I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. My sympathy and prayers go out to you and your family. You're going through what I went through three months ago. You're Dad and my brother are probably good friends now, and having a nice conversation with the creator of the Universe as we speak. And wanting to tell us, "Guys. We're OK. Really.", even though it still hurts.
As far as the bible verses being a coincidence, I don't think that's the case. Some may think they are, but I believe they're signs from God.
Something similar happened after my brother died. Me, my other brother, and my mom went to shop for my brothers coffin (not the kinda thing I care to do again as it was disturbing). When it came time to pick out the registry book, despite what the guy recommended, she picked the one with this picture on it.... http://www.inspired-art.com/gallery/suffer.htm . I recognized the picture right away. I asked her why she picked that one, she said because she liked it best, and there was something familiar about it. Well of course her mind was elsewhere, with what was going on, that she didn't remember that the picture on the registry was the same picture that I bought for her ten years ago for Christmas. I liked the picture when I first saw it, even though I wasn't a Christian. I showed her when I took her home, and she was surprised. The book had cards with the same picture on them. They were for people to take as they showed up and signed the book. What was wrote in the card floored me. See right after he died, I kept asking myself, and God "Is he OK? Is he in Heaven? I just want to know if he's OK?!?!" I was sorta losing it. I talked to my mom and she said that she prayed with him that day before he died. He was barely able to talk, so he would acknowledge by nodding yes when she asked him "Do you believe that Christ died on the cross for your sins", and so on. After the funeral, while at my moms house, I took the time to read the card. What's written on the inside, I found out later, were song lyrics, but I believe that God intended for them to be there to answer my questions about my brothers salvation. This is what was written on the inside of the card.....
If you could see me now, I'm walking streets of gold.
If you could see me now, I'm standing tall and whole.
If you could see me now, you'd know I've seen his face
If you could see me now, you'd know the pains erased.
You wouldn't want me to ever leave this place
If you could see me now.
He spent the last two years of his life in a wheelchair, and it said "I'm standing tall and whole"
He was in pain nearly his entire life, and it said "You'd know the pains erased"
And even though we want him back, it said "You wouldn't want me to ever leave this place, if you could see me now."
BTW, the song is by Kim G. Noblitt.
So no I don't think it's a coincidence. Sorry for the long post, but I thought it was relevant.
By the way Linda, our favorite pictures of Jesus happen to be by the same artist, Danny Hahlbohm.
Here again is my favorite picture of Jesus....
http://www.inspired-art.com/gallery/suffer.htm
And here is one of your favorite pictures of Jesus...
http://www.inspired-art.com/gallery/thywill.htm
And, if you like those, here's the whole gallery...
http://www.inspired-art.com/gallery/
Notice they are on the same site, and that they are from the same artist. Could it be a coincidence or .......(twilight zone music begins to play)[[/b]