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.
Beth! Commentaries!!!!!!!
Yes, definitely commentaries!
Thank you!
Lori
Commentaries please!
Thanks for this. My husband and I were looking for references for a good commentary and the salient points highlighted sound like just what we are looking for.
Thanks! Gonna go and check it out sounds like a great gift.
Beth, commentaries! and oh how I would love, love to get a hold of that wonderful book I’ve heard so much about…Praying God’s Word!! I’ve never read it and could SERIOUSLY use it right about now in my life!!
Commentaries!! 🙂
Beth, Commentaries please!
Merry Christmas, LPM ladies! PGW, please!! I’d love it, and thank you so much for your generosity–you guys rock.
Liz, Commentaries 🙂
Beth, COMMENTARIES!!!!!!
Merry Christmas, you lovely LPM ladies!!!! We love you out here in cyber space!!!
Beth, Commentaries!!!!!
Sarah – Commentaries yes PLEASE!! Newer young bible teacher here! 🙂
Beth, commentaries!!!!! 🙂
COMMENTARIES!!!!!!!!Would be great! I am going to speak at a women’s prison in January ..the first of many i pray (This has been my circle prayer for a year & now it has come to pass) ..>and these would help tremendously!
Amy Jo Blanton
Commentaries!!
PGW!!! I would love a copy of praying God’s word! There is a lot going on, and I have been struggling, I would love some fresh insight.
(And Expositors is awesome, I have a well used set!)
PGW
In a war right now and would love some ammunition.
I would totally LOVE to win the The Expositor’s Bible Commentary !!!!!!!
I’ve drooled over it from the time you started to reference it!
Merry Christmas,
Nancy
Wow, Beth- you are so generous to encourage us and share your teaching tools with us. I purchased Expositor’s several years ago upon your recommendation and have loved using them. And I honestly do no know what I’d do without PGW! Thank you… I’ve probably given close to 100 away to friends and family.
God’s Word is so precious to me, too, Beth, and He used YOU to encourage me to know and love Him in the pages of Scripture.
You’ve probably read St. Augustine’s quote- “O Lord, Thou didst strike my heart with Thy Word and I loved Thee.” I have a calligraphy of it above my desk. That’s exactly my heart- stricken with love for God through His Word.
Thank you, again!
xo – Punky
Lorrie, PGW
Pam Commentaries
PGW with desperate cry for victory over our personal crisis today.
Beth! Commentaries! Would SO LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas to the best Siesta Mama ever!!!
I would love to have these commentaries! What an incredible gift! You can just go ahead and send them right to my house 😀
Debbie
I would love the commentaries!!! Please and thank you!
Beth, commentaries!!!!!!!
— Charity
Hey Yall!!! I’m entering for a chance at those fantastic commentaries!!! That would be a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!!
I sure love you all!
♥♥♥
Breahn Royal
Longview, Tx.
Dear Set of Commentaries,
Oh what good friends we could become! Oh the memories we would make! Oh the journeys we could walk through together! What exciting days we could share! YOU, dear commentaries, would find a loving place in this home of mine!
Hearts, body glitter and cut-out-paper-snowflakes,
jen
PGW
Either PGW or the Commentaries would be like “manna” from heaven !!!! Doing Nehemiah study from Kelly Minter now and was, at this exact moment, reflecting on ways we confess to God which is “prayer”. Entertwining my confession with confessing God’s truths from scriptures was enlightening. Reminded of all Gods actions from Nehemiah 9:9-15. He takes our prayers seriously and acts on them. I am so comforted by that. Thank you and Merry Christmas.
PGW – I would love to go through the devotional journal. I’ve not read this book and would love to win a copy.
I would love to have the commentaries. When you wrote that post about the books that we should have in our library to start seriously studying God’s Word, I put them on my wish-list and told my family that they could start buying a few at a time for various gifts, but that never happened. I guess they didn’t think I was serious. 🙂
I have Praying God’s Word and I love it. A very useful book!
Kristin
I would love the Bible Commentaries!!!!
Andrea-Commentaries Please!!!!
PGW! I have never heard of this book before but I would certainly put it to use.
Tabitha, commentaries please!!
Commentaries, please! Thank you for being so generous. God gives me the opportunity to teach a few times a year through the Bible study I’m involved with, and I either borrow commentaries or look for them at discount book stores. Which means I have a hodge podge of commentaries on my shelves 🙂
Heather, PGW!
PGW, please. Thank you and Merry Christmas!!
I would love any of them! Commentaries I guess I would have to ask for first! I am a YoungLife leader and I have young girls asking me questions all of the time where I may/may not always “have the right answers”. 🙂 These would guide me as I seek the Word!!!! Regardless-thank you for even considering giving this opportunity!!!!!
Beth, commentaries!!!
beth, commentaries!!! 🙂 they would be WELL USED in my library!!
Commentaries please! Even if I am not picked, thank you for being so generous and thoughtful!
beth commentaries! 🙂 just finished listening to Arkansas gathering(fulfilled)..and need to get some ‘tools’ in my box!
Commentaries, please. Merry Christmas!
BETH…COMMENTARIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PGW..I would love the book! I haven’t read it yet and would love to!
Commentaries! Oh My GOODNESS! Commentaries!
Thank you for being so wonderful.
PGW please!
Aly Dickinson I would devour PGW!
Commentaries! How awesome would that be!!