Like many Christians, author Dave Gibbons thought ‘life to the full’ meant just the positives — a life full of joy and happiness. After all, isn’t that what we’re taught in seminars, in self-help books, and even in psychological assessments to ascertain who is — and is not — a ‘good fit’? We look for people with lots of successes and strengths, don’t we? Gibbons’ own beliefs on the subject were rocked when he took a long, hard, honest look at his own life and realized it was his failures that made him who is today.

So he went back to the Scriptures, and kept his eyes open to truly see the people around him. That’s when he made a shocking discovery: when we embrace the painful areas of our lives we see the miracle that can happen when God redeems these areas of weakness and makes them beautiful. ‘Now I see that ‘life to the full’ means a life that is open to all the colors and flavors of the human experience, the ability to feel with a fully alive heart, whether it’s in times of joy or pain.’ XEALOTS offers a refreshing new look at what it means to be fully human.

This uplifting book enables you to transform your own ‘failures’ into success in God’s eyes so that you can serve him with all that you are.

You can get the book in both physical and digital format here.

As many great stories were shared on Day 1, some of the common themes to emerge are:

• How “God orchestrates the details of our lives,” as Tara Jenkins said.  When people step out in faith and obey what God is asking of them, He makes the connections and works out the details in ways we couldn’t do on our own.
• When we focus too much on “the big thing,” we might miss out on the small and mundane, which might be where the Holy Spirit is actually working; when we get too busy with what we think is ministry, we might leave God out of it without us even realizing it.
• More and more communities are experiencing the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in their midst, and it isn’t loud or brash; instead, it’s been very natural and the Holy Spirit has been gentle as He comforts and guides.
• God continues to move the Church to respond to the poor, orphans, refugees, and others in the world who need help.

Stay tuned for more as the Gathering continues!

Brent and Celia Southcombe, along with their son Noah, recently moved from Australia to Boise, Idaho to develop a culinary arts program for refugees called STIR.

This month, they were both profiled on Willow Creek’s Australian Magazine. Click on the image above (or here) and check out the Serving the Fringe section.

To learn more about STIR visit Create Common Good‘s website.