Jamin Goggin - Beloved Dust: Drawing Close to God by Discovering the Truth About Yourself

PRAISE FOR BELOVED DUST

Beloved Dust is an intelligent vision for life with God through prayer, and many of its rich images have stayed with me long after I put down the book.

--SHAUNA NIEQUIST, AUTHOR OF Bread & Wine

In Beloved Dust, Kyle and Jamin tell us the truth about who we are and why were here in a way that will draw you closer to God. Here is great wisdom on spiritual growth and friendship with God; written by two people whose friendship for each other is evidentand who will become your friends before the end of the book.

--JOHN ORTBERG, AUTHOR OF Soul Keeping

Beloved Dust is an important look at the most important aspect of lifewhat a genuine relationship with God really looks like. Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel address our expectations and frustrations about spiritual growth in a hopeful, empowering way. Beloved Dust strikes the rare balance of being rich and deep while remaining practical and engaging. This book delivers on what it means, and doesnt mean, to grow in a relationship with God.

--JUD WILHITE, AUTHOR OF Pursued; SENIOR PASTOR OF CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

In a culture of pop Christianity that serves a fast food gospel for consumers wanting drive-by spirituality, Goggin and Strobel defy expectations. Their book leads the reader on a slow, inward journey to discover the deeper hunger in their souls--a hunger for God himself. It is a beautiful and gracious exploration of prayer that everyone seeking a truer, deeper, and more authentic life with Christ should read. This book will draw you into a richer communion with God as it did for me, and that is the highest compliment I can possibly offer.

--SKYE JETHANI, AUTHOR OF With AND Futureville

The book in your hands will remind you to stop, to revel in Gods fatherly presence, and to just be--that God is God and you are you; that you are his; and that our dustiness is a beautiful thing. I am thankful for Jamin and Kyles gift to us within these pages.

--TSH OXENREIDER, AUTHOR OF Notes From a Blue Bike

2014 by Kyle Strobel and Jamin Goggin

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. Nelson Books and Thomas Nelson are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

Published in association with literary agent Jenni Burke of D.C. Jacobson & Associates, LLC, an Author Management Company, www.dcjacobson.com.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION. 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

ISBN-13: 9780529110206

ISBN-13: 9780529110213 (eBook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014937731

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We dedicate this book to our children. You were in our hearts as we wrote. We are humbled and honored to be called by God to father you, and we pray that our lives will be a model of what life with God can look like. More importantly, we trust that the Lord will call you into his life and that you will follow him in his way of love. We love you, delight in you, and hope deeply that you will know the ceaseless love of God.

Kyles Children:

To Brighton: You are strong, passionate, and inquisitive. I pray that these gifts become opportunities to be with the Lord in all things, knowing his strength and calling for you.

To Oliver: You are strong, sensitive, and so full of joy. I pray that these gifts will allow you to rest in the Lord and know his sensitivity, strength, and joy for you.

Jamins Children:

To Emersyn: You are loving, compassionate, and wise. I pray that God will use these gifts to teach you his love, compassion, and wisdom in the depths of your heart.

To Sawyer: You are creative, tenderhearted, and courageous. I pray that these gifts will be used by the Holy Spirit to invite you into the unique adventure he has charted for your life.

To Finnley: You are joyful, inquisitive, and strong. I pray that these gifts will allow you to abide in the Lord and to know his strong love for you.

I have you fast in my fortress,

And will not let you depart,

But put you down into the dungeon

In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,

Yes, forever and a day,

Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,

And moulder in dust away!

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

CONTENTS

AS PASTOR OF Saddleback Church for the past thirty-three years, I have walked with people through every facet of their lives with God. What I have learned is that devout followers of Jesus often struggle to grasp an abiding relationship with God. What does it mean to grow in this relationship? What does it look like to follow Jesus in ones day-to-day life? This is what people are hungry for.

I can hardly think of two people better equipped to explore these realities than Jamin and Kyle. I have known Jamin and Kyle for many years and have watched as theyve matured in the faith. Through their years of study and ministry, they have developed an uncommon depth of wisdom. It is out of their personal journeys, their studies, and their ministry experiences that they present a compelling and powerful vision of the Christian life. They have something to say that needs to be heard.

In this book you will encounter a vision of the Christian life that is biblically grounded and life applicable. Jamin and Kyle take you on a journey through the story of Gods redemption to paint a powerful picture of Gods calling for your life. If you are wondering what it really looks like to grow in your relationship with God, you will find it here. If you find yourself burned out and fatigued by trying to work hard at Christianity, you will discover an invitation to rest and refresh your soul in God. If you are wondering how your faith should inform your everyday life, Jamin and Kyle provide clear and sound answers. If you find that your prayer life has hit a rut, or you are struggling to really connect with God, Jamin and Kyle give you a way forward. They argue that the heart of Christianity is to be with the God who is always with us. We are called to practice the presence of God at all times and in all places, and therefore we must learn what it means to abide in his love.

Jamin and Kyle explore all the questions and challenges that face us as we seek to grow in relationship with God. Rather than avoiding the deep issues of our faith, they face them head-on. In this sense, the book before you is bold and courageous. The authors want to wrestle with the questions of your heart and treat them with the dignity they deserve. They dont avoid the parts of faith that often confuse or frustrate us. Rather, they address them directly. This is why I love this book so much. It is not a surface-level study of life with God, but rather deeply explores all the twists and turns of our lives as Christians.