  Ezekiel says the earth "shone" with the glory of the Lord in his vision; the land was radiant with it!  (Ezekiel 43:2.)

Psalm 34:5 gives us a similar Bible promise when it says: "Those who look to Him are radiant." We who are part of God's building (1 Corinthians 3:9) are also meant to radiate the glory of the Lord.

As I contemplated this, I heard the Lord say, "Expand your vision of who I am."  

Earlier this year, in a prophetic word for 2018 , the Lord spoke of "envisioning expansion." I initially saw this as a divine call to encourage and foster Kingdom growth, to believe Him for the expansion of ministries and churches serving Him all around the world. This year, we know, is a time of unprecedented favor and growth. 

Today, I see that in the same way, the Lord wants us to expand our vision of WHO HE IS - not just of the things we want to do or the places we want to reach. God is far beyond all that we could do or imagine.  Only as we expand our vision of who He is do we begin to develop an accurate picture of the great "I AM." Just as we are expanding our visions for ministry and outreach, so we need to expand and grow in our understanding of His greatness!

I heard Him saying, "When you realize that no thing you could do and no structure you could build would be enough for Me, then you have arrived at an accurate acknowledgement of who I am. My greatness is beyond compare, My goodness expands well beyond even the "Trinity" that defines Me, for already My goodness has infiltrated all created things, filling each with My Presence. All that is required to activate My Presence throughout the earth is the the acknowledgement of it - the acknowledgement of ME, that I was before all things, that I am in all things, that I sustain all things. To acknowledge Me in your daily life is not unlike the touch that turns to gold; confession of My goodness and Presence activates life, riches, and wisdom in every creature!" 

How do we do this? How do we expand our vision of this immeasurable God? Proverbs 3:3-5 reads: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (NASB)

To acknowledge is to know (Hebrew "yada"); to ascertain by seeing, to recognize, perceive, distinguish, admit or confess. Acknowledgement of God often means ceasing from our labors to fully comprehend His. Psalm 46:10 says "Cease striving, and KNOW that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth." (NASB)

It is out of our acknowledgement of God, realizing and resting in the greatness of who He is, that we receive direction for our lives also. As we pray, He straightens out our paths so that we walk on the right way, with Him. "You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever." (Psalm 16:11, NASB) 


Be Filled with the Uncontainable!
We build the Kingdom for a King whose glory is uncontainable. We pray and seek to expand our vision of a God who is, for now, wholly unknowable - yet beckons us to know and love what we can.

We share a love that knows no limits and stops at no defenses, whether ours or someone else's.

We create places of peace and stillness in our private lives so that He may direct our paths in our public lives.

Our expressions of worship pale in comparison to who He really is. And yet we are compelled, driven almost, to try. To enter in to as much of His Presence as we can contain, so that His glory will spill out of us and into every creature, awakening the goodness that has already been implanted there, but lies dormant, waiting for His Spirit-water to touch it.  

Oh, God, use us for your glory! Fill us with Your Presence! Overflow us with Your love! Allow us to know You in the fullest measure that we can, confined as we are to these limited vessels. Let Your glory cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Amen.
​​© Deborah Perkins / www.HisInscriptions.com
​ Encounter God's Presence at the Destiny Conference, June 8-9thRegister Today!
Author, Speaker, and Christian Ministry leader  Deborah Perkins  inspires people worldwide to discover "Life-Giving Communication with God." Join her daily on social media, or visit her  website  for prophetic words, Bible teaching, and a free weekly  blog . Need more direction in your spiritual life? Find her  Bible Study  and other books on  Amazon.com!

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War Declared - Intelligence Needed!

This morning as I sought the Lord, I had a vision of great activity in heaven. I saw a flurry of people bustling about here and there, all under Christ’s command. Although heaven seemed busy, those who moved about moved with specific orders and definite purpose, obeying what I understood to be Jesus’ plan. 

As I stood and watched, it occurred to me that as an observer, I myself had no place in this busyness; I was unsure what my role should be in the unfolding drama. 

“What would you have me do here?” I asked the Lord. 

Immediately, the answer to my question arose in my spirit: “Do you type? I need cryptographers – urgently!”  

Suddenly, the nature of what was happening in heaven became clear to me. A war was on, and the Lord had need of those who could interpret and decode strategies, communicate them to His people on earth, and assist in the winning of their battles. 

“Yes, of course,” I replied, and I immediately found my laptop and began writing out what I had seen.   

Military Intelligence
Those who are familiar with the events of World War II will remember that Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, England, was the secret location where the German “Enigma” and “Lorenz” ciphers, in particular, were decoded. At its peak, a team of nearly 10,000 codebreakers was employed here, which included mathematicians, linguists, computer and logic scientists, chess players and even high-society women.
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Without the efforts of those who had the ability to decipher and discern the movements of the enemy, battles would have been lost. Between 1942 and 1945, as the German onslaught intensified, the number of people required at Bletchley increased, resulting in an international team of very diverse people. The codebreakers’ efforts were essential to the winning of the war. 

Not One But Many
Without question, knowing the anticipated movements of the enemy is a key to winning battles, whether natural or spiritual. Like the sons of Issachar who came to Hebron to assist David in becoming king instead of Saul, we need men and women who understand the times and “know what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32.)

We learn what to do by listening to the Savior as He gives us His commands. The Body of Christ is made up of many parts, each with their unique function. While I may be a linguist in the Kingdom, you might have math or logic skills, and someone else might have the engineering know-how to put into place the things we understand only on paper. ALL ARE NECESSARY to the Kingdom war effort! All function best when working with the fresh revelation Christ gives us to overcome enemy tactics.  

The chiefs of Issachar who came to David numbered “200, with all their relatives under their command,” according to 1 Chronicles 12:32 (NIV). There were thousands of men from this tribe who came to assist in the war effort. Not only did Issachar’s sons agree to serve voluntarily, but they also came bringing provisions to feed the armies who had gathered at Hebron – sensing the need before it even became an issue. That’s the kind of wisdom we still need! 

For while Christ has defeated our enemy, Satan has not yet given up the fight against Christ’s allies. He continues to attack, deceive, and strategize on various fronts. I believe this is why I saw the vision: we need many people who are on the alert against the enemy, not just one! 

Traditionally, heaven’s “decoders” were the prophets. But since the resurrection of Christ, ALL believers have the amazing promise that they can hear God’s strategies for themselves. (John 10:27.) 

One pastor cannot discern strategies for every battle in his congregation. We need believers, prophets and prayer warriors who are at their “listening stations” on a regular basis, connecting with both God and each other to put the pieces of the puzzle together. To understand our times. 

It is the combined, unified efforts of believers in our own churches and across the world that give us a clear picture of where the enemy is moving and how God wants to counter those moves. When we collectively discern God’s strategies for this time and season, we enforce the victory He has already won!

Conclusion
It is a paradox: we are victorious – yet we are still at war. Heaven knows this. Just as I needed to be reminded of the importance of my personal contribution, so I believe the Body at large needs reminders of theirs. 

You do not need a vision of heaven to see that the enemy is on the offensive. Look around: notice the battles raging in your area and then ask the Lord: “What would you have me do?” 

It is in our alignment with our Commander and unified alliance with our brothers and sisters that our battles are won. Believers still on earth need timely, accurate military intelligence. Heaven’s revelation is breaking the codes. Will you convey Christ’s messages?

Sign up for the Destiny Conference, June 8-9th
Online Registration for this prayer and prophetic conference extends through June 6th. Sign up today to reserve your place! $30 Registration includes a catered lunch and a full day of anointed speakers, prophetic ministry and personal prayer. Don't miss this important gathering - come and receive strategies for YOUR future!

© Deborah Perkins / www.HisInscriptions.com
Deborah Perkins is an author and the founder of His Inscriptions, a ministry focused on life-giving communication with God. Through her website, inspired teaching and a weekly blog, Deborah offers discipleship to those who want to grow their relationship with God. A ministry leader for over 30 years, Deborah is an experienced prophetic counselor, marriage mentor, and prayer warrior. She's also fond of her hubby, 3 sons, and dark chocolate - in that order! ​ To purchase her Bible Study, click here.

You're Invited! The Destiny Conference, June 8-9th, 2018

The Destiny Conference, June 8-9, 2018
One of the prophecies the Lord released for 2018 is that it is to be a year of acceleration and expansion. But acceleration cannot happen without activation! God is releasing fresh revelation of who He is in this hour. Believers are being called to move out of the old and into the new. We need to feast on the revelation of His Presence, and release those who are ready to be set in motion towards their destinies!  ​ (Click here to view the full word.)
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For this reason, I am so excited to announce the first His Inscriptions "Destiny Conference!" For over a year, this ministry has been meditating on the idea of hosting a fresh, new prophetic gathering in the New England region. The timing just never seemed right. After ministering with Brian Francis Hume at the Ascend conference in South Carolina last month, though, I realized: ​we need to do this here! 

Brian has graciously agreed to fly up from Virginia to join us at Freedom Worship Center in West Boylston, MA from June 8-9th. Pastor Lee Dematos, the regional apostolic leader for DOVE International, has also agreed to minister. I want to personally invite you to come and be part of this prophetic gathering !

Destiny Conference Details:
​Conference Location: Freedom Worship Center, 141 W. Boylston St (Rte 12), West Boylston, MA, 01583 (next to Walmart). Website: www.freedomworshipcenter.us/  For a list of area hotels, click here.

Conference Fee: $30 Online, through June 6th:  Register here . *Please note: Walk in registrations will be $35 at the door on the day of the event. Lunch is included in your fee.

Friday Night 7pm: Worship & Prayer - We want to pursue God wholeheartedly and take the time to enter in to His Presence, listening for what He is saying to us individually and through His prophets. 

Saturday Morning, 9AM - Brian Francis Hume, speaker -  Brian will touch on the theme of "Devotion" as he shares from an area he knows best: prayer and intercession. 

Saturday Lunch, 12pm - A catered lunch will be served to all attendees (included in your conference registration fee.) *Gluten-free options will be available.

Saturday Afternoon, 2pm - Deborah Perkins, speaker - In response to the prophetic words about moving out of the old and into the new, Deborah will share on the theme of "Deliverance." 

Saturday Dinner, 5pm - On your own or with a friend! (a list of local area restaurants will be provided at the conference. Church will remain open for those who wish to pray.)

Saturday Evening, 7pm - Lee Dematos, speaker - Lee carries an apostolic and prophetic anointing and will touch on the theme of "Destiny." This final activation session will include prophetic ministry from our team to release you into your God-given calling and destiny. ​
Questions? Please contact me here. Let's make the most of this opportunity to come away with Jesus and prayerfully press in to all that He has for us this year!
~ Deborah
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It's Time to Heal the Wounds of the Next Generation!

I had a powerful dream this morning which was so evidently from the Lord that I felt compelled to write it down and share it. This dream revealed the Father's heart for healing the next generation, our youth, and could not be ignored. The reason? The children of today are both the most anointed and the most assaulted of any previous generations. Even in their schools, the places where they should be receiving mentoring and training, they are not safe. The enemy sees the call of God on this generation and is trying desperately to take them out before they can step into their destinies as miracle-working, revival-awakening instruments of God. 
​  A Next Generation Dream
In the dream, I was a senior in school, talking with younger students of all ages. In fact, it was the last day of school, and I was observing the students as they mingled about. Classes had been unusual in that the first class was cancelled because the teacher had left – he had a habit of leaving the students whenever the stock market took a turn, playing the stocks for himself instead of fulfilling his role with his students. We were waiting for period two, when the second class would begin.

I talked with some of the students about this apathy of the teachers, for there were several teachers who were known not to care much for the students and to leave them to their own devices rather than teach. I was told that the students were used to this, and took it in stride, although they had little respect for teachers who were not authentic and committed to their roles.

​I meditated on this, and suddenly the Holy Spirit impressed on me: what if we created a school where every teacher wanted to be there and was 100% devoted to the training of the next generation? This thought so captured my heart that I felt in that moment I should do it or spearhead it. I knew that the next generation would not tolerate hypocrisy or pretenders of any kind – they wanted truth.


I don't think it was an accident that I dreamed it was the last day. These are indeed the "last days" before the Lord comes, and what struck me powerfully is that while the students were in place and ready - even hungry to learn - the teachers of my generation were largely absent. I believe this represents the spiritual truth found in 1 Corinthians 4:15: we have many teachers, but not many fathers; not many are devoted to the training and spiritual growth of these children. 
​Weeping Warriors
In the next scene of the dream, I was in the school's gymnasium, where a large student assembly was being held. I had been made aware that a great tragedy had recently taken place in another state: students had been caught in a "downpipe" on the outside of a building and were later extracted. This was not the first tragedy that had affected our students, but it was the most recent. 

The gym was full of teens and tweens. I heard an official voice say “those whose role is to grieve, please stand and do so.” On cue, as if in a drama, students all over the gym stood and – to my amazement – began weeping over the atrocities done to their generation. They were "weeping warriors." Instead of their tears being awkward or contrived, however, I noticed that their tears were real – this was no play-acting on their part. The Holy Spirit instructed me, as I watched, that the time of grieving for these students/ this generation had not yet ended, that the trauma went deep and still required healing.

Next I heard that same official voice summon a group of students who had a second role to fill in the “drama.” There were, in total, five functions that needed to be filled, and groups of students stood for each one of those roles before the assembly was dismissed. The last two involved leaving the auditorium/gym and going outside, some (like me) to a mailbox, where I had a letter of encouragement to put in the mail, and others to another place outside.

As I gathered up some things from my backpack to leave, I saw that the prophet Bob Jones was sitting to my right, watching the students and watching me. (Bob "graduated" to heaven a few years ago but has been a well-respected seer and a prophetic voice in the Body for many years.) Bob, along with others, held a seat in chairs along the walls all around the gymnasium - like the cloud of witnesses watching events on earth unfold. I noticed in particular that he wore a white shirt and dark-rimmed, thick glasses (which again point to his role as a prophetic "seer.")

As I awoke from this dream, I remembered that Bob has been one of the key voices proclaiming the third great awakening and a "billion soul harvest" among the youth. As I reread some of his prophetic words this morning, I came upon these: 

From "Children of Light" prophetic word in 2013: "Recently I’ve seen that people whose light is getting brighter have come under a stronger demonic attack than ever before. As I was praying on what to do about this, this is what I heard: “When you turn a light bulb on in the darkest of night, what does it draw? It draws Beelzebub!”  Flies, mosquitoes and other bugs are literally like the enemy’s tormentors. And the children of light are getting under a stronger demonic attack. These tormentors come to distract and put out their light."

From a word in 2008 Bob prophesies: "... I saw a man that represents many.  He was 25 years old and he had been saved six months.  He was speaking and thousands of youth were coming to the Lord.  We’re not ready for it yet.  I mean we’re getting ready for the youth to be released to the youth. And these youth that’s going to come will be coming out of the sewers.  They are going to cry out until they are totally clean and pure and they are going to go forth cleaning others.  Those that have been believing and those that have compassion will come with supernatural faith flowing out of them and you’ll see creative miracles.  I mean consistent miracles not sporadic as it’s happened in the past; consistent healing and deliverances from infirmity, plagues and all types of viruses and everything else."


Finally, a well-known word of Bob's entitled "Circuit Riders" contains these paragraphs:  "I saw a white light come out of heaven; it looked like it was a mile wide. I was looking to see where it was going to land. But it didn’t land; it kept going and made a circle. As I observed the circle it became a huge circle of light and a silver ring like a wedding ring. I prayed for the meaning of this and this is what I felt the Lord was saying.


“This light has been My circuit riders that I’ve given small circles for them to deliver mail in. The church is My post office and the circuit riders are the ones I send from My post office to other people that they might hear My words. And He said that I have been testing the people in small things and I’ve given them small routes, like small rings. But now I’m going to enlarge their rings. And those who have been totally obedient, I’m going to enlarge their rings worldwide and they shall deliver the mail to the saints over the whole earth. They shall deliver the Father’s message, which is the message of love.”
​
It's Time to Heal the Next GenerationWhat this dream revealed to me is that despite their toughness and an "I don't care" attitude, the next generation is actually eager to learn and ready to listen for their heavenly assignments. They are showing up for training, but when the teachers themselves do not adhere to God's Kingdom plan, the students scatter.

I have three teenagers of my own, and when I shared this dream with them, they agreed: that is exactly how their generation feels. They can easily identify the teachers who are committed and those who don't have a heart for the job - or for them! They resent authority figures who are more interested in money than mentoring, or self than service. They agree that authenticity is key to winning their respect, and true mentors - people of our generation who really care about them and their future - are rare.

In the student assembly at the gymnasium, I see fivefold ministry symbolism – that even the children know their call to the fivefold functions and some are fulfilling it in the wake of these traumas and attacks on their generation. There are weeping intercessors among our children today, like the children who stage walk-outs in protest of the shootings and attempt to make their voices heard. 

I see the apathy and self-interest of the previous (my) generation, and the lack of respect the younger ones have for those of us who are not authentic and “real,” who abdicate our responsibilities to them and to our roles.

I see that heaven (as represented by the presence of Bob Jones and others in the "cloud of witnesses") is watching, waiting, and still eagerly hoping for those who will step into their roles as protectors, teachers, healers and encouragers of the next generation. And I see that not many from my generation are doing so. We may have the titles of teachers but we lack the heart of the Father to develop and train these youth.

Most importantly, I realized in this dream the depth of the wounding that the enemy has inflicted on our children through school shootings and other traumas. Their wounds have not healed, and while there are students who weep and intercede for their own generation, our generation has not come alongside of them to weep with them or to guide them as they truly desire to be guided. This in itself is a tragedy.

The dream I had stirred me to pray more diligently for this coming generation, as I know many of you already do. I urge you: look around. What young person in your life is eager to learn, yet lacking a mentor? Can you be the one to make an intentional commitment to them, stepping into your kingdom role as a mother, a father, or a teacher? Is there someone you need to repent to, for yourself or on behalf of people you know who have wounded them?

The wounds of this generation are deep, and the tough attitudes and defenses they carry are nothing more than a sign of their need for healing. Can we look past the differences, reach into their hearts, and heal with the love of the Father? It is my fervent prayer that we will do so. 
​© Deborah Perkins / www.HisInscriptions.com. Prophecies taken from Bob Jones' public website, link here. About DeborahSubscribe Free

How To Serve the Living God - includes free download

What does it mean to you to serve God?   
​
For most Christians, serving God is a joyful expression of our translation from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. We exchange bad habits for good ones, spend time in Bible studies instead of bars, and invest our talents into churches, ministries, and good causes throughout the world. We hope that our investments will yield eternal rewards. Some time later, though, we may wonder, is this all there is to Christianity? Just meeting the needs of my church? 

The Piano
Many years ago, I joined a church that had a beautiful, black grand piano on the stage. Week after week that piano stood idle, with guitarists, singers, and other members of the worship team praising God as if the piano didn't exist. I had been trained as a musician from a very young age and the fact that no one played this stunning instrument really bothered me! 

I struggled, though. I was new to the church. I had a gift; should I be using it for God? Or would it be presumptuous - prideful, even, to ask if I could play? Was I promoting myself? How did having a "talent" and wanting to use it measure up against the biblical call to humility? Most importantly - how did I know if God was leading me to serve, or if I was moving in my own strength? 
​
In the end, my desire to play that instrument got the better of me and I approached the pastor of the church to ask if he needed another member on his worship team. He gratefully accepted, and I played that piano until they sold it, and played a keyboard when the team moved on to more contemporary worship. 

12 years later, I wondered: Was that God? I had never been entirely sure. Did God use my gift to bless people? Yes. Was the church grateful? Absolutely. My service met what was (to me, at least) a glaring need. 

It wasn't until years later, however, that God began giving me a deeper understanding of what it means to serve God. True Christian service, God showed me, may start at the piano or in the parking lot, but it shouldn't end there.

(Click here to download your free checklist for evaluating Christian service opportunities.)

Serving God? Or Serving People?
I’ve been studying the book of Hebrews with a local Bible study group this year, and our study landed on Hebrews 9:14 this week. It was pretty clear to all of us that believing in Christ cleanses us from evil works that “lead to death.” What I noticed, however, was that for many Christians, “serving the living God” has less to do with honoring God and more to do with pleasing people!

Like me, new believers often join churches and begin to serve others with their “good works.” When the pastor says he needs people to serve coffee, we sign up eagerly, knowing that it is for a good cause. When the worship team needs a piano player, we jump at the chance to use our gift for the glory of God. I did it. And it’s not a bad thing. But I believe the Bible calls us to something much greater.
​
To serve actually means “to minister to.” When you return to the roots of our faith, reading passages in Exodus and Deuteronomy, for example, you find that always, when God speaks of service, He speaks of serving HIM. 

Exodus 8:1, NASB – “Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”

Exodus 20:1-5, NASB – “Then God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…’”

Deuteronomy 10:12, NASB - “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…”

​Deuteronomy 10:20, NASB – “ You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.”

John 12:26, NIV: - "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."

All that God commanded as He established Judaism, the tabernacle, the priesthood, and later the temple, was designed to lead Israel to serve Him. Certainly the priests ministered to the needs of the people as well, but their primary call was to "serve the living God." The penalty for serving other gods was death. Jesus confirmed in the New Testament that our priority must still be to serve God.

This call to minister to the living God has never changed! Yet I fear that we are often more focused on serving others “in the name of God” than in serving God Himself. 
​True Service
Christian service is not meant to be undying commitment to a church program or blind obedience to a pastor, but complete surrender to God.  Out of that surrender come God-given desires to serve others – not based on needs alone, but as He leads. The needs will always be with us. The more important question is, which needs does God want you to meet?

While God used my time on the worship team, it wasn't until later that I realized that the actual call on my life was slightly different than just playing the piano. It might include that, but it was greater than that. When I took the time to ask God what He desired for me to do, His answer surprised me, because it wan't based on my talents or skills. It was based more on my weaknesses: things that required me to walk by faith, trusting Him.

When we operate in anything less than true worship and ministry to the heart of God, we are doing what Christ calls “dead works.” Listen to what Jesus says to the church in Sardis:

“He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.    So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent.”  -Revelation 3:1-3, NASB

Serving God has more to do with discerning His will than exerting ours, no matter how “good” our works might be. If we operate without the counsel of God, Jesus will say to us what He said to the church in Sardis: “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” “Dead” here means “destitute of life, devoid of force or power, inactive, inanimate and inoperative.”

We may be meeting needs through our service, but we aren’t honoring God to the fullest when our hearts are not in it or when He has not led us to it. Heartless service is powerless service. 

The writer of Hebrews urges believers to repent of what the Bible calls “dead works.” These include things like offering lip-service to God, service without wholeheartedness, hypocrisy, legalistic obedience, and prayerless work.

In short, dead works are the things we do that occupy our time but are not truly Spirit-led. They aren’t things God has called us to do; they are simply things we feel we “should” do, or things we selfishly want to do. We foolishly hope that God will bless and receive these things as a pure offering, since we do them "in His Name." But our hearts aren't in these things the way they could be if we had the confidence that God had placed us there. 

The truth is, God has predestined us to do specific works – works that we cannot know or do until we connect prayerfully and wholeheartedly with Him.

Ephesians 2:10 says we are created for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
​
Ephesians 1:11 reminds us that God works all things after the counsel of His will. 

How Do We Do Good Works?
Since we know that faith without works is dead, and we know that the Word of God is living, active, and always effective, how can we connect with the living God to do those works that God has prepared for us? Leaving the weightier issues of sin aside, how can we extract ourselves from selfish or man-pleasing service (even in the church!) and move towards a wholehearted, Spirit-led worship of God?

I believe the remedy is in prayer. Jesus tells us in Revelation 3 to:
WAKE UP.
STRENGTHEN WHAT REMAINS THAT IS ALIVE.
REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD & RECEIVED, AND REPENT.
 
To wake up, according to Strong’s rendition of the Greek words, means to “keep watch” and to pray. Colossians 4:2 says: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” (NKJV) Matthew urges us multiple times to “keep watching and praying.” Jesus repeats this command to His disciples in the garden and elsewhere, stressing the importance of a Christian life and ministry that is based, foremost, on prayer. It is the Spirit of God within us that is always alive. Hearing and obeying Him is essential to true Christian service! 

A prayerless life will rob us of the counsel of God for us. It will remove the most essential component of our service to the living God: ministering to Him .

In the Kingdom, priorities are important. When we put first things first, making the worship of God our priority, God causes all other things to work for good on our behalf. Somehow, by stopping our noisy, speeding trains full of “dead works,” we mobilize the most powerful force on earth: God-inspired works.

Have we neglected the One who called us into ministry in the first place?  Ministry to God releases the kind of fruitfulness and blessing we long for, but cannot not produce ourselves. Taking the time to first pray over each opportunity to serve will ensure that we serve the living God in a way that honors Him and allows all our work in the Kingdom to be Spirit-led!

Reflect on This: 
Are there ways you currently serve that seem good, but that were not initiated by the will of God, prayerfully? If you are a leader in the church, what currently occupies time that you could be giving to “minister to the living God?”
 

Do you currently have an invitation to serve in front of you, but are not sure whether it is from God or not? Take a moment to click here and review or download the questions on this checklist. It will help you determine God's will for your situation!


Think back to a work you did for others, as opposed to a work you did at God’s leading. What differences do you see? Was there significant fruit that came from “filling a need” or pleasing man? Or was there greater fruit when you operated in obedience to what you felt God was telling you to do?
 

Serving God sometimes causes us to be at odds with people – even pastors and religious leaders who may feel they know what you should be doing! Many Christians leave churches because they feel God is calling them to do something different. Is this the right response? How can you serve God fully, remaining connected to the Body, yet honor leaders who may not agree? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to comment below. 

© Deborah Perkins / www.HisInscriptions.com. Photo credit: Konstantin Dyadyun, Unsplash Follow Deborah's Blog About Deborah Perkins
Deborah's heart is to empower the Christian church for life-giving service to God. She writes about prayer and fellowship with God at www.HisInscriptions.com. Follow her weekly blog free here, or find her on social media. For speaking requests, click here. She loves to hear from her readers! 

Holy Boldness

Everyone struggles with some aspect of their life that doesn't measure up. We all feel inferior and inadequate at times. For me, the partial deafness I experienced since childhood was a "thorn in my flesh" that reminded me continually that I was less than perfect: damaged goods. And yet God turned this disability in the natural into an ability in the Spirit: I learned (from John 10:27) that everyone can hear God. Silence helped me focus better. It was my encounters with a God I could hear that changed me from being fearfully insecure to being full of "holy boldness." 

Isaiah had a similar transformation in God's throne room. (Read Isaiah chapter 6 for the full story.) He moved from being "undone" in God's presence to saying, "Here I am, send me!" Insecurity, weakness and sin were all removed when a coal from the altar touched his lips. 


As I pondered this passage from Isaiah, the Lord reminded me of something I used to do as a child in school that helped me.

To hear what was being taught, it was imperative that I sit up front, as close to the speaker as possible, because I would miss things if I sat too far away. Although moving to the front was a definite pride-killer - (how embarrassing!) - it was the only way I could follow what was going on. 

Today, I hear the Lord saying, “Position yourself! Position yourself near the throne of God so that you can hear what is happening in the Spirit!” As in Isaiah chapter 6, we must position ourselves regularly at the foot of the throne so that we can see and hear what is happening in the courts of God. We know that the voice of the Lord shakes the cedars and rocks the heavens with thunder, but when we are positioned at the foot of the throne, we can hear even the seraphim speaking, and Isaiah says their voices shake the posts of the doorways!

It is important that we believers rely not just on our gifts, but that we also are known for being positioned in the Presence of God!

Like me, some of you have said, "Lord, I'm deaf. I'm not even sure I hear You correctly. I'm not worthy of the things You are calling me to do." And the Lord is responding, "I want to release a HOLY BOLDNESS upon you! I am looking for people who will position themselves, as Isaiah did in the throne room and Deborah did in her classes, at the foot of My throne and STAY THERE until they hear what is going on in My heart!"

The key to hearing is intimacy. The only way you can be intimate with Father is by staying close enough to hear His whispers. In the Presence of God, we become aware of the glory that fills the temple. We realize that that same glory is designed to fill US, because we are New Testament temples of the Holy Spirit. Just as He did with Isaiah, God is in the business of sending out glory-filled firebrands, one by one, until the whole earth is full of the glory and knowledge of God. 

This is not the time for false humility and self-deprecation; it is time for those who can honestly say, like Isaiah, "My eyes have seen the King!" - to rise up with a HOLY BOLDNESS and allow God to send you into all the earth, proclaiming the messages you hear as you position yourselves at His feet.  
Remember what happened when people positioned themselves at Christ's feet: 

- Mary poured perfume on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her tears and her hair. This simple act of worship released a revelation of the forgiveness of God for the sinner. In fact, the Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner that day said, “If this man were a real prophet, he would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

Jesus did know, just as He knew Isaiah was a sinner centuries before, and it was still more important to Him to release forgiveness, so that her message could be told throughout the earth. He who is forgiven much loves much!

-When crowds of people brought the lame, crippled, blind, mute and sick and laid them down at the feet of Jesus (see Matthew 15:30), He healed every one of them. Right positioning here released revelation of the heart of God concerning healing.

-When the Syrophoenician woman fell at the feet of Jesus and begged Him for deliverance for her child, it released the revelation that even a non-Israelite, Gentile nation could lay claim to the goodness and deliverance available in God’s Kingdom.

-In Luke 5, Peter’s obedience to reposition himself on the other side of his boat, casting down his nets a second time, resulted in the revelation of God’s glory through a miracle – he caught so many fish that the boat was sinking! When he then fell at Jesus’ feet saying “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” his recognition of Christ’s deity, along with his right positioning, released the further revelation that Peter was called to become a fisher of men – a new identity and mission.

It is my firm belief that God is saying several things to us today:

He’s calling us back into deep and intimate relationship with Him, not just a casual use of the gifts He has given us. It’s easy to use your gift. It’s harder to develop a life of humility and character as you position yourself at His feet and listen for what He is saying.

He’s calling us to walk in a HOLY BOLDNESS, knowing that although we are nothing but unworthy servants, we still have the amazing privilege of hearing things that previous prophets never heard and seeing things that He is now revealing in this hour. (See John 20:21 and Matthew 13:16.) 

God is calling us to “come up higher,” as both Isaiah and later the apostle John did, to receive the fresh, new revelations we need to carry throughout the earth today.

We need not be "deaf prophets." We are hearing ones and seeing ones, not missing one precious  word! I pray that your time near God's altar will cleanse every feeling of unrighteousness,  fill you with God's glory and send you out with the HOLY BOLDNESS of a new identity rooted in Him.  

Go deeper! 
Listen to the video below from last week's Ascend conference I attended in South Carolina, where several leaders speak on related themes from Isaiah 6. Comments? Share your thoughts below.

© Deborah Perkins / www.HisInscriptions.com About Deborah Perkins