Thursday, May 20, 2010

Fallen Officers in West Memphis - Heroes in My Book


Heroes in our City~ Paudert and Evans

It is almost 11:00 pm and my family and me are about to go to bed. Tonight I will kiss my husband a few more times and hug my kids with much more emotion.

Tonight two families are facing a day tomorrow without their son, their brother, their dad, their husband. Tonight two families are grieving the loss of their hero- our heroes.

Officers Bill Evans and Brandon Paudert were killed in the line of duty today. They were shot doing their job to protect us - the citizens of West Memphis and Crittenden County.

For some reason or another civilians like myself take the protection these men and women give us for granted - until a tragedy like this happens~ in this instance ~ until my friends' brother was murdered.

Bill Evan's keen eye for things not right probably saved more lives than any of us will ever know. He made a "routine" stop because he was good at his job. For a police officer to be good at his job means lives are saved.

His fellow officer came to back him up. Risking his life for the safety of civilians.

A hero is one who runs toward danger risking personal safety for the protection of others.

Bill Evans and Brandon Paudert are heroes.

Sheriff Busby and Chief Deputy Wren are heroes.

We do not pay our policemen and county officers enough. How do you put a dollar amount on the safety of a city or county? And we fuss over city taxes?

The news coverage showed a game warden truck ramming into that van in order for officers to apprehend the suspects.

Everyone of those guys are heroes. Can you imagine if these young men would have gotten away or went into Wal-Mart and taken hostages? My husband was on the service road at the time of the shoot out. He said he saw people in the parking lot running away from the danger.
He saw officers - in uniform~ out of uniform ~ with protective vests and without protective vests run TOWARD the danger. That is what our policemen and women do for us. They run TO the danger so we can run AWAY from danger.

Isaiah 46:4 says I am He who will sustain you.

My prayer tonight is for the family of Bill Evans and Brandon Paudert- may they be comforted and know that we as a city appreciate the price paid today. I am so sorry the cost was so great but I pray to my God in heaven to sustain and help each family member.

May God comfort the city of West Memphis tonight.

Angie, Joyce, ~ this is for you. The least I can do to pay tribute to your brother. I love you and am so sorry. I pray God will see you through each day and hold you when you cry. I pray His strength will empower you and that through all of this heartache you will grow in your relationship with our Savior. I honor the legacy of Bill because of his heroism. We are indebted to him for our safety.

May God comfort the families of the fallen.

blessings,
dorinda


[ photo above of Officers Paudert and Evans taken by Mike Douglas of the Evening Times]

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Focused on the Goal

Focused on the Goal

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward--to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision--you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.

Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
Philippians 3:12-21
The Message
This verse was sent to me by a beautiful 16 year old young lady this morning. My heart has been stirred by God's Word today.
Am I being distracted in my eternal goal? Are you?
Has life's cares and pleasures sidetracked us so that we are complacent?
May God focus our hearts to Him today.
There is NOTHING that is more important than where we spend eternity.
If you died today, where would you spend eternity?
Will Jesus be able to say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant"?
Nothing else matters.
Not our insecurities.
Not our possessions.
Not our bitternesses.
Not our hurts.
Not our loves.
Nothing else matters but - What we DO with Jesus.
Nothing.
Let's let Paul's words to the Philippians ring in our hearts today!
Run the race~ and press on to what is ahead~ eternal life with Christ if He is our Savior.
blessings!
dorinda

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Infertility and Mother's Day

Ok. For all of you ladies out there who just HATE this weekend- not because you don't love your mom, but because you desperately want to BE a mom-

this is for you~ with lots of love and admiration to each of you!

Remember to scroll all the way down to the music player and mute it.

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Happy FUTURE Mother's Day!
love you all!
dorinda