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! I am a pastor’s wife and this is our first church as senior pastor and wife. I started doing bible studies when we got here 3 1/2 years ago and I am loving it and feel like this is really the area of ministry the Lord is calling me into. I would love the commentaries because I feel they will help me get even deeper into the word and in turn help the women of our church. Thank you Beth for doing these wonderful give aways!! God Bless You and Living Proof Ministries for all that you do!!!
Lynette Howes pgw
I’ve been fighting a battle and I have never read this book. I need some new loaded guns to help me overcome. Thank you.
Commentaries, please. I am looking for something to help my husband and I understand God’s Word better so we can not only help our children understand it, but also guide our family the way we need to. Thanks! And Merry Christmas!!
PGW. PLEASE WITH A HUG AND SUGAR ON TOP!
wink
PGW please!! 🙂
Tiffany miller PGW please!
Thank you for the opportunity to win praying God’s word! I would love to have a copy of that to fight alongside others in prayer with His Word.
PGW, please! I have heard about it, and wanted to enrich my prayer life by using it…maybe now, I will!
Beth,
Oh my goodness, the commentaries!!!
Sweet Beth, Commentaries Please 😀
By the by, living each day with Praying God’s Word… and growing in the Power of GOD’s Word!!!
Send thanks to the gracious B&H Publishing and many more to You Beth for offering such generous gifts!!!
Merry Christmas to LPB!
Please remove my request!!!
After reading the many requests, the many teachers, leaders etc. I am in desire of them, would want to challenge myself and then hopefully encourage others, but there are many in need now for them!!!
Thank you anyway!
Bless you Beth and those dedicated workers!
I am Blessed with my PGW!!
Commentaries please
Commentaries please! Thank you so much – how generous. 🙂 I’ve had commentaries on my Christmas list for three years, but still don’t have any!
Commentaries! These would be very helpful as I prepare lessons!! Thank you!!
Beth– commentaries!!!!
I would certainly put fingerprints all over those books in prep for work at my church and a Bible study I’ve been working on (ok, writing) for female basketball athletes.
I’m sure my 10 month old would put her fingerprints on them too…if I let her! 🙂
Beth, commentaries! Please. 🙂
Beth, commentaries!
PGW, please.
PGW please!
Commentaries please! Wow!!!
A blessed Advent and Christmas to all the Siestas!
Commentaries please! You all are awesome
PGW
PGW, please!! THANK YOU! I just TODAY began the section on prayer in Devotional Classics, which i already considered timely, then I saw this! Some turns of events in my life also seem to be leaving me with yet another renewed commitment to prayer. Thanks for all your encouragement!
PGW
wow— Commentaries!!!!! would be wonderful as I prepare to teach each week. God bless you all. Merry Christmas!
the commmentaries yes please! to use for teaching young women in ministry!
Beth commentaries! I was raised in what I would call a believing home, but not a Christian home. I’m now married & Just had our 5th child. Up until about 3 months ago, I thought everything was okay, but then my husband said that we probably needed to get divorced. God has used that to show me that I really don’t know what’s in the Bible very well, and that you can’t live by what you don’t know. I’v been really trying to learn what I don’t know & really would love to have the commentaries to help me figure things out. God is changing me & changing our marriage. Right now I am so starving for all that I wasn’t really taught earlier in life. Thank you for the opportunity to possibly receive such a blessing.
PGW.
I Cherish every book I own by Beth. This would be icing on the cake or the star on my tree !!!
Blessings,
Chris
Beth, commentaries! I am spending hours every week with my head buried in commentaries for my blog. I don’t own any so that would be great to have some not attached to a monitor.
Merry Christmas!
Awesome! What a blessing you and your ministry are! Thank you!
Ooooh, the commentaries would be put to good use. And I promise to share!
PGW Please. What an awesome book and one I really need!
BOOK – PRAYING GOD’S WORD
Commentaries please! Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Jaclyn, commentaries. I would love to get my hands on these!
Wow!! Commentaries please! Thanks!
Beth, commentaries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Commentaries of course!
Beth,
PGW, please. Your studies have challenged, blessed, and encouraged me for so many years. I don’t know how I missed this book along the way, but during this season of my life I need it.
Thanks,
Amy
PGW please!
PGW, please! Thank you for this giveaway.
It’s an honor and a pleasure to get to know this ministry.
🙂
PGW I would use it!
Beth, commentaries please!! I’ve been studying and loving it!! (1 Tim. 4: 13-15 “Be diligent in these matters, give yourself wholly to them”)
I would love a chance at the commentaries! I have stood looking at them at Lifeway many a time and can figure out which to pick. Soooo overwhelming.
God Bless & Merry Christmas LPM.
PGW
Beth, commentaries!
PGW
Beth, Commentaries
This would be such as asset in my teaching my Sunday School class!!!
Praying God’d Word!!
Commentaries!!!!!!!!!
I would love to win!
Oh, please enter me for the commentaries, so exciting! I promise I will put them to good use!
Commentaries please:)
PGW, please!
commentaries, please.
Commentaries please!
WOW–the thought of owning those commentaries THRILLS me!!!!! I am beginning a ministry in speaking and will be attending the She Speaks conference in January–these would help tremendously with my message.
I, too, have been in an all-out assault…lasting 1 1/2 years now. God has made me message clear: FEAR. I have recently memorized all of Psalms 91 and pray it all over my house nightly. God’s word is POWER. He is making me a believer…every day.
Commentaries!
Commentaries please!
I had two copies of PGW. Gave one away and the other one I have been carrying with me daily lately. In fact, planning on using it as a devotional of sorts for the new year. Praying for myself and for others as they apply or as God leads.
Blessings to you – and thank you.
The commentaries please!!!!!!!!!! What a great gift!!!!
I would absolutely be honored to win the set of commentaries.