Journal Entry from last night and yesterday.

This is a journal entry that I typed up last night. It's definitely not meant to be proffessional by any means but I really wanted to share this with those of you that would be interested in what's up with me lately.

Bless you all in Jesus' Name!!!!

M@

The whole flight was quite a divine appointment. At the gate in Kansas City, I went to the restroom and I wept that I was going to miss my family. My wife, Erika and my boys, Joel and Asher. I then asked God to honor the sacrifice of time not being spent with my family. This trip, it truly is a sacrifice. In the past, I would look forward to being by myself and not having to worry about the kids and my wife because back then, all I saw and felt when I was around them was my own failure and inability to be a good father and a husband and it was painful to be around them all the time. Now that The Holy Spirit revealed Himself to me in the way He did a week or so ago, I now know that I have what it takes to be a good father and husband due to the fact that Christ died and His Spirit now lives in me and with Him there is nothing that is impossible to me. since that encounter, I've been clothed with grace and confidence when it comes to my fathering because I'm now more aware of the fact that the Spirit of My Father in Heaven lives inside me. I am able to now be a good husband because I now know that the Spirit of the Bridegroom now lives in me therefore I have what it takes to love my wife the way Christ lives the church.

Because of that experience and what I am now aware of, I can now tap into the Holy Spirit and love my sons and my wife and I am now free to walk in confidence and can now really enjoy my family so the pleasurable aspects of traveling that used to delight my heart when it comes to being away from the family now brings mourning in my heart. I now want to be with them instead of away from them.

So when I checked into the airport and got to my gate, I saw Jordan sitting there and we were on the same flight and we were able to talk a bit while on the plane. It was a great experience.

When the plane landed, I discover that my phone didn't work because the battery was dead and needed charging and I really needed to get a hold of my mom to come and take me to the car I am to drive for my time here in Florida. She ended up seeing me and Jordan walking and we met up. It was pretty sweet. She was in starbucks getting coffee and then we were able to meet up in spite of the fact that my phone was dead and I had no way of calling her to let her know where I was. God is so Good!!! I love it when He orchestrates these types of things!!!

I was then with our family (spiritual family) at the Moskos' house and I lead worship for a time and at the end I really flet the spirit of prophecy and people got ministered to and I took an altar callish thing for prayer and commissioned everyone in the room who's hand wasn't raised to pray for the sick. Not sure how that turned out but Lorraine ended up suggesting that we pray for our friend. The Lord revealed to me that she had a father wound and that God wanted to bring healing to her as it related to her identity before her Heavenly Father. God really met her and brought her back to some really deep wounds form abuse she had received when she was a child during which she made an inner vow that she was a second class citizen in her fathers house. She began to weep and tell us the story of a terribly violent and abusive event that happened with her father and The Lord really ministered to her concerning her identity. It was amazing and very satisfying to see The Lord use me the way He did. I love seeing the captives set free. I was made for this. Thank you Jesus!!!!!

An encounter I had the other day

This is a bit in rough form as it was meant to be more of a journal entry than a blog post but I really feel that there are some that will be blessed by what has happened to me over the last few days. I pray this blesses you and that your lives are enriched by the testimony of what God is doing with us.

Blessings in Jesus' Name,

M@

Journal entry 6-7-10

Yesterday I finished putting to gather my action plan for the power of the focused life segment of Intro to IHOP-KC and I was having doubts that I would be able to follow through with my action plan. I was asking God for grace to walk it out.

Yesterday, I compiled a prayer list and I had been praying from it the rest of the day and this morning.

Last night at the awakening, I felt urged to ask The Lord to give me His thoughts towards me. I immediately began feeling intense joy and assurance that He was going to answer the prayer. I had been asking for years that God wold make me a good father and husband. Last night, there was also a call for those that had to see visions of God to sustain them and that they would be preoccupied with God no matter what else they were doing. I went forward for the altar call and I felt waves of the Holy Spirit going over me as if I was floating in the ocean and waves were going past me.

This morning, after I got back from my running, I took a shower and I started going through my prayer list again and suddenly I was filled with faith that Jesus bled and died for me and that He went down to hell for 3 days and he came up with the keys to hell and death. I suddenly believed that I had the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead living in me and that I have what it takes to be a good father and husband. I have what it takes to preach the gospel and to see millions of souls saved and to see the sick healed, the demons cast out and dead raised. I realized that I have what it takes to bring in millions of dollars to the prayer and missions movement and to care for the orphan and the widows. I have what it takes to buy a property of hundreds of acres outright with no debt, I have what it takes to grow my own food and to make sustainable energy sources. It's all because Jesus bled and died and rose from the grave victorious that I can do any thing.

Luke 1:37

For with God NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!

-He lives in me!!!!!! He is with me!!!!!!!!!!!

Matthew 17:20

So Jesus said to them……..if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there.' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

I also realized that since there is nothing that is impossible for me, that I now have a responsibility to walk in the power that has been given to me. It has been given to me for a purpose and that is so that I would live in such a way that impossibilities would bow at the name of Jesus in my life as a lifestyle. I am not allowed to call anything impossible as far as spreading the gospel and advancing the Kingdom of God goes. I'm not allowed to say that it's impossible to heal any disease. I'm not allowed to say that I can't raise up my kids in The Lord to be men of God. I'm not allowed to use my failures, my parents failures or anyone else's failures to justify my inability to do anything. Not church leaders or teachers that have failed to meet my expectations not anyone.

2nd Peter 1:2-4

…His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which we have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

I can be free to forgive and love them and not be hindered by the mistakes they have made because I have the Spirit of the living Christ dwelling in me. In spite of wrong teaching or any wrong examples that I may have received from others, I have the living Holy Spirit living in me and He will teach me the right way of things I need to do in my life. I can forgive those people in my life that set the wrong example for me or taught me wrong thinking. I can forgive them and love them knowing that they did what they did out of the place of not encountering the Holy Spirit. I can be free to love them and to forgive them and let the Holy spirit teach me the right way.

1st John 2:27

…..the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. And now little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

M@

6-7-10

A look back at the first few days of our Intro to IHOP Internship...

We are here, FINALLY, at day 3 of our internship. We have been wanting to move to IHOP (honestly, Matt has been wanting for the both of us until about 3 months ago when I got on board too) and now we find ourselves here....and on the other side of countless financial testimonies and personal battlefields. This past year has NOT been an easy one and I find myself feeling strangely like a returning war Vet with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. As I was recounting last years personal battles to a friend of mine, I heard myself saying that this time in KC was our "Selah" period. Like in the book of Psalms when the psalmist wants you to take a moment and reflect upon what you just read, they write, Selah. I believe this time at IHOP, and especially this internship, is going to be a time of great inner healing and personal equipping. I believe God is going to first clean out all of the muck.....the trauma and hurts, the offenses and stresses of the past year.....and then fill us beyond belief with a revelation of His great LOVE for US!

Emotionally, I feel as if I have been broken down and tenderized nearly to death. I feel crushed, raw, hurt and exposed...and EXACTLY in the perfect will of a loving God! I believe in the God of Romans 8:28.... "And we know that ALL THINGS work together for GOOD to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose." I have spent my time asking "Why" and now I understand that the breaking was necessary to get past my outer wall of defenses, so to speak. To get past the wall I had built around myself in order to protect my tender heart. Problem is I had walled out God as well as any would be assailants. I felt like a nut encased within it's own shell....safe, yet, somehow not living. My life felt hollow and I was afraid of even trying to live to my potential. I knew God had called me to greatness...even if that was just happily living to my fullest under the proud light of my Daddy's gaze...but that even frightened me. I am beginning to see that there was a breaking that was necessary in order for Him to work the greatest good into my heart. Yes, I still feel crushed, raw, hurt and exposed....but, that exposed, raw heart is so tender right now that at the first strum of a guitar during worship, I'm weeping. Crying out all of the muck and allowing God to repair the crooked places in my heart. I can feel the healing work already and it has been such a short time! Friday was the first day of Intro and for the first 2 days, we had the option of going to the evening Awakening Services or rest with our family. We chose to attend just for a while with the kiddo's to get a feel for it before we had to attend (like anyone would have to force us anyways.....the services are AMAZING! Healings breaking out right and left...emotional and physical healings, you name it.) Well, Matt and I took turns watching the kids in the toddler room so that one of us could experience the meeting undisturbed. The spiritual atmosphere in that building was tangible. Holy Spirit was there working on hearts, encouraging forgiveness and bringing healing to many. Many were praying and laying on hands throughout the crowd and others were layed out on the floor up front. I was in the back and just began weeping as the singers vocalized along with the music...no words. It was so powerful! I believe I received healing that night just by walking in the building with no one praying for me. I had experienced a miscarriage 6 weeks prior...only 1 week before our moving truck was coming and I believe it had been an incomplete miscarriage. Usually after 2 weeks, a woman's body is finished with the cleaning out period and she begins to physically get back to normal. Well, I was still experiencing bleeding 6 weeks after and was having a difficult time with emotional healing, not to mention the physical work of unpacking, because my body was still going through the process of the miscarriage. That night and the next day, the bleeding became so much worse that I was actually afraid. I had to leave the morning part of our internship to go home and rest, but, after a few hours, my body began to feel stronger and the bleeding lessened. I believe that anything that had not passed initially, was loosened and released during the Awakening Service and my body just had to go through the process of removing it. At first we were scarred of "what could happen" if the bleeding didn't stop, then we were feeling let down because our prayers were SEEMINGLY going unanswered. But, in hindsight, that was the answer to our prayers and we just needed to trust God.

I hope my heart's understanding of these situations is coming through. I am just so amazed at God's ability to bring RESTORATION out of a year marked by death. And, it is just fitting that the understanding of these things and even the physical healing from a lost child would happen today, on Easter Sunday.... the day celebrated in remembrance of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. "GOD YOU ARE SO GOOD!"

I want to share one last thing which was really cool. Today after church, all of the interns came together for a pot luck lunch in order to meet each other and build unity within our teams. I ended up meeting a woman who after asking a few questions, drew out my entire life's story of the past year. This has happened 3 times in the last 3 weeks and I truly believe that each time I tell the details of what we have gone through....that God is bringing more healing to my heart. After talking for a while and after she prayed for me, I found out that she and her husband were the one's who had adopted little Stephen James from the JHOP in San Francisco. For those who don't know the story...The young adults running the Justice House of Prayer had taken in a pregnant homeless girl and cared for her baby when she relapsed into her worldly lifestyle. They had such a heart for this little guy and wanted to see him saved from a life on the streets...but they were barely more than kids themselves, mostly young 20 somethings....and found the task difficult at best. Long story short, this family had just given birth to a stillborn baby and had agreed to adopt little Stephen. The mother moved to San Fran with her oldest daughter and took care of Stephen until the adoption could be finalized. She was even able to nurse that little boy! It is such a beautiful story...one that we were agreeing with in prayer nearly 3 1/2 years ago when we were living at The Cause Base in Ft. Mill, SC. And now, today, I was able to meet that beautiful family and little Stephen. It blessed my heart so much because Matt and I know that some day we will be adopting and allowing God's loving restoration to work through us in the life of a lost and forgotten little one. Just Beautiful!

I'm done....purged for now. More to come and hopefully full of pictures. Our new camera will be here soon and then we can photo update again.

Blessings!
~Erika~

I Encountered The Love of God

I came to the realization that there was a God and that He was good was about 7 years ago. I had been on a spiritual journey in search of the truth. I had been a angry satanist at one point, then after being sick of being angry all the time I searched elsewhere for the truth and peace. I search through wicca, taoism and a whole other slew of belief systems that left me as empty and depressed as I ever was. I wasn't sure if there was a God or wasn't a God. I had been so done with searching and having the same results that I was open to knowing the truth whatever it was.

One night I was at a party at one of my friends house and we were smoking weed and doing other hallucinogenic drugs when I suddenly felt love glowing off of everything. I felt so loved and all creation expressed this love to me. Then out of no where the phrase "God is Love" came to the forefront of my consciousness and I suddenly realized that what I was feeling was the Love of God and that He was real and I suddenly understood that Jesus was the true way and that Word of God was His Word written to me. I suddenly knew that God was real and that He Loved me with an everlasting Love that I could actually physically feel.

From that night to this I have been in Love with the God that Loves me. The moment I got home I started reading the bible. I Loved that book and still do. The Holy Spirit met me where I was at, a stoned out, confused 20 something, hallucinating and searching for truth everywhere but where it really was. In His mercy He met me and showed me His Love and it forever changed me. I wasn't in a church. I wasn't in a bible study. I was in a backyard of a friend stoned out of my mind in the midst of a bunch of kids on drugs. He came to me. He walked into my darkness and confusion and He showed me who He was and that He Loved me. He wasn't mad at me. He Loved me as if I was His only son. He showed me this and I've never turned back.

I was nothing. I was a user, an adulterer, I was dead in my sins and He invited me into eternal life. This is my story. This is my testimony. I didn't stop smoking pot or sleeping around until years after this encounter but His Love was and is relentless. He pursued me and is still pursuing me time and time and time again. I've left those things behind because they come between me and The One That Loves Me!!! They don't really satisfy anyway.

He Loved me out of my sins and transgressions. He didn't wait until I got my act together and stepped into a church building. He came and got me out of the darkness. I had little to do with it other than being the object of His affection. I simply received His Love for me and it has been transforming me. I'm not the same person I was before!!!

The Love of God transformed this stoned out pervert into a man of God!!!! He took this walking corpse and He gave me life!!!! He made me alive when I was dead in my sins and transgressions. He saw that I was like that and He loved me too much to leave me that way. He Loved me first. His Love cleansed me and made me whole. It took away the depression and the confusion. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and there is no pit so deep that His Love is not deeper still!!!! My life is a testimony to that!!!!

God gives personal favoritism to no man. What he did for me, He can do for you for you as well. If you would open your heart and receive the Love of God. Let Him Love you. He is indeed real and His love towards you is relentless. It will not quit. He will not stop pursuing you. The things your holding onto don't satisfy you and you know it!!! The Love of God always satisfies the thirsty soul!!! Receive of His Love today!!!!! Turn from the other distractions in your life!!! Nothing will satisfy you like the Love of Christ!!!! There is no other god like my God. Jesus is the only way to The Father!!! He is the only path to peace!! There is no other!!!

Our Trip to KC Part 2 (Storehouse-Huntsville HOP)

Our Trip to KC

Part 2

So before we left Orlando, I was praying and talking to the Lord about the desire in my heart to minister at the place where we stop along the journey to KC. The only place that I knew of that I may be able to set up some small ministry type things was in the Carolina's and that was way out of the way. We decided that we were going to be stopping in Huntsville, Al to visit my Aunt and uncle and other family that lives there as well. I asked The Lord to set up something where I could serve the local body of Christ in Huntsville though at the time, I had no connections for ministry there.

The next day while I was in the prayer room at OHOP washing my hands in the bathroom, a man was next to me washing his hands as well. We introduced ourselves and as it turned out, I was talking to Ted Amey,the director of the House of Prayer in Huntsville!!! I love the way The Holy Spirit sets these things up!!! He hears and answers prayer indeed!!! After talking for a bit, Ted asked if I could come and talk to his leadership team about the harp and bowl model and to help to gain understanding regarding the model and how to flow in it. I was happy to serve another house of prayer!!! It's actually what I've been asking God to release me to do; to be sent out to strengthen growing houses of prayer all over the world. All that to say, it was a pleasure to pour into this awesome leadership team.

As I mentioned in the past posting, our digital camera died so Ted let me use his iphone to take some pics for all of you of Storehouse and the people I connected with while there.

This pic is of Ted and myself next to the boiler roomish station in the prayer room. I really like this guy. :)

In this pic is Carl, one of the worship leaders at Storehouse and Chris, the worship director (her husbands name is John Knox. Pretty sweet huh?) I got to know them over the few days I spent with them. Their so hungry for the establishing of the house of prayer in their city. It is so encouraging to see people so hungry for the courts of The Lord.

This is a pic of what it looks like when you first walk into the prayer room at Storehouse. I really like this house or prayer. It reminds me a lot of our little prayer room we planted in downtown Orlando 4 years ago.

This house of prayer is a really cool mixture of the DNA of the 24/7 movement in Europe and what God is doing at IHOP. When I was first introduced to the prayer movement, it was through the book "Red Moon Rising" by Pete Grieg. (READ IT!!! It'll rock you!) So this house of prayer has a special place in my heart as it brings me back to the early day in the prayer movement when it was all messy and awesome. Our first prayer room plant was according to the model of the 24/7 movement in Europe where they have stations that are interactive in the prayer room. It's very artistic in nature.

This is the station they have set up in their current building. The section in the middle is made of chicken wire and in the holes are rolled pieces of paper with hand written prayer requests for people to pray for. The section to the right with the small lights are jars with secret prays written on paper and put into the jars. They had an art station set up to the left and people would come and do prophetic art during sets.

Another pic of the cool prayer station.

This is the view of the stage. I love the fact that this HOP is in an old Church of Christ building (For those of you who don't know, the Church of Christ denomination doesn't believe in music in church. They can play secular music all they want but the minute you start doing it unto God, they literally believe you are going to hell for it. So it'a awesome to see a ministry that is worshipping God 24/7 with music, planted in this type of building). I've always wanted to see a HOP planted in an old church. It is symbolic to me of the awakening that God is bringing to this generation. It's a beautiful picture of God breathing on the dry bones of religion with the fresh move of His Holy Spirit.

I used to live in Huntsville when I was a kid and I suffered some abuse as a child in this city. SO it feels a lot like the justice of God seeing a house of prayer planted in this city. I look forward to being used by God to throw gas on this fire in the days to come. My heart is knitted to this city. It is a pleasure to partner with God and this company of intercessors for revival in this city.

So that is our time in Huntsville in a nut shell. I will be putting a part 3 up soon when we get our new digital camera so that we can take pics of the new house and the family here at IHOP.

We love all of you and we pray all is well with you. Feel free to leave comments and send us your prayer requests. We read all of them. I pray the blessing of God on you all.

All for Jesus!

M@ Bond

Our Trip to KC Part 1

Our Trip to KC

Part 1

It has been a long journey to get to KC. It has been a long journey indeed. I am now sitting in the prayer room at IHOP at 11:17pm during Matt Gilman's set updating all of you all with the details of our trip up here.

Our digital camera broke shortly after we got to Huntsville Alabama so I apologize for the lack of pictures in this post. Though I used Ted Amey's iphone to take some pics and email them to myself that I may share with you some pics from Storehouse (Huntsville HOP).

Leaving Orlando

We spent our last night at Erika's Mom's place after the moving company picked all of our stuff up, including our beds. We slept in her guest room all as a family and I went to Walmart to pick up some last minute things for our trip. Namely, a Garmin GPS unit (great idea!), energy drinks in case my sleepy eyes get heavy on the road (gotta make good time!) and a set of huge over ear head phones for Joel's new portable DVD player Mama Sue (my mom.) bought for him. We woke up the next morning at 6am and said our tearful good bye to Glenna, Erika's mom and hit the road.

It was an amazing trip. Joel slept for 2 or 3 hours at the beginning of our trip up to Huntsville and then we hooked up Mama Sues dvd player with the huge headphones I bought Him and he was as snug as a bug in a rug the whole ride.

It was truly a blessing to have this for Joel for this long trip. It kept him occupied the entire ride. Though I'm not one for having the TV be a baby sitter, this time it was the right thing at the right time for sure.

Asher slept for quite a large chuck of the trip as well. When he wasn't sleeping, he was making loads of happy noises in the back and throwing his bottle all over the car for Erika to go and retrieve while I was driving.

When Joel would start getting a bit restless, we stopped at Chick-Fil-A and ate some lunch and let him play in the play place for an hour or so to burn off some pent up energy from the road. We stopped somewhere in Georgia.

Here is a pic of Joel playing on the playground at Chick-Fil-A. He Loved it!!!!

He is saying hi to "Ma Glenna" (Erika's mom) here. He thought I was video taping.

Then it was back on the road. After 5 or 6 long hours on the road we arrived at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Huntsville Alabama. We didn't get pics of the house or anything. We were too happy to not be moving at 80 miles an hour to think about pic taking. My mind has not yet been renewed to that of a professional blogger as of yet (I'm praying for an impartation of your skills Emily!)

The last Time Joel and uncle Mark hung out was way back in 07 when Erika, Joel and I stopped by for a day or two after the Call Nashville. They had a great time playing patty cake.

It wasn't long before I was Skyped by the Mama's back in Orlando and then everyone was talking to my laptop for a couple of hours.

We then went to bed and slept like rocks until Joel, our faithful alarm clock, woke us up the next morning ;).

That's all your gettin out of me for right now. It's midnight 30 here at IHOP and the night watch just started. That means it far past my bed time but I wanted to give you all something to let you know how the trip went.

In the next post, I will be letting you all in on North Alabama's best kept secret; Storehouse (Huntsville HOP) and the connections that were made there.

Love you all!!! Blessings in the name of Jesus!!!!

M@

Photo Update

The Long Awaited Photo Update of the Bond Family (mainly the boys anyways)

I don't even know where to start with updates on Asher, but I'll give it a good try. Our appointments have gone down to every 3-6 months with the docs and still 3 times a week with the therapists. Things are going well...he is completely off of the feeding pump and is taking all of his liquids by mouth with thickener added to keep him from aspirating. We just got the results from some heart tests and everything is looking GREAT! The "kink" in his aorta is opening up as he grows and he has a fully functioning heart. More to come on his Urinary tract as those tests are scheduled for mid Feb...but we are believing for a good report.

Joel is awesome....he's such a boy!! Balls, Garbage Trucks, Chalk, Sports....just some of his favorite things. He loves riding his "Concrete Mixer" (bike) around the house like a crazy! But, at the same time, he is so gentle and loving to Asher. He comes into the room some times and Asher just starts grinning and laughing at the sight of him. They love each other so very much and that touches my heart.

Ok...here are the pics ;)

Christmas morning - Joel opening his toy Garbage Truck!!! (yup...that's Asher under the couch ;)


Joel's special "garbage man wave"...lovingly given to his precious garbage truck. This is our ritual every Tuesday morning......wake up and stand in the drive way to wave at the 3 trucks that come by.


Our friend Anna gave Joely a Fohawk over New Years.


His first time experiencing ice outside. It wasn't much, but it did the trick!


This is what Joel calls "Riding Machines". Don't really know where that one came from...


Asher getting a diper change in a very cold car....but it didn't phase his Joy!!


During a therapy session at Arnold Palmer Rehab


He's getting so nice and plump compared to when he first came home. I love squeezing those cheeks ;)


Thinking about trying to pull himself up.


The first time Ash pulled himself up in his crib.....
he could finally get a good look at the glowing music maker!


This is how I woke up this morning...with Ash giggling and cooing, all proud of himself for getting up on his own.


Vocalizing a bit...


And just being overall cute ;)


My handsome men cooking breakfast!

So, that is a window in the life of the boys. We'll update some more on us soon. Blessings!
~Erika~

The Latest on The Bond Family

Hello friends and family,

I wanted to give you all an update on our progress with the move and in our lives.

The Mustard Seed

I have been working to get the first edition of the Mustard Seed ready for print and mailing. It is finished and now I just need to get it printed up and sent out to anyone that is interested in receiving it. My vision for The Mustard Seed is to be a resource for the body of Christ based on messages and revelations I get from The Lord from the palce of ministering to His Heart both night and day. In the first edition, I have a teaching on John 13 and Jesus, The Servant as well as the latest news on our family and what God is teaching me in the context of ministering to my family. I am currently working on the articles for the next few editions. I am working on a series on the Sermon on the Mount that I am being really blessed by so of course my vision is to pass that blessing on to all of you as well. It is making my heart so alive to study this out!!! I am also going to be including articles for the average person. These articles are going to be focused more on ministry in the context of the family, our number one mission field. The Lord has given me some really awesome insights and challenges that I am looking forward to growing into with all of you. Be in prayer concerning The Mustard Seed out out of Ephesians 1:17-19 and Colossians 1:9.

If you would like to receive The Mustard Seed, please respond to this email with your home mailing address.

OHOP

Leaving OHOP is going to be hard. I have grown to love all of the people here and across Florida. The Lord has knitted so many hearts together with our own here in Florida. I'm going to miss everyone here greatly. I have been continuing my commitment to the prayer room here on a very flexible basis while I focus my efforts on raising funds for our move to Kansas City while still keeping my 6 am to noon schedule. I have been really giving myself to the Sermon on The Mount and the Study of the fruit of the Spirit while in the prayer room. It has been awesome as The Lord has sent so many people to OHOP to serve as musicians, intercessors and singers. When I heard that I was to leave, Iw as worried about OHOP being understaffed and being in need of musicians but God has sent many to take my place and I feel that OHOP will be even stronger when I leave. I love knowing that things are going strong here at OHOP and that I am leaving at a time when it will not detriment the community here. That is a huge blessing.

Progress on The Move to Kansas City

I have only been home for a little over 2 weeks and already we have raised up $1200 for our move to KC!!! I am so excited as God is giving us more and more confidence that He is with us for this move and that we are within His will and blessing. We are raising money for a minivan for the family and for our tuition for the Intro to IHOP-KC internship as well as asking for friends and family to partner with us so that we can increase our monthly budget to around $2000 a month so that we have no lack while we are in IHOP-KC and so that we can focus on serving The Lord on Staff at IHOP after the internship while doing short term missions from IHOP. We are going up to IHOP to be equipped to better serve the body of Christ and to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth. We are currently at $1200 a month is pledged support. We are well on our way to seeing all of our financial goals met. I'm asking all of you to pray for us, that God would put it on the right people's hearts to fund us and this move. I also ask that you would pray and ask God if He would have you fund us either monthly or a one time gift of any amount. Even the smallest amounts will be a blessing to us.

The Bond Family is.......

Growing!!!! While I was in Kansas City a few weeks ago, Erika had a dream where she saw herself great with child and she heard God speak the name, "Zechariah". A few days later she took a pregnancy test and......you guest it....she is pregnant. I'm assuming it's a boy named Zechariah. However, while Erika was pregnant with Asher, I had a dream where Erika gave birth to a girl named Anna in the lobby of IHOP. So it could be a girl, either way, we have names from The Lord for both either way. We are looking forward to meeting the newest Bond. Erika is about a month or so pregnant so she is in the first trimester. We are asking you all to pray for her health and for the health of the baby in her womb. We are nervous about the babies health because of what happened with Asher. We really don't want to relive anything like that again anytime soon with this baby. We are praying that this one is healthy and happy and blessed in every way.

So there you have it. the latest on the Bond family. We are blessed to be sharing our lives with all of you. We love to hear from you so feel free to send us messages or prayer requests. We would be happy to partner with you in prayer.

Bless you in the Name of Jesus!!!

M@ Bond

The Bond Family and The New Year

So here it is. Finally a new update to the blog. I hope it blesses you.

Here is an email update I sent to our partners while I was in KC this last month.

Bless you all.

Greetings from IHOP-KC!!!!

Happy new year. I pray 2009 was a blessed one and I pray that 2010 is a greater blessing on your lives!

I've been here in Kansas City Since this past Sunday and it has been an awesome time in The Lord as He has poured out His Spirit on me like never before. I have been missing Erika, Joel and Asher like crazy but I will see them soon when I come home on the 5th. Please keep me and my travels in prayer here as the roads are quite icy. So here goes the update......

Onething 09

One of our faithful mothers in The Lord and supporters has been sending me to Onething at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City for the last 3 years and this last trip has been one of the most fruitful and intense times yet. The Holy Spirit has been breaking out at IHOP-U for the past few months and this conference was very much marked by this out pouring. People have been getting miraculously healed, saved and delivered in a very powerful way along with many other signs and wonders taking place here. Ever since I've been coming to these conferences, I've known that it was only a matter of time until The Holy Spirit would open the door for us to move here to for a time of equipping and sending. We have prayed and gotten council from those God has put in our lives as mothers and fathers and we all feel this move to KC is a good move for our family and ministry. On this trip that door was opened and a commission from heaven was given to my family and I feel will mark us and equip us for the rest of our lives and ministry.

The Dream

On the night of the 29th earlier this week I had a dream that shook me to my core. I had a dream that my brother, TJ was burning due to an accident with a flame thrower and he was dying and that there was no way to put the flames out. I then began to preach the gospel to him and to plead with him to confess his sins and repent. To receive the sacrifice that Jesus made for his soul. I told him that if he repented and called upon the Name of The Lord that He would be saved and that his burning would stop after he died but that if he didn't, his burning would never end and it would go on for eternity. He then said "to hell with your gospel". I then told him that he had damned himself and that because he scorned the Love of the Son of God, he would burn for eternity when he died. Somehow he survived (there was a woman and another man present during this dream) and the woman that was there along with my brother were rebuking me saying "your brother was about to die and all you could do was preach your worthless religion." I then said "Cursed am I if I don't preach this gospel! The most merciful thing I could have done for my brother in that situation was do my best to see to it that his burning would stop in this life and that his pain would have an end.". The dream then changed to an experience that there are no words to truly accurately describe. It was as if I had watched 3, 1 hour movies at the same time, in real time in the course of 3 minutes with the presence and power of God manifested in the most intense way I've ever experienced. I saw vision after vision of me going to all the highways and byways of the earth with a group of young people preaching the Gospel with real power and laying hands on the sick and seeing them recover, casting demons out of children and all kinds of people and seeing the gospel go forth in power like I've never seen before. I was walking like Jesus walked when He was on the earth. I had a group of disciples with me and we were doing mighty exploits in the Name of Jesus. I then woke up still buzzing from the presence of God and the intensity of the dream itself.

The Commission

I then quickly got up and got ready to get to Barlte Hall in KC to hear Loren Cunningham and Mark Anderson preach the morning session of the conference. I was walking in a daze as my mind was totally consumed with the dream I had just woken up from. I was praying in the spirit and ask God what this all meant the whole 45 minute drive to the venue. When I got to Bartle hall and the main auditorium, I went to get a seat at the back and on every chair was a flyer. I read in bold letters, "Know your God and DO GREAT EXPLOITS". The only way I can explain what happened next was that it felt like the Holy Spirit gripped my stomach until I was groaning and tears were streaming down my face. I was gripped by the presence of God as I received what I feel was a commissioning to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every living creature. The message that Mark Anderson and Loren Cunningham preached that morning only further confirmed what I felt in my spirit and that gripping experience happened many times during these messages that these two men of God shared with us that Wednesday morning. I invite you to listen to the message for yourself if you can by clicking the link above.

The Equipping

After getting the clear "go" for moving to Kansas City and getting this clear commission to "go" into all the world to preach the gospel to every living creature, I was asking Holy Spirit what He wanted for us as a family here. I believe that we are to move to IHOP to go through Intro To IHOP-KC Internship with our whole family to get us all equipped and all burning for Jesus in preparation His use for us in fulfilling the great commission in our generation. After attending intro, we will then seek The Lord for His direction for the rest of our equipping here at IHOP KC. We will likely go through more classes on missions or possibly just start going to the nations short term as God opens the door. We feel that we are to based in KC for an undetermined amount of time that I feel will exceed a year at least.

"And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:4,7-8

This season at IHOP is to be our Jerusalem until all of us as a family are sent by the power of God into our mission field. This may happen as a one time filling and sending or a process that happens many times as we are here.

The Burning

For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations," Says the LORD of hosts. -Malachi 1:11

This scripture has burning on my heart for last few years. It could be very well said that it is one my life verses from the bible. My heart burns to see Jesus worshipped by every tribe, tongue people and nation of the earth. My heart burns to see God-hating atheists, hindus, muslims worship Jesus, The Son of The Most High God! My heart burns to minister the power of God to people that are tormented by false gods and demons, the people on the earth that are on a path leading to everlasting burnings, people who are ravaged by disease. My heart burns to see them set free. But more than this, the reason my heart burns is because I am a friend of The Bridegroom Jesus. My hear burns more than any of this to see to it that The Lamb receives the reward of his sufferings. I've acquired this burning by spending hours in prayer and study of the Word and days in fasting and prayer asking time and time again for what burns in Jesus' Heart to burn on mine and He has heard my cry and is answering my prayer. However over the last 3 years, Erika has been busy ministering to our children at home most of the time and has not had this opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus in a focused way and receive that which burns on His heart. i've not had a frame work or an understanding of how to facilitate this in my wife and boys. This is one of the primary reasons we are seeking to move to IHOP and to go through their Intro program. In it they give practical training on how to incorporate a family in this lifestyle. They have over 10 years experience in this and We feel it of the utmost importance to set our whole family before The Lord in an environment of night and day prayer and worship to prepare us for the days to come in. I can no longer be the only one on the front lines of our ministry. My heart burns for the nations but I want to make this happen first within my own family with my own wife and children. I am setting this as a first priority and doing whatever it takes and moving wherever I have to, to make this happen. I am asking that you would partner with us in this. Not for us alone but for the Lamb of God. That He may receive the reward of His suffering.

The Challenge

That man is no fool to gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose.- Jim Elliot

I am going to ask you all to pray for us first and for most.

I am challenging you to pray about partnering with us financially for this transition. We are in need of $2300 to pay for the Intro to IHOP internship alone. We are also in need of a new van as our car is quite old and will not be adequate for the cold weather here in Kansas City. We are also going to need $1000 in monthly monthly income in addition to the monthly funds we are already receiving. This is the largest step of faith we have ever made but we know that God is with us and that by the grace of God and through The Body of Christ we will see ever single need met in Jesus' name. I am asking all who have a willing heart to give as The Lord puts it on your heart. Whether you feel lead to give or not, I am asking everyone of you to pray for us concerning this as we are firm believers that prayer is the most precious of all commodities.

Click Here to donate via paypal with your debit card. Or you can send cash, checks or money orders to 622 Caborca Ct. Ocoee Fl. 34761. If you have a mini van to donate, please contact me via e-mail.

Bless you all in Jesus' Name and thank you all for your prayers and your support in every way you've all been so faithful to offer it. We are blessed by you in ways, you will only know when you stand before Him.

For The Lamb..........

M@

Daddy has embarqued on a wild journey...

I'm sorry for not updating this sooner, but life has been in a bit of a tale wind since last week. For those of you who do not know yet, Daddy passed last Thursday afternoon. He never wanted to be kept alive on machines without a hope and that is where we found ourselves last Wednesday. After speaking with the doctors one last time, my mom came home and spoke with all of us kids. We all agreed that it was time to let him go.

His passing has left a void in our lives and although we are sad, we are also joyful because we know he is in a much better place. When I close my eyes and picture him, he is always walking, running, or having deep intellectual conversations with Jesus. All things he would be overjoyed to do. I'm happy that he is no longer hindered by the physical handicaps he endured for 65 years and that he is in a place to obtain absolute truth to his questions. Our family is loving him in our hearts but trying to move forward into this new season we find ourselves. Mom is moving furniture around and in essence evicting "Muscular Dystrophy" from her house. She misses daddy, but won't tolerate the restraints of that handicap another day. I'm happy that she can embrace the good in this new season. We will all see daddy again and are confident that the dreams and prophetic words regarding him walking are not void now. We anticipate a day in the future when Jesus returns, to meet my dad walking through the door in his redeemed body. That was the only regret he had, to not be here on the side of the physical to receive his new body.....and he will be getting that anyways, just from the other side, so that's not bad for having regrets!

The memorial service will be this Sunday, October 25th at the Orlando House of Prayer (OHOP) at 3pm. Address: 495 W. Silverstar Rd., Ocoee, FL 34761. In lieu of flowers, my mother has requested a monetary donation be made to the Central Florida Compassion Center...the food pantry that my dad volunteered at. Checks can be made out to OHOP and will be forwarded in entirety.

A special thank you to all who have supported us through prayer, food and kind words...we appreciate your love and generosity more than we can express through words.

Blessings!
~Erika

Dad is still with us, but...

Last night was a rough one. We were awoken at 3:30 am by a call from the nurse saying that dad's blood gas levels were not looking good at all and we needed to come in. When we got there they were in the process of administering agents to completely paralyze him so that they could force him to breath at an un-natural rate, in hope of forcing his lungs to dispel the collecting liquid. He was sedated and unable to talk anyways due to the breathing tube.

At this time, the fight is over the fluids collecting in his body. We got word that tests confirmed his kidney's are working, they just aren't getting the fluids to process which means there is something going on to divert all of the fluids they are pumping into him. His heart is still working fine but they don't know how long it will last under this type of strain and they are also worried about his low oxygen levels. They did a procedure tonight to try and clear one of his lungs and although they thought it wasn't successful, his heart rate did come up a bit which was good. That was the last thing they can do to help him. Right now, it is completely up to him and God whether he will come back from this.

We have all had a chance to go in and speak with him, albeit through sedation, but the nurse said that he can still hear us. We are prepared for the loss but still hanging on to a shred of hope for him to make it through this. Even so, I know that if he does pass on, it will be such a joy for him to step out of this body and to finally be with the Lord. To have answers to his questions and unhindered communion with God...it will be wonderful and we will rejoice with him, even through feelings of loss for the void he will leave in our lives.

This is a difficult post to type up but I wanted to let our friends and family know what is going on. Thank you all for your many prayers and loving support. We can feel God upholding us through all of this, but it is still emotionally taxing.

~Erika

Dad

It seems that dad is wavering between getting better and getting worse. He has been moved into the ICU at Health Central and they are having a hard time keeping his heart rate up. His oxygen saturation levels were very low and they had to intubate him (breathing tube) and they are still having a difficult time balancing out his fluids. Apparently, he is retaining water in some areas while other areas of his body are dehydrated. But, his kidney's are working well, they just aren't getting the fluids to process. I just heard from mom, that the nurses were able to get his blood pressure closer to normal than what it was...this is very good and means they can now fully sedate him to keep him comfortable.

Please continue to keep him lifted up in prayer. At this time we really don't know if he is going to live or die. We are seeking the face of God for His will for this situation and are leaning on Him for comfort... all the while pressing and hoping for a full recovery.

Pray his fluids levels and blood pressure will be stabilized. That the fluid will stop flowing out of his incision site and that his body will regain the correct balance and strength. Also, please pray for my mother, that she would have the strength and wisdom to endure this hardship.

Thank you all for your continued prayer support...and thank you to my sister for dropping off Olive Garden dinner! We love you, Alexis! ;)

Blessings!
~Erika

More on Dad...

Mom called this morning and said that he had a rough night. His mental clarity got worse and he began hallucinating. She didn't get any sleep at all and is now back home this morning to get a little rest before going back. From the little bit of info that I have, I'm guessing that because his kidney's aren't processing fluids efficiently that the toxin build up is becoming a burden to his body. Add on top of that pain drugs that interfere with mental clarity and you get a good picture of his mental state of being. Please pray for peace to reside in and around my dad, Paul. That his spirit would touch God during this time of physical weakness.

My mother is standing strong in faith but this is very hard for her to see my dad this way. Please be in prayer for my mom, Glenna...that she would lean on God for the strength to stand. She needs a word from God to anchor her in this time. Please pray for the noise of her soul to be quieted so that her spirit may hear God clearly.

Any and all encouragement is needed right now. If anyone wants to offer to bring some meals that will easily travel to the hospital, that is where she is staying on and off and their food is EXORBITANTLY overpriced for the quality you get. Small smoothy shakes are also good to have. Odwalla and NAKED or Bolthouse farms can all be purchased in the refrigerator section by the orange juice in most grocery stores. They are good for bringing nutrition when the stomach doesn't want to eat. (Green, Red, Blue, it doesn't matter, they are all good!). You can email me at erikabond@gmail.com or call 407.276.7628 if you want to arrange to bring a meal.

It is time for the Body of Christ to reach out to one of their own and love on them. She needs to know that she is not alone in this fight!! If you want to send her an email of sincere encouragement, not empty platitudes...her email is gandree@netmender.net. OR you can just respond to this blogpost because she checks it.

Thank you Saints, for keeping my parents and family uplifted during this trying time. We are hoping for the best, but know that God works ALL THINGS together for the GOOD of those who love Him and we are placing our trust in HIM regardless of the outcome.

Blessings!
~Erika

Post Surgery News on My Dad...

Dad went in to surgery on Wednesday night to have the large mass/tumor removed from his Colon. They ended up removing half of his colon to ensure they got it all. We are still waiting for the final lab results on the mass to tell us exactly what type of cancer, etc, we are dealing with here. Dad is now having a rough time post surgery. He is dealing with quite a bit of fluid retention and is being moved to another room so that the nurses can keep a better eye on him.

Please join with us in prayer that his kidneys will start processing and removing more of the extra fluid from his body. That his healing would be fast and painless and that clarity would return to his mind. (the drugs are making him a little scattered). I call forth ministering angels to keep him and protect him from any infection that would try to take hold and or from any medical negligence that could occur. I ask for heavenly wisdom to rest on his care staff, from the surgeon on down to the nurse's assistant who changes the sheets. I speak peace and steadfastness into my mother, Glenna, that she would lean on and gain her strength from Holy spirit, our Helper and Comforter. I pray that she would be physically strengthened to withstand any illness or weakness that this stressful situation could bring on. I pray that she be able to sleep in the midst of this storm.

Thank you for standing with my family during this time. Your prayers bring more encouragement than you know...they move mountains, so please PRAY!!

Blessings!
~Erika

Update on my Dad...

Dad had to go back to the hospital a few days ago due to some complications with fluid retention and some bloating in his abdomen. Because of the complications, they have decided to go ahead and have the colonoscopy done in order to find out exactly what they are dealing with. Results came back today positive for cancer. They are going in tomorrow (Wed) afternoon to remove it and find out exactly what type of cancer he has.

We were all a bit shaken hearing this news because dad has always been on some sort of health kick or another for as long as I have been alive. Having this happen to someone so near me has really affirmed how fragile this existence really is. We are but a vapor, the bible says, "here today and gone tomorrow"...

Right now, we are gathering what faith we can muster and standing before God on his behalf. Please join us in prayerfully seeking his FULL RECOVERY! One concern I have is that this illness will sap what remaining muscular strength he still has which, once gone, is mostly gone forever due to the muscular dystrophy. Please pray for strength to return to his body and for his muscles to regenerate fully. That God would direct the hands of the surgeons to be skillful in their task and thorough in removing the mass. We come against any residual infections or complications post surgery and speak LIFE into his body! I release ministering angels to tend him and help uphold his faith and hope. That he would be able to SLEEP, even though the waves of fear and uncertainty rage! Thank you Father, God!

Thank you, all for your continued prayers and support of my family during this time. Please keep my mother in your prayers, that she would be strong and at peace.

Blessings!
~Erika~

Prayer Request for my Dad...

I have a prayer request for my father that I wanted to make known. He has been feeling poorly for the past month or so and decided to go to the ER on Friday. He was severely dehydrated, which further weakened his already weak body (he has Muscular Dystrophy). They did a CT scan and found an "impressive infection of the ascending colon"....hope I got that description right, but at least you get the idea. They also found a "large mass" in his abdomen. As of right now, they are not thinking it is cancer but they don't know what it is or how serious. They admitted him and wanted to see him get stronger with the help of IV fluids and antibiotics before they did any further testing. He is on a semi-liquid diet and generally just having a rough time of it.

Please agree with us in prayer for his complete healing and full recovery of strength and mobility. Pray that the infection will be eradicated and his entire system would reap no long term effects from the treatment.

Thank you for joining your prayers with ours for my dad's healing! I'll try to keep you posted on his progress...I'm borrowing an old desktop computer from my parents until mine gets back from the shop.

Blessings!
~Erika~

Long break between posts....broken computer ;(

Well, I had a free moment and was able to borrow Matt's computer while I pumped so here is a very brief update just to keep you all informed ;)

Asher is growing and growing and growing....I almost don't believe the pictures of him from his stay in the hospital. It feels like a movie I watched once. I'll try and post some soon so you can see what I mean. We have been released from his Ear, Nose and Throat doc which leaves us like 9 more to go, but it is progress. He is wonderfully healthy and growing right on schedule, although he does seem a bit slow on some of his physical milestones, such as sitting and bearing weight on his legs. His ped recommended having a physical therapy evaluation done to make sure he isn't falling behind so that is scheduled for September 15th. His next swallow study is scheduled for October 20th, although I'm hoping it can get moved up some. We are going to try him on purees next week with his therapist to get him use to taking the spoon and hopefully he will do better during the study. We have been having some trying times regarding my milk production. I simply don't have enough for his needs, and produce maybe half of what he needs in a day. My heart is to have his solely breast fed because I believe it is the best for his immune system and general health and well being, but when the milk runs out you have to feed your baby with something. I hated it, but I tried formula and he threw it up. I tried goats milk and he threw it up, so maybe this is God's way of saying your baby needs to be breast fed and I will provide the milk. We have had many donations from the wonderful mom's who are part of the Bosom Buddies support group out at Heart 2 Heart in Sanford. I really don't know what we would have done without them and their generous donations. My heart is so moved each and every time there is milk in my freezer to feed Asher. I can feel God's provision and love and am learning to be thankful for the "daily bread" and not worry about what looks to be tomorrow's lack.

Joel is beautiful and growing tall. He has quite a vocabulary and is VERY independent. He is becoming a protective big brother and defends Asher's toys as if they were his own when his cousin comes over to play. We are teaching him how to share and today he broke his cookie into smaller pieces and handed them to each person in the house. It was wonderful watching the fruits of our labors!

Matt has been busy with the house of prayer, doing his regular morning hours, playing on 4 sets a week and teaching on Intercession, when the opportunity arises. He carries the message in him and I love hearing about it when he gets the opportunity to pour it out.

Well, that is all for now, Joel woke up and needs momma....

Blessings!

Erika

New Smyrna Weekend Getaway.... Thank God!!!

Here is a photo update about our amazing beach getaway last weekend, compliments of our dear friend Karen who allowed us to use her beach cottage, as well as our fellow intercessors at OHOP who donated to our gas/food money fund! The getaway was so much needed. God is really working in our hearts right now about turning our ministry focus towards our own family first and this time away together was a step in the right direction.

Matt and I enjoying each other in the morning sea air

Making bubbles with Joel's new bubble wand. I had that thing tucked away in the back of my closet waiting for just such a day as this!!

Daddy showing Joel a "pill bug"... I called them "rolly polly's" when I was little

Baby Asher sleeping on our bed

Joel was so excited playing with the bubbles!

Matt then went inside and made us breakfast

Cheesy eggs over whole wheat english muffin...mmmmmm ;) He knows how I like em ;)

Joel was driving hard for a beach visit, but we kept him busy until after breakfast was over with stickers. This is the book his "Mamma Glenna" gave him just before we left.

Finally, off to the beach. This is the first time he has been able to wear his little beach suit his Aunt Alexis gave him. It was a huge help in protecting his little white body from the sun.

I love watching him interact with his Daddy!!

Scary waves

He kept running from the incoming waves... it was so cute ;)

Asher making a funny face while riding in my baby sling

Running Joel...

"A Plane, A Plane!"

Joely using his cup...moments later it was swept away by the surf to join the Pacific Garbage Patch...I made myself feel better about losing the cup by picking up some old tire on my return trip to the cottage. Have to do my part...

Matt wanted Joel to get use to the waves and not be afraid so he brought Joel up on his lap and shielded him from the big waves. Joely felt nice and safe with his daddy ...they stayed like this for over half an hour.

Asher passed out

He was wide awake once we got back inside....here he is playing with his feeding tube

His whole being smiles when he is happy....he is such a blessing to us!!!

The small house directly behind the minivan is the cottage we stayed in, right on New Smyrna beach

This is the view from our back deck

Dinner at "Breakers"... I think we caught Asher mid blink in this pic.

My bearded hubby... still handsome behind all that fuzz!

We had to walk a mile or so down the beach to the restaurant. Joel got tired on the way back and hitched a ride from dad.

Asher loved watching the waves. He is so beautiful ;)

Impromptu Family Pic

Matt looking for his corncob pipe............

Sunday afternoon, on our way home. Joel passed out cold with his blankie just minutes after we started driving.

It was a wonderful trip... a little short but well worth the work! Hope you enjoyed!
Blessings!
Erika ;)