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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have hit the nail right on my passion! I have been leading Ladies Bible study at my local church for a few years now but my passion is digging deeper and delving into the secret things of the Lord , deut.29:29. I have actually started to write a study and the Lord is always sending me to “look it up” because we so often assume we know the meaning of something, only to find out that what we assume is miles apart from the tuth!
Anyway, nuf said- but I would be thrilled beyond belief to have the commentaries and they would not only get used, but used up! Blessings
Dot
Beth, commentaries
I have ordered so many books this year, my husband wanted to know if the store still had books on their shelves.
Thank you!
Beth,
I’d love to win the commentaries! I am currently discipling a senior in high school,
One on one (though that part was unintentional!) and we are studying 1 Peter. After she graduates and moves on to college, I’d love to continue mentoring younger girls. It is something that God has put a passion inside of me for! I know our teenagers can rise up and be the next generation of great leaders when we invest some time and speak the truth of God’s Word to them, along with teaching them how to study God’s Word for themselves. It would
Be an honor and a privilege to own these! Blessings to you and your wonderful team of ladies!
Gail
Commentaries, please! That would be awesome! 🙂
I would love the commentaries. After your James study, it got me so hungry to study more book in depth like that but I don’t know how to do it. The commentaries would be invaluable.
PGW mama Beth! Please and thank you. Oh how I would love/need a copy. Baby Christian and I’m attacked almost daily…this resource I’m sure would help me. Blessings to you!
Beth! I’d also love a copy of PGW! I see it all over and have never owned a copy of it! I know it would be a great blessing in my life and hopefully I’d be able to share that with those around me. Although, like you, I have a tendency to give my books away and I finds myself in need of replacements often. I have a feeling that your book would turn out to be one of those that I’d pass on….. After I read it, of course! Blessings,
And Merry Christmas! Thank you for these amazing giveaways!
Gail
PGW is a book that I haven’t purchased for myself yet but I would truly use it….I can use all the help that I can get in my prayer life!!
Commentaries, please! (Only because I need that book . . . today . . . as in, now . . . your paragraph that started, “About 18 months ago . . . ” is where I am now. Thank you so much for helping me without meaning to. 🙂 )
Oh wow! This is wonder. Full. Commentaries. Please!!! Merry Christmas.
Commentaries!! Thank you!!
Commentaries please!
PGW!!!
Beths commentaries PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PGW please!! I have done several of your Bible studies, and have learned so much from each one. Thank you for all you’ve done!
Beth, Commentaries! From a girl who is passionately and earnestly seeking the heart and mind of Christ!
I think I got myself too over excited and ended up entering myself twice for the commentaries (my other entry is Lindsay Jean). My apologies! I’m new to this blog, so I’m learning the ropes. 🙂 Much love to all of you wonderful siestas!
Commentaries please!!!!!!!!!!
PGW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PGW please!!
PGW please.
Commentaries please!! Merry Christmas!
PGW, please. So happy for the women who receive copies of these books and the commentaries. Merry Christmas!
PGW and Merry Christmas to you!
Enter this drawing!!!! Beth, Commentaries!!!!!
PGW would be a blessing.
Good Morning Beth and all at LPM!
I am so excited to have the opportunity to win these commentaries. I love praying God’s Word and have been review scriptures in preparation for the upcoming 2013 Siesta Scripture Memory- Again, thanks for this opportunity. Blessings to you and your families this Christmas.
PGW! So need this right now!
Beth’s Commentaries!
Beth, commentaries! Please
Commentaries please!
Beth, commentaries please! Ah I am SO excited about that one!! I have been looking into commentaries for 2 years now and haven’t taken the plunge. 🙁
Also, PGW please! This girl must be living under a rock, I haven’t read it!
Thanks so much!!
Commentaries please
Beth,
I would like to enter the drawing for PGW. I have never owned a copy 🙂
Thanks!
Commentaries, definitely!
This has been on my list as well, but because they are so costly I haven’t been able to make that happen yet. This would be one of the most used gifts ever for me!
entered
Oh I would love both – but – PGW the most!!!
PGW 🙂
Beth, Commentaries please.
OMGoodness!!! Commentaries please!!!! This would be an amazing resource for me for leading a small Bible Study group!!!’ Thank you and Merry, Merry Christmas!!!
I am new to the Bible and want to know everything in it. I have such a hunger for the Word. I would love the commentaries to help me understand better.
Beth, commentaries, please! Thank you so much!
What an amazing set of commentaries. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Commentaries!!! Commentaries!!! Commentaries!!!
PLease.
Thanks for the opportunity to win! PGW
Merry Christmas!
Beth, commentaries or Praying God’s Word! Could put both to very good use! Blessings!
Beth, commentaries please! Merry Christmas to all of you!
Commentaries please – I facilitate a ladies Sunday school class and it would bless me to be able to further research using these. How awesome to offer these – thank you!
Commentaries….please!!!
Am currently listening to FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY and could really use those tools.
PGW please!
PGW, Please, please, please!