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.
commentaries please! merry christmas 🙂 xo!
Beth! Commentaries pleaaaaassseee!!! I’ve wanted to go back to school for minustry for quite some time but am the only one employed right now. I would love a head start with these! What a gift!!
COMMENTARIES!!! I would sooooooo love and cherish and USE them daily:)
PGW!! I was just thinking how I need to do this!
Beth’s Commentaries!!!!!! (awesome!)
commentaries….Please!
wife of student pastor and does the girls events! would be used a ton!!!!!
I would love a copy of Praying God’s Word – have not used it – but would really be useful now. Some hard decisions to make in the next few months and really need to hear from God strongly!!
Thanks!
WOOHOO for commentaries!!
Beth Commentaries, please!!
Commentaries please! Thank you.
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary – for me and my students!
Thank you for the opportunity!
PGW! Never read it, but as I am on disability w/chronic migraine, prayer is my primary ministry. Would love this book!
Commentaries!! They would be such a blessing to our family!
Praying God’s Word please!
Oh wow, yes, commentaries, Beth. Merry Christmas!
PGW, please!
Tammy-Commentaries!
Yes!!! Please pick me
Beth, COMMENTARIES! Thanks so much for the opportunity!
Commentaries, please! I’m salivating just looking at the photo!
Oh, the commentaries please!!! Thank you so much for both giveaways!
Beth, commentaries!!!!
Sallie, Commentaries!
My husband and I help facilitate a Sunday morning Adult Bible study called ‘verse by verse’! We pick a book of the Bible and we work through it as a group, “verse by verse”. Some weeks it’s 6-7 verses, some weeks it’s one verse, LOL! We love our group and this set would be incredible to have to share with our whole group! Thank you, Beth!!!!
I would love those commentaries!
Beth, commentaries please! I could so use these to go deeper and send his message out to the women in my community. I promise they won’t be left on the shelf. They will be a staple in my study area.
Love, Casey
Such a struggle to decide but I think the commentaries! I would use them and so would my husband!
I am not putting in my name for the drawing for the 12 volume set as I can buy it soon but want to thank you for the great tip as it for a resource. I have written and taught 2 studies the first is Colossians the second is Jonah and I am about to start on Deuteronomy-thanks so much for the info on this set. Also I use my copy of Praying god’s Word all the time and also in teaching so yes anyone who reads this and does not have it enter the drawing it is wonderful. I have taught Living Free and still use it personally it is such a great companion to Praying God’s Word, so run out and get a copy if you don’t have one! Love you all. Mary
PWG Please! I need help with prayer I know how and do it several times daily but at times I just don’t know how to ask or give it to Him without holding on to its coattail. And I am working hard on my verbal prayer with others. I am a bit shy and would love the help to pray the right thing and not feel uncomfortable or not at all confident with my prayer. Thank you Beth and MERRY CHRISTMAS and God bless.
Oh PGW please!!
PGW, sounds like an amazing resource.
Thank you Beth and B&H.
Debbie Scoles
COMMENTARIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! all the way!
Commentaries, PLEASE!!!! For me and my sister- to write curriculum for kids.
Jumping up and down as I add my exclamation marks beside Beth Commentaries!!!
I would definitely use PGW!!! I would absolutely LOVE to own one!!
Commentaries-yessss!!!!!
Commentaries please!!!! Merry Christmas!!
PGW! Have never read it but will if I get it:)
Commentaries! Thank you!
PGW! I’m trying to become better with prayer and reading the Bible and this would be a great tool to aid me that. 😀 Thank you for your generosity!
Please enter me for PGW. Thanks Siesta Mama, for everything you all do – and Merry Christmas!
PGW (and thank you!)
Beth, commentaries!
PGW!
PGW, please, Beth! I need it for my daughter, a single woman who is a foster parent. Her life is a roller-coaster ride, and she needs the POW! that this book can provide to her daily prayer life.
I would like to enter the drawing for the commentaries!!
I so want to dig deeper into God’s Word. I have been leading your Bible Studies at our church for several years and we have so many women who now have that taste of what digging a little deeper – praying a little more – memorizing, memorizing and memorizing can do to a weary soul. I would love to use these for my own personal study but also to share with my ladies. I love them and it thrills my heart to see them excited about God’s Word!!
Praying God’s Word pretty please!!!!!
Commentaries! My husband and I are starting a church plant and his are all at his office, I would love some at home!!
PGW! I’ve always wanted to read/use/learn this book and have never picked it up! This is perfect timing because I really need a renewal right now. I’m feeling that falling away, where I just need a fresh love to come over me and recommit myself to immersion in God’s Word. I havent been excited about my study time like I normally am… I just need a word right now!!!!!
Beth-commentaries please and merry merry christmas!
Beth-PGW!!