Merry Christmas Giveaway!

Ladies, please forgive me for the delay in posting our winners! But, here we go…

The two winners of the commentaries are: (Drum roll please…)

1. Shannon Velasquez

2. Laura Hauser

And the 20 winners of Praying God’s Word are…

1. Dawn Kaser

2. Amy Sappington

3. JoAnn Janik

4. Beth Miller

5. Miranda Arnold

6. Andrie Baker

7. Teri Cowan

8. Becky Dixon

9. Chantell Lodge

10. Paulette Carson

11. Erica Rhodes

12. Maren Brandsma

13. Lezlie Steiner

14. Jennifer Dove

15. Corie Reynolds

16. Barb Touchette

17. Tania Larson

18. Michelle Killpack

19. Sarah Sykes

20. Holly Hackney

Congratulations, winners! We love you! You should get an email from me (Lindsee) with instructions on how to receive your book!

 

 

*Comments are now closed, ladies! We’ll let you know as soon as possible who the winners are. Happy Friday!

We have the ecstatic joy at Living Proof of serving a mighty wide and delightful demographic: W-O-M-E-N. Bless You, Lord! That leaves us gorgeously wide open to do all sorts of fun things around here like the Autumn giveaway with candles, eye shadows, and boot socks. I love that kind of thing! And you have certainly proved to be a tad fond of it as well. Did you see how many women entered that drawing?? Sister-friend, you know good and well that I’d send every one of you a pound cake for Christmas if I could! Don’t tell me that can’t minister. Lots of things can spice up the life of a God-pursuing woman and spread a grin across her darling face. But we exist to do one thing here at Living Proof that drives and pervades everything else. It’s the only reason our doors are open. We exist to invite women to come to love the Savior of the world more and more through the study of His Word. NOW WE’RE TALKING.

SO, drum-roll please! Here is our Christmas giveaway! Now, listen up carefully because I need you to let me put some conditions on these so that the people who will use them most get the best chances to win. That’s a win for all of us! First on the agenda of Living Proof Christmas giveaways are…

TWO 12-volume sets of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary.

 

 

Woooooohoooooooo! I’m so happy! Women often ask us what set of commentaries we’d recommend to someone starting to get serious about studying on her own and building a Bible-resource library. I especially keep an ear out for you young Bible teachers just beginning to fan the flame of God’s gift in you. We are serious about you around here and you stay on my radar. We want to be good big sisters in the faith to you, intentional and involved. I usually recommend this set of commentaries to someone beginning to get serious for several reasons: it’s obviously far more helpful and instructional than a 2-volume (Old Testament/New Testament) set but not as overwhelming or technical as the sets that have a commentary for almost every book of the Bible. You also don’t need any background in ancient languages with Expositor’s though they give pretty regular insights into original words. And they’re interesting! That, Sister, is a big plus…and one you might not want to take for granted. I write these words with a grin. Lastly, a 12-volume set will give you a really good taste of commentary-style research so you’ll know if you want to keep filling your plate. One huge way you’ll discover that you really want to go on and invest further into a wider (higher dollar!) set is that you’ll use these to no end.

SO, here’s the deal! If this sounds like something you know for a fact you’d put to good use and you promise that you wouldn’t let it collect dust on a shelf AND you also do not have this set on any Bible software (please check!), ENTER THIS DRAWING!!! Since we’re giving away another item as well, be sure and say that you’re entering the drawing for the commentaries. You can let us know with just one little extra word like this:

Beth, commentaries!

Well, you don’t exactly have to put an exclamation point after it but I’m liable to think you’re more enthused about it if you do…and you know that we’re big on enthusiasm around here. It’s a random drawing so I’m really just kidding.

 

Before I tell you the second item in the giveaway, I have to give you a little background information about why we’re including it, especially since it won’t be new to many of you. Last week two of my good friends from B&H Publishing Group in Nashville came to see us at Living Proof and surprised us with a stunning piece of artwork they’d had commissioned to capture the heart of the book Praying God’s Word. These pictures do not do it justice, especially because you can’t see the stick figures – for lack of a better term –  of the women behind the overlay of life-jarring words, Freedom Comes Through Taking Thoughts Captive to Christ. This will be in my possession for the rest of my life. It represents so much to me. Well. It represents liberation. It’s a Physician’s prescription for anyone willing to go to the trouble of getting it filled. And it symbolizes to me the most intense process I’ve ever been through with Jesus beyond my salvation.

Here are my friends Selma Wilson (president at B&H, standing to my right) and Jennifer Lyell (executive editor at B&H) and I holding the picture:

 

We learned from them that a staggering one million people have been impacted by the message and method of the book, whether in its original book form, day-by-day version, devotional journal, or Scripture cards. We are floored by the grace of God. We take no credit for it. It’s His Word put to prayers to demolish 14 different strongholds ranging from unbelief to food related issues. If you’re familiar with Praying God’s Word, you know it’s not a book you read. It’s a book you use. And, Girlfriend, I still get mine out.

About 18 months ago, I was nearly drowning in an assault that wouldn’t recede no matter what I did in my usual daily practices. If I’ve got half a brain working, that’s when I start stacking up Scriptures and turning them into very focused and faith-filled prayers. When we’re in a long-term battle, praying straight out of the Word can be the perfect answer because it puts the burden on the strong shoulders of Scripture rather than on the weary limbs of a bruised-up warrior. Because it’s God-breathed rather than man-breathed, the Bible has a way of rejuvenating the soul rather than depleting it. I looked all over my house for a copy of Praying God’s Word so that I could get serious and turn up the volume on some victory. I couldn’t find one anywhere because, every time I have one at home,  I end up giving it away. I marched myself into work the next Monday and snagged me a new copy and the Scriptures became a loaded canon to me all over again. And, boy, did I take aim and SHOOT.

As I try to make clear in the introduction to the book, it’s not the only way to pray but when I really want both barrels loaded, whether I’m interceding for someone else or praying for my own aching soul, it’s the method God has taught me to take. It keeps me from wearing out in longer-term prayer demands or in a crisis where my emotions are stirred up and raw. The approach helps me keep my head on straighter when I’d otherwise probably lose it.

All that to say! To celebrate what God has done out of His grace and for His own purpose, we want to give away 20 copies of this resource to 20 women who have never before had any form of the book Praying God’s Word. We knew instantly that we wanted to give copies away to commemorate the occasion, but when we told B&H that we were going to do the giveaway, they beat us to the punch and insisted on providing the copies themselves. We love and appreciate them so much. I cannot begin to voice my gratitude enough to LifeWay and B&H (a division of LifeWay) for partnering with me on a number of themes that were pretty outside the box (OK, WAY outside the box) for all of us at the time. In so many ways, it’s just a new day.

A good day. We’re talking about some things these days that were basically off limits to people from my denominational background when my parent’s generation filled the pews. As Paul told the Thessalonians, we have to test what is good but open dialogue for testing the spirit is a beautiful thing.

So, how many of you do not own a copy of this book in any form and you know for a fact that you’d put it to good use? That means you wouldn’t just read it, you’d USE IT. Then, Girlfriend, ENTER YOUR NAME IN THE DRAWING, and this time just add the letters PGW to your comment line.

We are beside ourselves to provide these for you. Anything we have to give you is from the bounty of God’s grace to us. You do not know anyone who has lived in more defeat in the course of her life than I have. You do not know anyone who has loathed herself more or has suffered with deeper, nearly lethal regret. Jesus is the difference between the blackest, bleakest night and the wide-open, beaming sunshine to me. I inhale His mercy every single morning.

I am honored to serve you.

OK, Girls. Let’s have a giveaway! Drawing closes at noon on Friday and winners will be announced soon after! Look for instructional post for SSMT on Monday.

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2,488 Responses to “Merry Christmas Giveaway!”

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Comments:

  1. 101
    Becky Dixon says:

    PGW- PLEASE! Hi, I have never entered one of your giveaways but here goes. I would love to be considered for the Giveaway of Praying God’s Word.
    As my husband and I begin our next journey, the challenges are many.
    Thank you for your generosity in all you do.
    Blessings,
    Becky

  2. 102

    I’d love any of those things but mostly the commentaries. God Bless you!

  3. 103
    KimDotJoy (doo-dah) says:

    Beth, commentaries! Thank you so much for LPM and all you do for us!!

  4. 104
    Melissa Johnson says:

    Beth! Commentaries!

  5. 105
    Tiffany says:

    Beth, commentaries!

  6. 106
    Jen Cates says:

    Commentaries! Pick me!!

  7. 107
    Gwen Jorgensen says:

    Ooooh. Commentaries, please!

  8. 108
    Terry says:

    Beth, COMMENTARIES, please. Thank you!

  9. 109
    Deb Chapman says:

    PGW – sounds like just the refreshment I need for my prayer life!

  10. 110
    Tami says:

    Beth! Commentaries! Oh please please!

  11. 111

    PGW: Good gracious I’m almost embarrassed to admit I’ve never read this one Beth, but I sure would put it to good use if I won a copy 🙂 Merriest and most Blessed of Christmases to you!

    love
    Lisa-Jo

  12. 112
    Jennifer Clemmer says:

    PGW

  13. 113
    Rebecca Scott says:

    Enter me for PGW please! Thank you : )

  14. 114
    Kara Stanley says:

    Commentaries please!

  15. 115
    Carol from Coopersburg says:

    God is fanning a fire in me the past 4 yrs. He hooked me up with girlhood friends from different towns, to do Bible study together, asking me to facilitate. The ladies are more into reading daily devotionals than the Bible itself and I have felt a strong responsibility to know what the Bible says as we do the studies-so much so that this year I’ve finished reading through the Bible 3X so and next week will finish the 4th read-through. The commentaries would be wonderful for me to support my reading. (next years plan is to go through 3X – once chronologically and 2X through)

    Would like to think these COMMENTARIES will be helpful!

    Thank you for this opportunity.

  16. 116
    Hayley says:

    Beth, commentaries!!! Oh mercy I would just be all over those babies!!

  17. 117
    Beth says:

    Beth, learning to pray God’s Word has been laying heavy on my heart! I would love to win this book as I do not have a copy and haven’t even had an inside look to this one 🙂 (will 3 exclamation points help? 🙂 )PGW!!!

  18. 118
    Trish Kittrell says:

    Commentaries!

  19. 119
    Lisa Evans says:

    PGW!!

  20. 120
    Jennifer says:

    Pick Me! Pick Me! Jennifer! PGW

  21. 121
    Mary says:

    Woohoo!! That book is on my amazon wish list! I haven’t had a chance to read it yet!

  22. 122
    Tammy says:

    Tammy—Commentaries!!!

    Applying to Seminary and hope to attend in the Spring!!

  23. 123
    Dianne Goulet says:

    Beth, commentaries! Digging deeper and deeper into God’s Word and being called upon to teach and lead…please and thank you!

  24. 124
    Lauren says:

    How do I enter the drawing? That prayer book sounds incredible!

  25. 125
    Emily Tyler says:

    Beth, Commentaries! and PGW!

  26. 126
    Tracey Staley says:

    PGW!!!

  27. 127
    Susan says:

    Praying God’s Word!!!!!!!!!!!

  28. 128
    Vicki Koons says:

    PGW!!
    Thank you for this opportunity and for including me in the PGW giveaway. By the way, I’m so excited about SSMT in 2013 and yes, I ordered my spiral!

  29. 129
    Dawn says:

    PGW!!!
    Oh Beth, this would mean the world to me! We are all struggling with something or someone!

  30. 130
    Teresa Tabb says:

    PGW – Very awesome prizes! Merry Christmas and thanks for what you all do!

  31. 131
    Nancy Scott says:

    PGW!!
    Thanks You so much.

    Blessings,
    Nancy

  32. 132
    mariel says:

    Beth, commentaries!!!!
    As a Bible teacher myself, my passion is delving into God’s Word til it is so far over my head I drown in it! I do not have this commentary set and cannot currently afford it, but would use it ALL THE TIME!!!! THANK YOU for the chance to try to win them! What a treasure they would be!! I have several single volume commentaries, but they never go deep enough 😉
    What fun this type of multi volume set would be!!
    Mariel

  33. 133
    Katie Smith says:

    Commentaries please!-Katie

  34. 134
    Rochelle Ragsdale says:

    PGW

  35. 135
    Maureen says:

    PGW

  36. 136
    Susan Johnson says:

    Commentaries,please!!!

  37. 137
    Connie says:

    Beth, commentaries!!

  38. 138
    Tracey Staley says:

    Commentaries, but not for me. For the leader of our weekly Ladies Bible Study Carla is an honorable woman of God who LOVES to study His Word.

  39. 139
    Karen Stills says:

    Commentaries please =)
    And a blessed Christmas of peace,love, and joy to you
    and the staff at LPM.

  40. 140

    Commentaries, PLEASE, Momma Beth!!

  41. 141
    Ashley Honea says:

    PGW, Puh-leeeaaassseee!!!!!!

  42. 142
    Rebecca C says:

    Beth, commentaries! 🙂

  43. 143
  44. 144
    Stephanie Bandy says:

    Beth, commentaries!! (Added an extra exclamation point in there for emphasis 😉 This past September my precious grandfather went home to be with The Lord he loved so dearly after spending 55+ years in His ministry. He was a man of the Word and it was hidden deeply in his heart. The thought of starting my own study library this year touches my heart in such a special way!
    I always receive such a blessing from your studies, blog posts, and even tweets! Thank you so much for your daily impact! Looking forward to a year of scripture memorization!

  45. 145

    Beth, commentaries!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Oh! I looooooove you!!!!

  46. 146
    Kendra Folker says:

    PGW

  47. 147
    Pauline Richardson says:

    Beth, commentaries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Merry Christmas!!!!

  48. 148
    Nikki Toner says:

    Beth commentaries please!!!!! ❤You!

  49. 149
    CassandraS says:

    Beth, commentaries!

  50. 150
    Rebecca C says:

    PGW!
    I plan to buy it anyway but would be so fun to win it!