GCV Blog

Grace Church of the Valley blog.

Dick and Irene have graciously agreed to share this with our entire church family, so I pray you are encouraged again through them and able to serve them better.

David

 

Dear Grace Church Family,

It has been our distinct privilege to be a part of this Grace Family from the beginning. What a joy to be able to worship our great and only God together. As you all know, I have been dealing with ovarian cancer since before we started attending here. My family and I want to say Thank You once again for your love and care for us as we have needed to work through some tough things along the way. You have supported us through prayer, meals, transportation, visits, cards, phone calls. What a blessing to be so loved!

We have now entered the final phase of our journey. The meds are no longer working and there are no more to try. So we are looking at the end of earthly life and anticipating the joy of heaven. The doctor's prognosis last week was 3-6 months, so it won't be long. Please pray for the growing yearning for Home, and please pray for our family as we seek to draw even closer to the Lord through all of this. God has given me grace to live my life here on earth, and now He will give me dying grace as well. I want to attend services at Grace Church as long as the Lord gives me the strength to do so. Feel free to come give me a hug anytime!! Also feel free to call or stop by the house if you are in our area. We can weep together, pray together, laugh together, or just enjoy each other's company in quiet. Thank you so much for everything!!!

 

Please also pray for Phil & Sharla right now as they are wrapping things up to come home around the first part of October. It will be so fun to have the family together for a few months at least. We all want to honor the Lord with our lives and to give Him all the glory--great things He has done!!!

 A friend sent us this quote several years ago which is so true: "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.....

WOW...... WHAT A RIDE!!!" Yes, indeed!!

 

Dick & Irene Bartel and family