Brotherhood, Mirrors and Nakedness.

My brother recently became a Christian.

I have no words to express how joyful/greatful/emotional etc. this event has been for my Parents and myself as this event alone is a testimony that God is a prayer answering God.

I went to Australia to visit my brother in February as he'd hit some rough patches regarding just life in general, so I was hoping I could say something /offer something that would miraculously change him.
Yeah.
Apparently God didn't really wanna work that way.

Me: "Yes! I'm here to save the day",
God: "You have growing to do yourself",
Me: " I'm a hero, no autographs sorry",
God: "You're not the humblest person you know"
Me: "I should launch a line of "Betty" Merchandise while I'm at it",
God: "Don't make me pull out my lightening bolts".

(Obviously, the above conversation didn't really happen that way, but I do think God has an awesome and witty sense of humour, amazing half dinosaur half shark cars and most extravagant marshmallow and diamond treehouse mansions ever.)

I went over thinking it was HE that needed encouragement and advice but quickly found out that I apparently was the one on the recipients list.
Don't get me wrong, God used me while I was there. There is no doubt the majority of things that came out of my mouth were directly from Big Daddy, but I did not expect to be challenged, moved, encouraged and brought to my knees in the way I was.

Considering my brothers views toward God pre accepting Christ, I am in complete awe with how God turned this "Saul" character into a "Paul" character. (For his sake I'll spare the Saul details).

My brother has never been the academic.
He's the twenty seven year old man with the attention span of a four year old child.
He's the big half African American guy that looks like he'd beat people up in his spare time, but really..... he plays video games.
The loud one that always had to put "but" in when Mum growled him.
The one that ruins all movies by talking and telling you how it ends.
The one that gets you into trouble at School for making you laugh so hard at such inappropriate times.
The loudest one you know.
The most influential one you know.
The one with all the friends.
The one with the gift of making a stranger feel like a brother.
The one that befriends the homeless man.
The one that takes in the homeless man.
The one that is going into debt for the homeless man.
The one that brings 3 Taxi drivers to the Lord in one week.
The one that has absolutely no care for what others are saying about him behind his back at work, but tells them all he's praying for them.
The one that brings God up at any opportunity in any conversation.
The one that told his Boss who just informed him of being made redundant "God loves you". "I prayed He would give us this opportunity so I could tell you that, so that means He also answers prayer".
The one that goes up to the guy sitting at the bus stop, " Bro, God wanted me to meet you today. Do you realise that this very moment of us meeting he had planned before you were born?
Do you realise that he hears your cries and knows all the hurts you have been through in your life?
He wants you to come back to him today.
He has some plans for you that are going to change your life".

I am so inspired by my big brother.

He cried to me when we were talking on his couch.
He cried to me about how left out he felt when he walked into his Church.
Everyone had their own cliques.
Everyone looked at him no-one said "Hi".
Everyone left after Church together but without him.
He knew no-one and was desperate for a friend.
He was sad that this is how alot of Churches are.
He wasn't being judgemental.
He was talking from the heart. The truth.
I saw myself in those people.
I saw myself looking at the new person, the one seeking God, needing friends, needing to be discipled, needing answers.
I saw myself leaving after Church with my friends, perhaps offering a smile to that new person, then moving on to have lunch with my group.
I was ashamed at how a mirror exposed my reflection. At what I saw.
I was scared that it meant I had to change.
I was scared.
I was scared.
I was scared.

Why?

I'm the person that holds my cards up to my chest.
The one that wasn't good enough.
The one that was scared of what others might have thought.
The one that was decieved by the deciever.
The one that was naked.

"Who told you that you we're naked?" God asked me.
I could hear the hurt in His voice.
He'd asked this question before.
Many times through the years He must've asked this same question to Humanity.
"Who told you that you were naked?"
"Who told you that you weren't good enough?"
"Who told you that the opinion of others is above mine?"
"Who told you that you would never have children?"
"Who told you that you're ugly?"
"Who told you that you have to worry?"
"Who told you that I don't have you in my hands?"
"Who?"
"Who?"
"WHO!"

The answer is obvious. When you consider his role as a deceiver. He has played it well.
Consider your Creator.
Consider His Son.
Consider the price He paid.
Consider your brother.