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Grief

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HONEY AND BETTS: HANNAH KAUP’S STORY

Finding courage, strength and beauty in the midst of challenges is a life long journey of discovery. Hannah Kaup experienced surprising ways in which God brought these qualities into her life at just the right time and she is generously sharing those discoveries. This is a guest post from Hannah – a stay at home mom, wife to Matthew, mama to Annaliese and Abigail - and founder of Honey and Betts! As a young mom, wife and believer I have to be fearless in my faith and I try to spread the truth to many broken people. I've discovered that my timing and God's timing are not the same, and it is my journey of my acceptance of that that I…
Bob Jones
January 8, 2016
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ALISHA’S STORY: 5-4-3-2-1

Thank you Alisha Jans-Lemoine for this guest post. Your vulnerability and candor are courageous. 5..4..3..2..1.. The count down has started. It actually started 360 days ago, give or take a couple hours. Like the countdown on New Years Eve, there’s nothing to stop it. At midnight the ball drops, everyone sings and we start a new year of hope, promises and resolutions. It starts whether or not we want it to. But we can prepare for it, make plans and be more or less ready for when it arrives. No Warning My ball dropped almost 365 days ago with no countdown, no warning, no notice. I was unprepared in every sense of the word. I couldn’t prepare or sing or…
Bob Jones
September 16, 2015
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RELATIONSHIPS: WHAT WAS, WHAT IS, WHAT WILL BE

On September 18, 2014, with only 57 minutes notice, my family as I knew it, died. Within an hour of CPR that failed, my four children lost their father, his parents lost their son, and I lost the relationship I was supposed to grow old in. The grief was so thick I couldn’t see through it. In the days that followed, I began to realize how much was missing and would be affected going forward. It wouldn’t be just George who would be grieved, there was so much more. It was all the relationships built along the way. Lost Relationships Each of the children had a unique relationship that was lost. Shyla no longer had Dad in the stands watching…
Bob Jones
June 10, 2015
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RYDON HAROLD BOUCK’S STORY (UPDATED)

Rydon's parents believe in miracles. They watched their preemie son fight for his life with the aid of doctors and nurses in two hospitals and the prayers of family and friends each breath of the way. "Thanks again to everyone at North Pointe for your prayers and support. Words cannot describe how blessed we feel to have come so far." Looking at Rydon now, you'd never know the journey he's been on, so read about it below. Rydon Bouck faced more dire circumstances at 25 weeks old than most people experience in 25 years or an entire lifetime. On January 13, 2015, Rydon Harold was born to Kolby and Elise Bouck – son #3. Elise had endured a very difficult…
Bob Jones
March 28, 2015
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Kay Warren: The First Christmas Without…

My cousin Sharon died by suicide in April 2003. Her despair from a marriage that ended in divorce coupled with her decade long struggle with depression were too much for her to cope. Christmas 2003 for her surviving family was one in which her extended family left a lot to be desired. Looking back I am sure we dropped the ball. I wish I knew then what I learned by reading Kay Warren's story about the first Christmas without her son, Matthew. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT... Rick and Kay Warren's son Matthew died by suicide in April 2013. Her mother's heart says it all in this post about her first Christmas without Matthew. "Christmas 2013 was our family’s first without…
Bob Jones
December 12, 2014
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LIVING WITHOUT JIM

“My best friend was in heaven. And I was still on earth.” Sue Keddy chose those bittersweet words to begin the story of her husband, Jim’s, sudden death and her life without him. What unfolds is an inspiring, raw account of grief, faith and courage. She has my gratitude for sharing her journey. Sue's story is personal for me. MARRIAGE, MINISTRY AND MISSIONS I attended Bible College with Jim Keddy for three years. His quit wit, winsome smile, artistic talent, gentle spirit and positive attitude won him the admiration and respect of classmates and profs, alike. Jim was our Student Council President. He married Sue Ozard, a pastor’s daughter, three months after I married Jocelyn. We graduated together a year…
Bob Jones
November 8, 2014
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I MADE CAKE

I made cake. It's just a store-bought box of cake-mix that I whipped up with some eggs and oil. I don't normally make store-bought cake, and in fact, the last cake I made was for my husband Tim's birthday about 3 years ago. With all the discussion about healthy food and trimming the extras, I don't bake too often. This is sad really, because I enjoy baking. I enjoy that sweet reward at the end of a meal. I used the word 'reward', did you catch that? Some would say sugar is not a reward. No. In fact, some may be poised at the keyboard looking to Google information here to "help me" avoid the hazards of sugar. Don't. Guest…
Bob Jones
July 9, 2014
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Heroes in Life and Death

Canada paused June 10, 2014 to honor three men who served their country as RCMP officers. I sat with some of our church staff to watch portions of the broadcast of the funeral service in Moncton, New Brunswick. At that time I blogged, "It is sobering to think this could have happened in St Albert where I live - the safest city of its size in Canada." And now "it" has happened in St Albert. Senseless Deaths Const. David Wynn, 42, and Auxiliary Const. Derek Bond, 49, were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle inside the Apex Casino on Saturday January 17th when they were both shot by 34-year-old Shawn Rehn. Bond was released from hospital after being shot…
Bob Jones
June 10, 2014
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16 INSIGHTS ABOUT DEPRESSION AND LOSS

9/16/13 Photographer: Adam Rose When Matthew Warren died by suicide, Easter 2013, his parents' hearts were shattered. He was only 27 years old. Rick and Kay Warren were known for a ministry of hope. How would they survive his tragic death? Where was hope now? The Warrens share some remarkable insights they learned and lived. 16 Insights 1. "I’d rather have all my questions unanswered and walk with God than not walk with God and have all my questions answered.” – Rick 2.  “I’m terrible but I’m OK. In other words, we’re going to survive and someday we’ll thrive again. It’s the worst thing that could ever happen.” – Kay 3.  “I’ve cried every single day since Matthew died, but…
Bob Jones
October 3, 2013
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GOD NEVER WASTES OUR PAIN

God never wastes anything…not even your pain. The pain we experience in life is precious. God cares for you, so He will never waste your pain. Greg and Sherry Stevens understand that truth. Their 13-year old daughter Cassie passed away on July 17, 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer. I knew Cassie only “from a distance.” She lived in Nevada and made summer visits to our church, North Pointe, to be with her grandparents. She was there when her grandfather, Richard, was baptized in water. Then there were the prayer times when she was hospitalized in California after the onset of brain cancer. Though distant, she was close to our hearts. Cassie passed away in July 2013 from cancer.…
Bob Jones
August 13, 2013