My heart has been touched this last week.  My family was in Shelbyville, Indiana, for the only vacation Bible school we scheduled this summer.  I was teaching the verse “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).  After a couple of camps this summer, I had found that this verse was easiest taught with motions.  My motion for “that they shall ask” was my hands held out.  I told them that it was my motion for if I was asking for something, like, “Could I have some diet Dr. Pepper?” 

I’m not sure why that popped out of my mouth (sometimes I’m not really sure why many things pop out of my mouth) except that it was on my mind.  I had just gone to Walmart earlier that day and had hoped to find my favorite drink.  There wasn’t any.  Seriously!  Not a can, two liter, or even a small bottle!  The Shelbyville Walmart did not have well-stocked shelves.

Then the local McDonalds didn’t have diet Dr. Pepper either!

Although I really do enjoy diet Dr. Pepper, the whole thing was a joke, but that night, the doorbell was ringing at my brother and sister-in-law’s house.  Standing on the porch was one of the four-year-old girls from VBS and her father.  In their hands were a couple two liters from Walmart. (They must have just stocked after I left.)  I must admit, I felt special.

The next day, another VBS family came with six-pack bottles for me.  Then one of my sisters whispered, “I have cold diet Dr. Pepper for you in the cooler!”

By the time we had finished the Sunday night program and were loading things up, another sister was sending me more two liters.  My husband worked Monday morning finding room for all of the two liters and six packs.  It felt like it kept coming and coming.  To me, it all felt like love! 

I had simply asked, and I had received an abundance!

Really, I felt like I was just explaining about asking for something, and the people who were listening desired to please.  How much more does God desire to have us ask for things we REALLY need? (Because seriously, my body does not need pop.)

“How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”  Luke 11:13

I know that Matthew 18:19 is showing the power of unity of the believers.  I had chosen this verse because the “agreeing together” mentioned here was a musical term of close harmony.  I loved the imagery of getting in tune with God and each other.  Of getting to the place where there is such a blending of spirits until results happen.  Quite frankly, I’m in desperate need of this!

But in the VBS service, it was just my voice as a solo that was asking such a silly request, and other hearts reached out to that request and made it their own.  Wow!

These words of Jesus in Matthew 18:19 start with “Again I say unto you.” 

It seems that if Jesus had already told them that before, and wanted to say it again, that it was important.  He doesn’t waste words.  He wanted this imprinted on their minds.

I want it imprinted on my mind until I drink the last drop of my diet Dr. Pepper.  I want to remember that much more than anyone in the VBS service is my Savior, the Author and Finisher of my faith…waiting to hear my prayer.  Waiting for me to get in agreement with some others with the same heart.

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:32