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.
PGW please!! 🙂
PGW! (and THANK YOU!)
PGW!!!
Commentaries, please! Now that I am retired, want to spend more time in studying God’s word. This would be awesome!!
Commentaries please! Thanks so much for the opportunity!
Beth!!! COMMENTARIES!!! YES YES YES!!!! 🙂
Good Morning, Beth!
The Commentaries….definitely!! I study a couple hours each day to train for teaching, and still can’t get my fill of the living Word. So hungry to learn more!
Beth, commentaries, PLEASE! Thank you!
Commentaries!!!! My husband and I have been wanting this!!
Joni, PGW!
Oh, Sweet Beth,
My heart lept when I saw those commentaries!
I’m a young mom, with two beautiful little girls, one 2 years old and the other 7 months old, and I know that you can relate to the challenges of being a student of the Word with young ones at home (in fact, your encouragement in the faith to young moms is always such a blessing to me). The Lord has been SO blessing my study time–I truly believe that He stops literal time when I sit down to dive into the Word and to pray before my family wakes up and during the girls’ combined nap. I’ve been praying recently that He would increase my capacity for knowledge and love for Him through it, because it can be so hard to think clearly on mom brain. Anyway, all that to say that those commentaries would SO SO SO add to my study in the Word in mom-world.
I love you and all that you are doing for the Kingdom. Thank you so much for being a Spiritual Mom to me from a distance.
PGW please! This is just what I have been looking for to increase my prayer life, but didn’t know existed!
PGW-please. Merry Christmas!
PGW, please!!!
Commentaries please
COMMENTARIES, PRETTY PLEASE!!!!!!!! I started teaching youth Sunday School last year. They have SO MANY QUESTIONS! This set would be a much used and treasured resource in studying / teaching God’s Word. Thanks so much for all you do.
Beth, PGW.
I can’t wait to hear what God says through your book. Love you, Beth. Praying he strengthens you today!
Commentaries! I am in awe of God’s word and the resources. Thanks for blessings us in so many ways!
PGW! 🙂
More in depth WORD yes please commentaries!
PGW. I NEED this.
Beth, commentaries please!! I’m blessed to own PGW!
COMMENTARIES!! Oh wow. I’ve been blessed by every Bible study you’ve written thus far and even facilitated a few for my church. In them you mention commentaries and I always intend on grabbing a couple when I get the money and when I know which ones to get. I’m such a student at heart! Like you I was a Poli/Sci major and nothing thrills me more than words and study and true understanding.
Even if I’m not drawn THANK YOU! Now, I know which ones I’ll get and intentionally start saving money toward.
Bless y’all and have a SUPER CHRISTMAS!!
Commentaries please!! That would be awesome!
PGW please!!
Praying God’s Word will be a gift for a friend and I who just finished the Breaking Free study. Man, our lives are changed forever. Thank you Beth for your passion and kindness. We heart u!
I would love to read and use PGW! You ladies are awesome!!
PGW, please!
Merry Christmas, Commentaries Please!
Beth! Commentaries!! :)Blessings to you all!
Beth Commentaries! I lead Wednesday night Bible studies at my church (many of which have been yours!) But more recently I have been teaching a ladies Sunday School class. For the Sunday School class I do my own research, and make my own lesson. It has been a real step of faith for me and I have to rely on the Lord all the way thru it because I am not trained in any way for this. I don’t own any commentaries so I rely on the internet for my research, which can be all over the place. A good set of commentaries would be great! Pick me please! 🙂
Beth, Commentaries!!!! I would love these for preparing women’s bible studies and Sunday School lessons!
PGW!!! Would love it!
Lol, here’s reason number two I need the commentators and proof that I’m better with books that technology. I just tried to take a screen shot on my iPad of the commentaries so I would know which ones to look for in case I wasn’t drawn and I turned my iPad totally off and couldn’t get it back on. “blonder than I pay to be”. 😉
PGW – Please enter my name for the book “Praying God’s Word”. I am learning more and more about praying, and God has put several people on my heart to lift them up in prayer, so I will most definitely USE this book, not just read it and put it on a shelf.
May God continue to mightily bless your ministry, Beth Moore. Long ago you said your desire was to help women get into the Word and to LOVE the Word. I am one woman who has been given that desire. And every day I say, “Lord, increase my desire for your Word.” Thank you.
Love,
Shirley
Commentaries, yes, please! My husband and I both would use them!
Commentaries, please!
Oh Beth….commentaries PLEASE! 🙂 I’ve been doing monthly Bible/Book studies at my home for wives of my church for a year and we are going to expand this to all women of our church beginning in 2013. AND, I am going to be co-leading our first ever Women’s Study School class at our church. I’m a research fanatic and these would be so helpful with digging deeper into His Word. Thank you so much for your generosity. Merry Christmas!
PGW …..PRETTY PLEASE!!! Thank you for such a wonderful offer!
Please pick me !! I am a Baptist Sunday School teacher of women……all ages. I have done every Beth study and have grown so much spiritually the past 20 years……..I NEED THESE BOOKS !! 🙂 In His Grip, Lynne
Commentaries, please!
Beth, commentaries!!!!!! Your ministry is such a blessing! Merry Christmas!
The commentaries, please. Even though we are under some deep assault, I am looking to the other side of this time and looking to strengthen my teaching and mentoring.
Oh the commentaries would be AMAZING!!!! Merry Christmas to you all!!
PGW please!
Beth, commentaries! PLEASE!!!
PGW please!
Beth, commentaries!
PGW
Commentaries please. I have wanted these for so long.