Straight out of the chute, I know some people will think I'm crazy. Maybe I've lost my marbles. Or maybe I'm one french fry short of a Happy Meal. That's OK because I believe that the Lord can speak to us in ALL things...we can't just put God in a box. We can't just say that God only speaks to us through His Word. Although, I do believe that when He does speak to us, it will never go against His Word! Here's why I say this:
For the past long while I have randomly looked at the clock when it is 11:11. And it doesn't just happen once in a while....it happens all of the time. Sometimes not even just when I look at the clock to see what time it is....sometimes I will just happen to glance at the clock for no reason at all and see that it is 11:11. It got to the point where in July of 2011, I wrote down every verse in the Bible that was 11:11 to see if maybe I could find something that the Lord was trying to tell me. Nothing really stood out. If Danny was around I would say, "guess what time it is" and he would respond with, "gee, let me guess....11:11". For a short while, it stopped. Then, all of a sudden it started again. And when it starts....it happens so frequently, that it is almost scary!
I saw someone post on their FB page the other day that she looked at the clock and saw that it was 11:11 and heard that means you are supposed to make a wish. Other people replied with what they heard that means. I don't believe in superstitious things because I don't believe in "chance happenings", "coincidences" or "magic". But I do believe that the Lord can use anything to get our attention or speak to us.
So now that brings us to the day we drop the kids off at the airport. Aug 2, 2012. A very sad day in the McLaughlin family! Just sayin'. Anyhow, we are sitting in the car talking when Danny asks me if the kids get to keep their passports. A very random question but let's go with it. So, I tell him that yes, I believe they do get to keep them and he asks me how I know. Well, I just happened to take a picture of their passports before they left and I showed him the picture and I said, "Well, the reason I think this is because their passports were issued in November of last year. So, I can only assume that if they've had them for this long, that they will keep them until they expire". Then, I showed him the picture and I said, "See, they were issued 11 Nov 2011". Danny replied, "You've got to be kidding?" I said, "What?" He said, "11 11"! Wow, I didn't even catch that!! And had I not taken a picture of their passports, I would have not shown Danny and we would not have realized that their passports were issued on the 11th day of the 11th month in 2011. WOW!!! I really do not believe that is a coincidence. Not one bit. For over a year, I've been seeing the time as 11:11 and now I find out that the kids we want to adopt had their passports issued on 11/11/2011. I have prayed that the Lord would reveal to me what 11:11 means and I do believe what He is trying to tell us is that He's got this thing. Because you see.......when Danny and I were in the car talking, we were sad, very heartbroken and longing for the day we get to bring the kids home again. When we realized the kids passports were issued on 11/11, it gave us this overwhelming peace.
That's what we got....a peace that transcends ALL understanding!!! Because most people wouldn't understand. Instead, they will think I am crazy. They will think I'm off my rocker. Maybe that I'm not playing with a full deck. That's ok...think what you want....I completely understand that you may not understand because I was there once.
For the past long while I have randomly looked at the clock when it is 11:11. And it doesn't just happen once in a while....it happens all of the time. Sometimes not even just when I look at the clock to see what time it is....sometimes I will just happen to glance at the clock for no reason at all and see that it is 11:11. It got to the point where in July of 2011, I wrote down every verse in the Bible that was 11:11 to see if maybe I could find something that the Lord was trying to tell me. Nothing really stood out. If Danny was around I would say, "guess what time it is" and he would respond with, "gee, let me guess....11:11". For a short while, it stopped. Then, all of a sudden it started again. And when it starts....it happens so frequently, that it is almost scary!
I saw someone post on their FB page the other day that she looked at the clock and saw that it was 11:11 and heard that means you are supposed to make a wish. Other people replied with what they heard that means. I don't believe in superstitious things because I don't believe in "chance happenings", "coincidences" or "magic". But I do believe that the Lord can use anything to get our attention or speak to us.
So now that brings us to the day we drop the kids off at the airport. Aug 2, 2012. A very sad day in the McLaughlin family! Just sayin'. Anyhow, we are sitting in the car talking when Danny asks me if the kids get to keep their passports. A very random question but let's go with it. So, I tell him that yes, I believe they do get to keep them and he asks me how I know. Well, I just happened to take a picture of their passports before they left and I showed him the picture and I said, "Well, the reason I think this is because their passports were issued in November of last year. So, I can only assume that if they've had them for this long, that they will keep them until they expire". Then, I showed him the picture and I said, "See, they were issued 11 Nov 2011". Danny replied, "You've got to be kidding?" I said, "What?" He said, "11 11"! Wow, I didn't even catch that!! And had I not taken a picture of their passports, I would have not shown Danny and we would not have realized that their passports were issued on the 11th day of the 11th month in 2011. WOW!!! I really do not believe that is a coincidence. Not one bit. For over a year, I've been seeing the time as 11:11 and now I find out that the kids we want to adopt had their passports issued on 11/11/2011. I have prayed that the Lord would reveal to me what 11:11 means and I do believe what He is trying to tell us is that He's got this thing. Because you see.......when Danny and I were in the car talking, we were sad, very heartbroken and longing for the day we get to bring the kids home again. When we realized the kids passports were issued on 11/11, it gave us this overwhelming peace.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
That's what we got....a peace that transcends ALL understanding!!! Because most people wouldn't understand. Instead, they will think I am crazy. They will think I'm off my rocker. Maybe that I'm not playing with a full deck. That's ok...think what you want....I completely understand that you may not understand because I was there once.
