This week, I met a young man who I taught back in 1999.  He was standing in the hallway, waiting to be introduced, but clearly, no introduction was necessary. He now works with me.

Two nights ago, I met a young man who I taught back in 1998.  He was standing in the front entryway, watching me as I walked into the room, but clearly, no introduction was necessary. He was celebrating a family member’s birthday with me.

Coincidence?

Was it a coincidence that these two encounters occurred?

NO.  I do not believe so. Everything, YES, Every—-Thing, Every—-Encounter, & Every—Moment….Happens….For a reason!

There is NO such thing as coincidence, an incidence that occurs between two individuals….purely by happenstance. 

• Was there a reason Joseph suffered mistreatment by his brothers’ hands? YES.
• Was there a reason Esther became the wife to the king of Persia? YES.
• Was there a reason Abram walked outside his tent and was told to look up at the stars that filled the sky? YES.
• Was there a reason Jonah survived inside the belly of a great fish for three days? YES.
• Was there a reason Noah built the ark and prepared for rain when the word “rain” was not even part of the vocabulary known? YES.
• Was there a reason John testified about another, a Savior who would redeem all humanity? YES.
• Was there a reason Mary conceived a child when she had not been intimate with Joseph, her betrothed? YES.
• Was there a reason Jesus died upon the cross, was buried for three days in a tomb, and resurrected to new life? YES!!!

God orchestrates our lives.

• We make plans for the events we will attend OR
• We schedule it on our calendar OR
• We make an itinerary to go somewhere, and the other person does too OR
• We entertain thoughts that attending the event might be fun, so we go OR
• We feel pressured to go, and that leads us there OR
• We just go, compelled from deep within OR
• We show up, hoping for food, drink, and a fun time.

Yet, even then (in all incidents) we have planned, we have scheduled, we created an itinerary, we entertained thoughts, we felt pressured, we were compelled, we hoped. For each incident, there was a distinct Reason……&……Not a coincidence we were THERE Together.

Therefore, everything happens for a reason. God’s Providence ordains incidents and relationships that take us throughout our lives…..YES, 100% for sure! The Bible is exact, is perfect, and is the TRUTH. In words inspired by God Himself, David writes, “The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.” (Psalm 103). The psalmist writes, “He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.” (Psalm 66:7). Paul writes, “But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,…” (Galatians 1:15).

There truly is NO Such Thing As A COINCIDENCE!!!

The years 1998 & 1999 (I have discovered) changed my life….FOREVER!

• I became pregnant with Sydney.
• Marieke was born in The Netherlands.
• I returned to PC to teach again, after being away for a year-and-a-half. 
• Many memorable individuals became my students.
• Julie Roberts (a girl I did not know) was scheduled to be in my English class, but she never was—my student— because God knew she was destined (instead) to become my best friend.

That year, I taught my classes on January 29th, returned home from work, exhausted, rested upon the couch all evening, and then (later that night, after midnight–January 30th) God gave us our baby girl, one we had waited upon for thirteen years.

Coincidence?  Was it a coincidence that these encounters occurred?

NO….Because Everything, YES, EVERYTHING—Every—Encounter—&—Every—Moment….

EVERYTHING Happens….For a reason!

Therefore, nothing is a coincidence.

Enter, Julie (Roberts) Hoff—My best friend.  This beautiful girl turns 40 today, and Julie’s beauty can be seen in so many wonderful ways:

• She is a child of God.
• She is a woman of inner strength.
• She is a wife, a mother, a daughter, an aunt, a sister.
• She is a keeper of confidences shared.
• She is one (like King David) who seeks after God’s heart.
• She strives daily to help teenagers become who they are destined to become.
• She gives her all, in every endeavor.
• She worships God with all her being.
• She is a wonderful example of a Proverbs 31 woman.
• She is God’s & God is her Sustainer, Redeemer, and Friend.

Truly, I speak the truth about this girl, my best friend, Julie.  YES, most definitely, God is good and
gracious and merciful and providential.

Earlier this morning, a former student shared a Scripture
passage with me, a verse she studied yesterday, but one she shared with me
TODAY—-A coincidence—-I don’t believe so.

“The LORD your God is in your midst,

A victorious warrior.

He will exult over you with joy,

He will be quiet in His love,

He will rejoice over you with shouts of
joy.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

My Greatest Life-changing moment…..the DAY when…

God became my Savior!

The Light of the world came into my heart!

Jesus, the Redeemer, purchased me!

God’s Holy Spirit began a new work in me!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIE.  May you have so many more days ahead to celebrate you!  You are a blessing to me every day.  We serve a good and gracious God.  Yes!  Yes, we do, and I am beyond thankful that you are my sister in Christ.  So, that means on August 19th, in the year of 5,693, we will celebrate “you” TOGETHER in eternity.

****If we have birthdays in heaven.

****If we even have calendars in paradise.

Yet, this fact remains true.  We will be together—FOREVER—All because of Jesus Christ, our Savior and LORD.