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! These would be such a blessing as I prepare Sunday school and Bible study lessons!
I covet the commentaries!! (Just used that word for the alliteration.) Thanks for the opportunity.
PGW please 🙂
Commentaries. – an incredible opportunity to dig deep into the Word.
Commentaries !!! What a great giveaway….thanks for encouraging us in the Word and in tools that help us dig : )
Jean
Commentaries, please! I’m a FIRST TIME Bible study leader @ my church (pastor & wife asked me in the fall, and I agreed). I don’t have such resources in any form.
PGW, please! I’m battling fear of various kinds and need more ammunition.
Thank you!
Beth, commentaries!!……Please! I’ve been looking for something to study & help me deepen my knowledge and learn more about the Bible.
PGW!!! It’s on my Christmas wish list 🙂
PGW!!!! Cant wait to win!
Beth, commentaries! With a big whopping exclamation point. I am
So ready to add a bit more to my plate and after
Finishing James and listening to Melissa and yourself
Filled with so much knowledge I am pressed by the Lord to do
Some research on my own.
God Bless love,
Valerie
Commentaries!!
Beth-
You and your study guides have transformed my walk with our amazing God. He has led me to teach a girls (7-10th grade) Sunday school class. They are an amazing group of young women who really are princess warriors for Christ. I have only been with them a short time. Our first study was on Ester and the girls loved it! They had no idea the ol testament could be so entertaining and it really reaffirmed their belief that women are a critical piece of God’s plan. We used a teenaged study guide and I supplemented that with your Esther study. Now we are moving on to the life of Christ and will follow the same approach again. I really want the girls to tie the old and new testememts together so I am drawing on how Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy. They also want to study Revelations so I want to build enough a base that we can look with knowledge to the future. No small task for me and my long and winding path to get where I am now with God. These commentaries would help so much. Thanks for making such a great resource a prize!!
Beth commentaries!!!! I want to dig into God’s Word and really KNOW HIM!
Marybeth – Commentaries!!!
I don’t have either one of these! I lead a small group and I’ve had commentaries on my wish list for a long time so I’m entering for those. Thanks for the generous spirit of trying to help those of us who live and work in the background. I use the internet for most of my research and studying would be so excited to have commentaries! Merry Christmas to you and LPM!
Beth, I would love the commentaries.
PGW, please. What a wonderful resource that would be!! Thank you for offering the giveaways and thank you for your beautiful ministry.
Beth,
Commentaries! I am a Religion student at Liberty…returning to school later in life because Jesus lit a fire in me and I am crazy in love with Him! If I’m not carpooling my high schoolers, tending to the family or at work on one of my flights…I am studying and these books would be a total JOY to own! Thanks for the opportunity and blessing others!
Merry Christmas to you all!
Terry
btw…I own a copy of Praying God’s Word, and love it!
i really would like to read your book praying Gods Word!
PGW!!! *giddy face* *cartwheel* *sigh* Okay, skip the cartwheel. I never could do one of those. 😉
PgW
Commentaries! Thank you for all you do!
PGW, TaraWhite.
I’ve never read this book and would l love to win a copy of it! The words you wrote in the blog 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. ” just resonated in my soul!
Praying God’s Word, please.
PGW!!
Beth,
Commentaries please!x
Praying God’s Word, Beth!
Commentaries!! Wow!
Beth, commentaries, please! Thank you and Merry Christmas!
PGW! I so need that!
Commentaries please! You guys rock 🙂
Hi Beth,
I would love the COMMENTARIES!!!!!!!!!
Merry Christmas
Commentaries! Thanks for the opportunity!
!!!!!!!!! I thought I’d start with my exclamation points since that is how I’m feeling! God has called me to teach and had been blowing me away with the opportunities but my resources are limited to one commentary and anything I can find for free online. I would LOVE the commentaries!!!!! Please enter me in that drawing.
Oh and Praying God’s Word is amazing…I hope everyone runs out and gets one if they don’t win!
Merry Christmas ladies and thank you all at Living Proof for ALL you do! You are a true blessing!
How Blessed we women are to have you all to lead us into His word. Thank you all and have a Blessed Christmas season with your friends and families.
Thank you.
Commentaries, Beth!
I just stepped into Group Life leadership this past spring, facilitating our Beth Moore Women’s Bible Studies. Nine years ago, I felt too dirty to even walk into a church. God has done a mighty work in my life! Who I am now is truly ONLY because of the grace of God. There is no human explanation possible for the transformation…ONLY GOD!!!
I am ravenous for more of Jesus and more of His Word! I do not own a set of commentaries, but I’ve been longing for that exact kind of tool to help me grow deeper. The cost is prohibitive for me at the moment, so it would be a true answer to prayer to win this set.
Thanks for all you do, Beth! Thanks for blazing a trail to Jesus and freedom; so many women have followed in your footsteps, straight to His feet (including me).
PGW
PGW please
Lots of love and blessings to the living proof family and my sisteas
PGW!!!!!
Beth, Commentaries PLEASE!!!!!!!!!
PGW PLEASE!!!!!!!!
PGW Pretty pretty please! I was born again a couple years ago while in prison and found a new hungar for God’s word. He has shown me I can reinvent myself and through a cuple of your bible studies I have! Your gift of teaching has changed my life and this book would help me remember where I can from and more importantly, where I want to go!Thanks for all your love and encouragement!!!
PGW
The commentaries would help in preparing for my women’s weekly Bible study,
Thanks!
Thank-you for the opportunity to enter for the PGW book.
I’ve enjoyed most of Beth’s studies and missed this one.
Commentaries for sure!!!
Commentaries
Beth, commentaries! Please!
Beth, Commentaries! From a girl who is passionately and earnestly seeking the heart and mind of Christ.
Amy W, PGW
Merry Christmas!
I would love Praying God’s Word! It’s right where my heart has been lately. I do not have this book but know I need to get my hands on a copy to enhance what I’ve been doing on my own.
God bless you, Living Proof Ministries