Monthly Archive: April 2017

April 20, 2017

April 21, 2017 Uncategorized 0

“Daily Help”
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden. Psalm 68:19
Are you trying to carry all of your burdens by yourself? If so, it’s no wonder you’re weary. The Father never meant for you to carry everything all alone. Rather, He’s given your more than you can bear so you’ll allow Him to sustain you. So don’t be surprised that you cannot help yourself. God makes himself know to you by rescuing you from trouble.
However, your desire to manage everything may reveal a deeper problem. Perhaps you do not fully trust that the Lord is enough to meet your needs. Although you trust Him for salvation, you may think He is either too busy or unwilling to bear your day-to-day needs.
But think this through carefully: How can the One who paid so dearly for your salvation deny you when it comes to the trials that affect you daily? He cannot . In fact, not only does He know exactly what you need, but he desires to satisfy your soul to the depths of your being. So relinquish your problems to the Father. He can certainly handle anything that comes your way.
Charles F. Stanley – “Every Day in His Presence”
I don’t know about everyone else but I needed this one today with everything going on in our lives daily. In the past I would stress and worry for days on end about everything. For the past 11 months God has specifically challenged our family to trust his plan, his timing , and his provision. We have learned that through obedience and fully trusting him with the little and big things he has always met our needs and most times surpassed those needs. I still worry and stress some but Im certain the good days certainly out weigh the bad days because I am willing to hand it all over to the One who can take care of it all.
Until tomorrow
Tim

April 19,2017

April 19, 2017 Uncategorized 0

April 19, 2017
Spiritual Warfare… not exactly a warm and fuzzy topic. Yet I find myself being bombarded and attacked from all directions this week. Even though I was expecting the attacks to come, fighting still sucks the energy out of me. You may be scratching your head right now wondering, “What the heck does she mean spiritual warfare?” or, “Why on earth was she expecting it?” Well, I’ll tell you…
For starters, this coming weekend is a big weekend for me. I have two speaking engagements, and for the first time I will be sharing my testimony. Up until now, I have just spoken about St. Jude or about our foundation. I’ve never shared our family’s story in person. And that is why I knew an attack was coming.
You see, when you are content and living your life, but not actively sharing with others about Jesus, I have discovered the devil pretty much leaves you alone. Why would he bother people that aren’t doing anything? No, the devil isn’t like God, the devil’s resources are limited – so, he picks his battles and goes after the people that are working to make a different for the kingdom of Christ. You may think that sounds crazy, but I can assure you it’s very true. The moment I said yes to speaking I knew hard times would come.
This week alone the negative news has been over whelming. Death, anger, fear, grief, nearly every person I have been in contact with has been battered or broken. Work, home life, family, you name it – the struggles are everywhere. Why does that matter? Because my testimony is about hope and joy through suffering. If he can bombard me enough to steal my joy then my testimony loses its power.
All I know to do is pray, pray, pray, and then pray some more. And ask others to pray as well. A long time ago a friend said to me, “If the devil is attacking you, you know you’re on the right path. The devil doesn’t waste bullets.” Based on the bullets flying my way, I must be headed the right direction. I would very much appreciate your prayers for peace and protection.
Ephesians 6:12-13
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
If you’re around the Hartselle area and would like to join us at an event we would love to have you.
Saturday 4/22
Women of Worship
First United Methodist Church
Falkville, AL
10am – 2pm
Light lunch will be provided. Please register ahead of time if you can!
Sunday 4/23
Speake Christian Fellowship
Danville, AL
6:00 pm
Until later,
‘Carrow​💜
Sharing this little spunky monkey’s story is worth the battle.

April 18, 2017 – God’s plans change things…

April 18, 2017 Uncategorized 0

Tonight’s news has been a few days in the making. When I posted last night that God works in ways we don’t understand I wasn’t kidding. We’ve been watching God do amazing things to put Kayleigh’s Birthday Bash together and we are so very excited. But evidently God decided to adjust our timing.

On May 13th we will still be having the 5k and Fun Run as well some more fun things at the race site, but the music festival portion, Duck Jam, will be postponed to later in the year. Thankfully the artists are being so gracious to work with us so Johnny can be a part. See below for all the details. As always, we trust God completely. Even though we don’t understand His process on this one, we know he can see everything we can’t and that His plan is better than ours!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:​​​ ​​​​April 18, 2017
Johnny Sandlin’s Duck Jam Announces Major Fundraising Event Will be Rescheduled for a Later Date.

Hartselle, AL – Johnny Sandlin’s Duck Jam originally scheduled for May 13th, 2017 at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo Grounds as a music fundraiser for the PFK Foundation,
will be rescheduled to a later date in 2017.

“The re-scheduling of the date is necessary due to a recent accident affecting event producer Johnny Sandlin that will require a recovery period to allow him to re-join planning and production efforts 100%. Johnny wants this event to be the stellar success it was always planned out to be,” states, PFK Foundation heads Tim and ‘Carrow McClendon, “We are looking at a few of the best options for the rescheduled date later in 2017, and are excited that the event will still be able to offer a huge amount of talent, hope and inspiration to everyone participating. In the meantime, our thoughts are with Johnny as he fully recovers and gets back to his normal routine of helping to bring great music to people everywhere. We didn’t want to move forward with everything on May 13th without Johnny being able to be involved and a central part of the event.”

The fundraiser is the biggest event of the year for the PFK Foundation and will be a celebration of young Kayleigh McClendon’s birthday. On her 7th birthday (May 13th, 2016), Kayleigh was diagnosed with terminal DIPG cancer which she fought bravely until her passing on Nov. 15, 2016. The McClendon family has created the PFK Foundation to continue Kayleigh’s fight on behalf of all children similarly afflicted. PFK works closely with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and proceeds will benefit St. Jude’s.

Acclaimed Alabama Music Hall of Fame Inductee producer, Johnny Sandlin has thrown his support behind this incredible event resulting in over 30 stellar acts coming together to perform. Sandlin is known for his groundbreaking work in both the Muscle Shoals, Alabama and Macon, GA (Capricorn Records) music scenes and is considered one of the most important producers in crafting the Southern Rock genre of music. He has worked with top acts such as The Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, Wet Willie, The Marshall Tucker Band, Chuck Leavell, Jerry Reed, Mac Davis, Marie Osmond, Elvin Bishop and The Gatlin Brothers, to name just a few. Johnny’s industry nickname is “The Duck,” and Kayleigh McClendon’s was “Baby Duck.”

The new, rescheduling date for Duck Jam will be announced soon once all reorganization details have been finalized. Continue to watch the PFK website and Facebook pages for additional updates and information.
For more info, contact the PFK Foundation at info@thePFKfoundation.org or check the website http://www.thepfkfoundation.org

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

April 17, 2017

April 18, 2017 Uncategorized 0

A new week begins and so much is going on! I will have much to post about tomorrow. To say that God works in mysterious ways doesn’t begin to cover it. Really, God works in ways that leave me saying, “Wait just a minute, that isn’t what I meant!” It is so easy to get bent out of shape when God does things we don’t understand. Or when He answers our prayers in ways we can’t comprehend. What is amazing is watching those things we don’t understand turning into astounding blessings.

I have learned not to question what God is doing, rather I ask Him to show me how to stay on His path. And you know what? When I am patient, He is so gracious to give me glimpses of what He is doing. Over these past 11 months, I have seen God take what should be the most horrific thing a parent can endure and turn it into something beautiful. When I take myself out of the picture and look at the life of my daughter, she was blessed beyond belief. Her 7 years were short, but they were filled with love, laughter, and beauty. Even cancer couldn’t dim her sparkle. And that cancer – while the enemy would like to have crushed us with that hopeless diagnosis, it did just the opposite. It drew our family closer, it changed a town, it created a reason for us to share hope with anyone who would listen. Cancer built a legacy. And Kayleigh, she only had to spend 7 years on this earth to fulfill her mission – and she has been rewarded with heaven. See, if you take me out, the story is beautiful. Kayleigh’s story is complete. Kayleigh is eternally happy!

Of course, when you put me back in the story there is grief. But our family chose to trust the Lord from the beginning, and now we see that God is still using Kayleigh’s story. He is taking our sorrow and using it to encourage others. When I told the Lord “I surrender,” I can promise you – I did not mean like this. But how thankful I am that He allows me to see the good that comes from our grief, and that He never leaves my side.

Deuteronomy 31:8
8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

This was the sign last week. Our neighborhood still has purple bows and purple lights. You can’t know what those silent signs of support mean.

11 months later and still #teamkayleigh

The lights on our street 💜

 

April 16, 2017 – He is Risen! Happy Easter!!

April 16, 2017 Uncategorized 0

Happy Easter!

What a wonderful day it has been. Holidays can be hard, but today was actually wonderful. We spent the day with family and relaxing on the river. Watching the kids hunt eggs, fish and play with worms. I got a little crazy and wore a hat to church today. I know Kayleigh would have given me so much grief. It made me smile to wear it knowing she was probably shaking her head from heaven, telling folks about her crazy mama. Often through the day I could see right where Kayleigh would have fit in and hear what she would have been saying.

Rather than make me sad, remembering today made me smile. Perhaps because it’s Easter. Because of what my Savior did on this day, we have hope! Death is only a temporary separation for those of us that believe and accept the gift of salvation from Jesus. How thankful I am for that promise!

Matthew 28:6
6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

Easter 2017

Easter 2016