“It Just So Happened” Moments

“It Just So Happened…”

I had a week of “it just so happened” moments.

I don’t believe things “just happen,” but I do believe they happen for a reason.

I’ve kept in touch with a few, I guess you could call them, “homeless friends,” since leaving a ministry I was involved in for years. The circumstances which have allowed me to stay in touch with these friends have been nothing less than extraordinary.

My heart swells with love for each one, still.

I understand few people can relate to me when I talk about my “homeless friends.” I get it, because I couldn’t have related to me either a few years ago.

The homeless used to scare me. That was, until I came face to face with them. God changed my heart and allowed me to see them through different eyes. It was the most incredible transformation I’ve ever experienced, and one that has changed more than just my perspective on the homeless.

So, when I mention I’m having coffee with “a homeless friend,” most people give me a glazed look of “you’re doing what??” or quite possibly, “I don’t get that, but… whatever.”

Monday one of these friends and I had arranged to meet for coffee. When we got to our destination, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Here, in front of the coffee shop, was standing another one of these friends of mine. I had been trying to reach him for months!

An “it just so happened” moment?

I don’t think so.

I couldn’t get out of my car fast enough to talk to him. He joined us for coffee.

We caught up on “old times,” about our lives, and the hope we all live in. And as always, the conversation worked its way around to our faith in God. The many years we spent together grew us in Jesus’ love, and in the hope of eternal life we share.

The idea was brought up of doing a Bible study together. My heart seemed to leap inside of my chest!

God, is this from you? To lead a study with those whom I used to see daily? Whom You’ve given me a love for? Whom don’t feel welcome in most places and in most churches? Whom have been cast aside for the sake of ministering to the numbers?

As we sat outside enjoying our conversation, would you believe another homeless friend came along?? He said he had never studied the Bible before, but would like to be included. This was incredible!

So there we were. Sitting outside. Three homeless people and me. Enjoying coffee together. Sharing life together. Sharing the love of Jesus with each other. I’m sure we were quite the sight. A beautiful sight.

I wanted to shout from the rooftops,

“See! These people aren’t scary! They’re just like any one of us! They are just like me!”

And that’s when I knew God wasn’t done with me in ministering to the homeless and to those in need.

“It just so happened” moments?

Most definitely not.

I don’t know what’s next, but it seems a Bible study is in the near future. I do know this, however… He’ll continue to show me, and He even may use a homeless friend to do it.

What “it just so happened” moments have you experienced recently? I’d love to read them below.

Blessings!

Julie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linking up with Counting My Blessings.