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 would be a blessed incentive for me!! Thank you!!
Commentaries Please. My hubby and I are newly licensed ministers in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) and we are currently enrolled to be ordained.
Praying God’s Word, please! Merry Christmas!
PGW!
Commentaries please, Beth!!
PGW!!! 🙂
I hope I am a winner!! I’ve done the Breaking free bible study, but would love to have PGW!
Andrea, commentaries please!! 🙂
Commentaries would be a blessing!
Commentaries.
Commentaries! Yeah!! I am so excited, thank you for this opportunity! I lead small group bible studies for women at my church and these would be such a blessing! Merry Christmas!
Commentaries 🙂 Have a most blessed Christmas!
Commentaries! So hard to get to the library to research Bible studies with a full-time job.
Beth, Commentaries
I have Praying God’s Word. It changed my life and set me free! Thanks for being such a faithful servant!
PGW please. I did this. I am going through a very rough time.
PGW pulease!! 🙂
commentaries PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! I am doing research for a Blble and this would be a tremendous blessing.
PGW!
Mama Beth,
I have the PGW & I know someone needs the commentaries more than I.
I just wanted to wish you & all of LPM a very Merry Christmas!
love ya!
BETH!!! COMMENTARIES!!!!! COMMENTARIES!!!!!
(I’m not a young teacher – but a teacher nonetheless and would LOVE THIS!!)
commentaries! this is awesome!!
PGW — I need this so desperately, right now — my family is under a HUGE attack!
PGW!
While I’ve done a few of Beth’s Bible Studies, I’ve never heard of this book. I will probably buy it if I don’t win. Be good in the midst of adoption and food sensitivity issues. 🙂 Thanks ladies!
Beth, Commentaries! I’m serious and enthused!….!!!!! Working on my first ever Bible study to publish and praying God shows me the riches in His word to share with hurting women. Merry Christmas to you all too!
PGW would be awesome. I have also needed to bring out the warrior in me to keep my family together. This book would be USED. Merry CHRISTmas.
PGW please!
Praying God’s Word – I have bought this before but I always give it away. I would love to have and “keep” a copy. I know the value of praying God’s Word!
PGW! It will definitely be used.
Can we enter both drawings? I would use either COMMENTARIES or PGW!!!
If not, just commentaries, please. I am starting to build my library.
Beth – I would definately put the commentaries to good use. I am a mentor for the precious single mothers of our church and having some “simpler” commentaries to share with them would be a blessing for all – THANK YOU!!!! Merry Christmas!
Commentaries would be AMAZING! I am a seminary student and theology teacher – these would be dust free!!!
Commentaries!!! Oh how we would put them to good use!!!
PGW please…would be so timely. 🙂
Merry Christmas!
And thank you for your generosity!!
PGW!!!! Merry Christmas and Thank you.
Completely understand being under assault. The mind can be a dangerous as well as wondrous thing. I thank God every day for his peace and comfort. PGW
Beth, commentaries!
I am SO excited about this. Just this week I thought, “I wish I knew which commentaries Beth would recommend to a beginner…” WOW! I love the way God blesses us with answers. I’m a winner no matter whose name is drawn. (But you can still draw my name.) 🙂 THANK YOU!!!
Please and thank you!
COMMENTARIES!!
Merry Christmas Beth and family…PGW would be a blessing to me this year. Thanks for all you do!
I don’t have any form of Praying God’s Word. I would share it with my nursing home residents that we have Bible study with on Wednesdays.
I would love to win that.
Thank you for the awesome contest, so hard to decide which one to enter, since both would be a blessing.
M. Waters
Commentaries!!! I have longed for something like this forever as a women’s leader these would be such an enhancement to heart felt desire to help ladies, including myself grow in the Lord!!
PGW – Struggling with a very difficult issue and could use the strength from this.
Merry Christmas Beth & LPM!!! Commentaries please, please, pleeeeaaassseeee!!!!!!!!!!! i have to have them, i am a true bible study girl and have been dying to have a good set! raising three boys on my own does not afford me the luxury of buying a set for myself right now but i have a wishlist on Amazon of tons of bible commentaries and books that i just have to have so this set would go to excellent use and i would be a better bible study girl for it!!! it is my deeepest prayer that God continue to lead me in His word and soak me in the knowledge of Him!! i do not own a fancy bible & have one little bible commentary i found on sale at Lifeway and i can’t get enough!!! He has put an insatiable desire so deep in me for Him and study,i absoulotely LOVE IT!!!
Beth please enter me kn for the commentaries giveaway. Thanks for being so faithful for all that God has gifted you with!! Merry Christmas!
Beth, I would love to win the commentaries. I just love to study the Word and teach to my womens group.
Beth, drawing for the Commentaries, please!! I facilitate women’s Bible studies at my church, this set would be a huge blessing!! Thank you for offering the possible opportunity to own them.
I would love to PGW!!
BETH, commentaries. You have so blessed my life with your Bible studies but more importantly you have made God’s word come alive and light a fire in my heart to know him more and have a deeper relationship with him. Have a wonderful blessed Christmas.
Beth, COMMENTARIES!!!!!
Beth, Thank you for offering the COMMENTARIES!
I would very much love to have my very own copies right at my fingertips to use in Bible study prep!
Many thanks!!!
I am definitely entering for the Beth Commentaries!! In this past year God has lead on my heart for writing Bible Studies and a specific book…something I NEVER thought I was purposed for! I’ve only begun blogging in the past couple of years and have been a private “journaler” since I was 12. I am beyond humbled and thrilled to begin this journey with Jesus and would love to add to my beginners library of a Bible dictionary and Parallel Bible. Thanks for such a WONDERFUL giveaway!!
I would absolutely love the commentaries; I love to add to my teaching/learning and have other friends to whom I could loan them—mentors and co-teachers would benefit as well.
I have PGW and really like it.