I can't forget some of the things he has told me over the years. He worked at an aquatic center in Coronado and co-partnered with lifeguards and park rangers to make it a safe and fun place to enjoy nature, play and learn wonderful things like sailing and kayaking and scuba diving. There were sweet perks that came with growing up there including my love for the ocean and my passion for helping people. There were also downsides, if you can call them that, like that we were there ALL the time. This one particular time we were "just dropping something off" so my brother and I stayed in the truck. Everybody needed something from dad when he was there, and sometimes even when they didn't need it they were certainly entitled to at least his opinion.. :) but that's no shocker if you know him. This was one of those days. My twin brother and I have been known to go at it, arguing, kicking, spitting- we were pretty much monsters a lot of the time. This time we were monsters with whistles.
We blew our whistles as loud as we possibly could into each other's ears and faces and so on. The windows were all rolled up but boy those whistles were loud. So loud in fact, that the Captain of the lifeguards came down from his tower and banged angrily on the window, took our whistles away, and gave us an intense lecture about properly using safety whistles. My bad! Knowing what I know now after my five year career at a waterpark, I completely understand his livid lecture. The lectures weren't finished there either..
My dad came out. the long, slow drive down that short road to the freeway was filled with a lecture on our actions while at his work. He said that while we were there we weren't just any ol' kids- we were "Mason's twins" and everybody knew it. He explained to us that while we were at his workplace and we were his kids, we were painting with his paintbrush on his work of art. Our actions were a reflection of him personally, just like a colored canvas is to an artist. It was that simple. and it has always stuck with me to be respectful of the painbrush I'm painting with.
which is amazing because just this last semester, my Greek Prof explained the importance of praying "In Jesus Name" according to John 16. I had never thought of prayer in this manner. When I pray in the power of Jesus' name, I am painting with His paintbrush. To say the least.
There is such power in praying "In Jesus' Name", there is an unknowlable power in painting in the Son's paintbrush! John 14 tells us that if we ask any thing in Jesus' Name the Father will do it, just to glorify the Son. The Father's perogative in answering our prayers is to glorify the Son. Our God-honoring prayers bring glory to Jesus. That's incredible..and insane and amazing. We can approach the Father on account of Christ and give up our thanksgivngs and supplications and intercessions all in the precious Name of Jesus. Piper has an outstanding sermon on it that you can read or watch here and I strongly suggest and highly reccomend that you do listen to it.
So that we can all be more mindful of whose paintbrush we're painting with. So that we know the power of prayer! So that we bring glory to the Son, honor the Father and know His love through the amazing grace that prayer is.
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14
Now seems like an appropriate time to ask you to prayer for ME! The team and I leave for Thailand tomorrow and we covet your fervent and effective prayers! Thank you!
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