At 10:15 this morning, the 18th day of her final fight, my Joyce took her last breath here on earth and her first breath in her resurrection body! I was so blessed to be sitting by her side as her rapid breathing slowed, paused and then stopped. A large tear formed in the corner of her right eye, a couple short breaths followed and then her three and half year fight with cancer was over.
My daughter Noelle and her fiance, Paul, my son Jordan, and Joyce's sister, Nancy, were with me when she passed. Christi Olson had just arrived for the morning watch. As precious as each one helping us was - we are all thankful the watch is finished.
We haven't settled on the day or time for a memorial service - but it will likely be towards the end of next week. The info will be posted here and on Calvary Escondido's web site.
I don't know what else to say right now except, thank you all for your encouragement and support these past few months.
Blessed Be the Name of the Lord!
In His Arm's,
Pat and family
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Pastor Pat,Noelle,and Jordan,
ReplyDeleteMay God be with you! We love all of you and I am so glad that Joyce is not suffering any longer and is now with the Lord in her new glorified body. The Lord has really had you guys in my heart and prayers and He was so near to her and all of you, and I hope you too felt His presence and continue to draw close to Him.
In His Love,
Brent And Melissa Belisle
ALL PRAISE AND GLORY TO GOD. JOYCE HAS BEEN USHERED INTO HER MANSION ON HIGH. MAY THE SPIRIT OF COMFORT BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. THE NEWS OF HER PASSING HAS BEEN INTICIPATED BY ALL, AND WE HAVE BEEN ANXIOUSLY AWAITING FOR THIS DAY WHEN SHE WOULD ENTER INTO PEACEFUL REST. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. PLEASE, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES. LOVE IN CHRIST
ReplyDeletePat,
ReplyDeleteI send you all my love and will continue to pray for you. May God richly bless you and your family right now.
Nick
Dear Pat,
ReplyDeleteWe love you and will be ever in prayer on your and your families behalf.
May God fill you with his peace, love and joy,
Sarah Neufeld
Your family is in my continual prayers. He has been faithful to answer them.
ReplyDeleteDear Pat, Noelle and Jordan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Joyce with us, and for showing how devoted, sacrificial love works. Thank God she is at complete peace and total joy eternally. God bless and strengthen you as you strive without her to your goal of being with her forever.
Love, Rick and Judy
I am so thankful that you were all there beside her as she passed from this life into the next, the eternal. May the God of all comfort fill your hearts and minds with His word, His promises of love, faith and hope. Hold onto one another and let God comfort you through one another. I will see you soon, until then each of you are in my prayers. I rejoice to know that she is at peace and full of joy with the LORD, hallelujah!
ReplyDelete1 Cor 15:54
ReplyDeleteSo when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
"I will celebrate ,Sing unto the Lord" was playing in the background when I read your posting. Praise His name, she's home!
We love you, Pat.
Pat,
ReplyDeleteOur love and prayers are with you our dear Pastor and friend. Hugs from across the miles.
Love,
John, Jen, Chris and Charlie Cleveland
Pat,
ReplyDeleteOur love and prayers are with you our dear Pastor and friend. Hugs from across the miles.
Love,
John, Jen, Chris and Charlie Cleveland
Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.
Psalm 5
big brother,
ReplyDeletealthough am crying they are tears of joy that her battles and yours and your family is over knowing that the battle belongs to the LORD. blessed be the name of the LORD, forever and ever, amen.
boy/jane
Pat,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your continual updates as you have allowed all of us to share in such a personal time. We love you bro! Looking forward to the reunion in heavean!
Jesus Bless!
Phillip & Linda Ferrell
Calvary Chapel Memphis
Dear Pastor Pat and Family,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Joyce's journey with us each step of the way. You and your family will continue to be in my prayers.
In Christ's Love,
Mary Jo
"He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces." Isaiah 25:8
"Everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35:10
We love you, Pat, and will continue to pray for you and the family. May you know God's comfort and peace.
ReplyDeleteWe loved Joyce and will miss her.
Blessings in Jesus,
Jeff & Lisa K.
Pat, we are totally praying for you and your family. We just love you guys so much and have been blessed tremendously by you and the work that God continuously does through you. Thank you for sharing with us, it is awesome to know that Joyce is sitting on her daddy's lap with no pain, listening to His words of well done my good and faithful servant enter into the fullness of my Son. We love you Pat!!!!!
ReplyDeleteKim & Dave Todd
The Lord showed you, Joyce, what was good; and you did what the Lord required of you, to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.You were devoted to others in sisterly love. You honored others above yourself. You never lacked in zeal, but kept your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. You were joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. You shared with God's people in need. You practiced hospitality.
ReplyDeleteWell done thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
To Pat, your family, and everyone at CCEsc. and beyond...
ReplyDeleteBLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!!!!!
We love you all
Mark Harris - Wish You Were Here
ReplyDeleteFrom the album The Line Between The Two
I wanted to tell you how closely I've kept
The memories of you in my heart
And all of the lifetimes that we had to share
Live even though we're apart
But don't cry for me
'Cause I'm finally free
(Chorus)
To run with the angels
On streets made of gold
To listen to stories of saints new and old
To worship our Maker
That's where I'll be
When you finally find me
No don't you be weary cause waiting for you
Are wonders that you've never known
Just hold on to Jesus, reach out for his hands
And one day They'll welcome you home
And that's when you'll be
Finally free
Finally free
(Chorus)
I wish you were here, I wish you were here
And all of the dreams that you treasure
Will soon come together
And that's when your sorrow will find tomorrow
And you will rise again
(Chorus)
We'll run with the angels on streets made of gold
We'll listen to stories of saints new and old
We'll worship our maker that's where we'll be
When you finally find me
I wish you were here
My prayers are with you and your family today
Pat, your family and your church family have been on a journey too, and with you. I know that this journey continue to touch our lives every day. We have all changed, Praise the Lord. May we (I) learn to be more real, more on fire. But now is the time peace. Allowing Your Creator to hold you close. We love you, we will be with you on the rest of this journey.
ReplyDeletewe will not cease praying for you and your family...
ReplyDeleteThank You Lord for healing Joyce with her new resurrected body, Now touch our brother and remove the weight of worry and stress from his mind, and help him to rest, and also heal him of his affliction.. Amen.
we Love you Pat!
Joyce's tear is tended to by the Lord..
ReplyDeleteRevelation 7:17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Praise the Lord that she is in glory. Our prayers for you Pat and the family will continue!
Pastor Pat & family,
ReplyDelete"Grief is a journey that, while intensely difficult, isn't without hope or the promise of enjoying life again"
Lifting you up in our prayers. She is finally at peace and with our Father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I know it has been a difficult journey for you, watching and waiting. Thank you for sharing your souls with us. So many of us has been touched by this experience. I know I have. I am so glad that you were all still beside her as she took her last.
Take care. 0: ~ God bless
May the Lord comfort and hold your family, we are praying for you.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate to be in the “loving your husband” bible study with Joyce a couple years back. It was the first time I ever spoke with her and had a chance to see her sweet spirit and her love for her Jesus and her husband. I was just newly married at the time and her testimony was really uplifting and exciting to me as a new wife. She just lit up when she talked about you and I remember thinking I hope that I am that much in love “x” years from now. We, your church family, hold you up now. We love you all so very, very much. Praise be to Jesus that your sweet and loving wife is now at home before the FATHER and at peace. May you and your family find peace, comfort, and joy during these trying times. We will all miss Joyce. We are all still here, loving you and praying for you.
ReplyDeleteDearest Pastor Pat,
ReplyDeleteJoyce was your faithful bride for many years. But that was destined to come to an end. Now she will forevermore be the bride of Jesus. What a wonderful and glorious thing! As I shed a tear of sorrow for your loss, I also shed tears of joy. Passing from this temporary life to an eternal life with our Creator God is indeed something to celebrate. I long for the day that I too will be where Joyce now is.
On this day, "Our Daily Bread" reflects upon the mayor of a small town who also lost his wife to cancer. Yes, the grass withers and the flowers fade; but the word of the Lord stands forever. The mayor decided to no longer mow his lawn, realizing his true priorities. ALL men are like the grass which withers away. How blessed you are to remain focused on the Lord God.
Peace and Love from your brother in Christ,
Chris
Pat,
ReplyDeleteOur hearts and prayers are here with you. Words fail me now, but know that my heart is full of love and compassion for you and the kids. Blessed be the name of the Lord. We'll miss Joyce now and anticipate the reunion. Imagine what she's doing now!
All of our love,
The Jamois family.
Pastor Pat, words do not touch the area of sorrow that you walk, yet prayers bring the soul to a place of rest. Please trust that your church family is uplifting you! I pray Ephesians 5:18 over you today. "Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere."
ReplyDeleteTrusting Him
Nadine Linares
Pastor Pat and Family,
ReplyDeletei am praying for you and that God comfort you all.
let me know if there is anything i can do.
Guy Barnes
For HE shall give HIS angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways; Ps 91:11
ReplyDeletePastor Pat,
ReplyDeletePlease know that the members of the Christian Motorcyclist Association are grieving and rejoicing with you and will continue to keep you, your family and church in our prayers. Praise God that we grieve but not as those who have no hope! Thank you for the kindness and love you and Joyce have shown us over the years. May you find comfort in the shadow of His wings!
Dearest Pat, Noelle, Jordan and all family ~
ReplyDeleteOur family is so saddened with your family, we have known and loved Joyce for a long time now and are praying for all of you that you - through the God of all comfort and peace - find grace and strength to carry on without her. We love your family and again your transparency has meant the world to Jim and I and our kids; thank you so much for sharing and allowing us in to your home everyday... See you soon..
~Love the Bollinger Family,
Jim, DeeDee, Shawna, Matt, and Kristen