**UPDATE**
Congratulations to the winners of the birthday drawing! Your names are posted below. Watch your inbox for an email from Living Proof later today so that we can get you your gift!
BONUS: The wonderful people at AMG Publishers have extended a 50% discount to any of you who would like to order a Key Word Study Bible! Click here to get more information, or to order your Bible. AMG Publishers
Winners:
#523 – Carole Germain #4348 – Karen Quinn
#2282 – Merissa G. #4399 – Anna Bunch
#2321 – Marilyn Riley #4430 – Nancy Beeey
#2756 – Merissa Ury #4813 – Myrlene Darnell
#2876 – Beth Longar #5648 – Nan Smith
#3937 – Dani Turner #5798 – Rachel C.
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A few nights ago I walked my buck wild new puppy around my neighborhood, watched the sun sink deep down into the horizon, and then settled in back at home. I flipped on my favorite season of the West Wing and I ate an entire bag of tortilla chips and ¾ a jar of my favorite salsa for dinner. What is it they say again? The apple does not fall far from the tree. Or something like that?
You see when we were growing up Mom would throw us kids in the back of Brontosaurus the station wagon and haul us halfway across the city to her old favorite Tex-Mex joint. She ordered a pint of salsa and a gigantic grease-stained brown paper bag of tortilla chips for take-out and she would eat all of this and only this for her dinner. Her own dinner. I can’t remember what we kids even ate, or if she fed us at all. I’m only kidding about that last part.
My mom was born at high noon in a fierce thunderstorm, my grandfather said. Her presence still shifts the atmosphere. A few weeks ago Mom left for a week in the hill country for a time of writing and solitude. The second she got back home, I loaded up my stuff and headed out to spend a night with she and my Dad. You see, for me, going to hang out with my parents isn’t really like going to hang out with the parents. Far from duty, it’s one of my favorite things to do. We caught up on all the life stuff that night. And then in the morning we drank our coffee in our pajamas and by 8:30 a.m. at the latest we had already covered topics such as the theology in Ephesians, the New Testament canon, the Holy Spirit’s role in the interpretation of Scripture, and the Festal Letter of Athanasius.
I have to say, this woman utterly dazzles me. She is the sweetest in the land. She is gracious and sanguine and loving and kind, no doubt, but she is serious and intense and focused and courageous. She has opinions and perspective and boldness and wisdom from the ground like no other. For all her awesomeness she is not self-righteous or squeamish, and God knows I have pushed her limits.
Mom is deeply committed to our family and I’ve always known that full well but I’ve also seen that she’s preoccupied with something a whole lot bigger than us. Probably the most important thing I have learned from her is that being caught up in Jesus and what He is doing in the world is everything. It is the ultimate priority and a family committed to His work in the world will get the privilege of making sacrifices together.
Over the past few years in my own journey I found myself in an unknown place, a place where a heart could break deeper and wider and in more directions than I could have imagined possible. Mom has walked alongside me on this road further than any human could be expected to walk with another. She would have had good reasons to just sit out a while and catch her breath. But she never left my side. The road has been bumpy but also tedious and repetitive. When the landscape didn’t seem to change for a long, long time, she kept plodding along with me, carrying my burdens and helping me shoulder the grief that felt too much to bear.
Mom is tender and she is strong and she is not afraid to look pain and grief and loss dead in the eye. Even more, she is daring enough to hope against hope. To see in others, even me, the beginnings of life and growth and health and wholeness where others might only see brokenness and death. She has shined the light of Jesus on me more times than I can count.
She can fry a chicken and whip up mashed potatoes and gravy with the best of the Southern cooks. Her pleasures are simple: the reading of books, sitting on the front porch, walking her dogs in the woods, eating dinner with my Dad, playing games on the floor with her grandkids, and drinking tea with Amanda and me. But make no mistake she is wicked smart and complex and multifaceted. She is so much more than even the best caricature of her could ever hope to be.
I love her.
Yes, I love her. If one photo could capture the light and color she brings to my world, this is it:
It is my joy and honor to be her daughter and also to work for her at Living Proof. This blog giveaway is just one of many ways I celebrate her beautiful life today. The first three gifts are from Living Proof and the last two gifts are personal gifts from me.
First and foremost, we are giving away eight Key Word Study Bibles. My mom gave me one of these Bibles many years ago. It was one of the first Bibles I ever really remember being excited about. It helped me become familiar with various Greek and Hebrew words before I ever took a Greek or Hebrew reading class. Every time I read it I was reminded that the Scriptures we hold in our hands in English are a translation. Remembering this often is a good thing and will take a person a long way in the study of the Bible, I think.
![IMG_2993[4]](https://blog.lproof.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/IMG_29934.jpg)
Second, we are giving away an assortment of several pounds of favorite Houston coffee beans. My mom is a serious coffee drinker, so this is just an obvious addition. This package will include but not be limited to one of my current favorites:
Third, we are giving away an arrangement of fresh flowers Mom loves. And, really, who wouldn’t like these?
Fourth, we are giving away a crossbody saddlebag. Mom and I both carry versions of this crossbody bag over and over again until one breaks and we have to buy another one.
Fifth and finally, we are giving away a small bottle of Flowerbomb. Mom wears lots of different perfumes, but she most often travels with this one.
So, if you’re interested in our giveaway please do pop on and say “Happy Birthday” and show Mom some love. Your comment becomes your entry into our random drawing. Comments will officially close 24 hours after the post is published, and please only one comment per person. The names of our winners will be posted at the top of this post at some point on Thursday.
I hope you all are happy and well.
And, Mom, I love you!
The best is yet to come,
Melissa
A very Happy Birthday. What a glorious glimpse of love in your family. Something to be treasured and thank you so much for sharing it.
Happy Birthday to the woman who has poured her life out as a drink offering for so many people and has helped to change so many lives, including mine! You brought a new love and thirst for the study of God’s Word back to my life along with teaching us how important it is to memorize scripture so the Holy Spirit can bring them back to us when we need it most! I am forever grateful for your contributions to my life, Beth Moore! May the Lord give you many more blessed years!
Happy Birthday, Beth!
It has been my pleasure to study with you for several years… if I run into you at Starbucks, I will probably call you by name and act like we are old friends even though we have never actually met. I won’t be able to stop myself. It’s ok if you don’t recognize me. 🙂
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday, Beth! May this year be abundantly blessed!
Happy birthday Beth!!! Thank you for willing to be used by the Father so faithfully.
I hope you have a wonderful Birthday, Beth! What greater gift could a mother ask for than the love and respect of her daughters. You have blessed them and countless women with your teaching and wisdom. Thank you!
Wishing a very Happy Birthday to a woman who makes me laugh, smile, challenges my faith to grow deeper, inspires me to be in the word, and of course makes me wanna “look real cute”! Beth what I’ve learned from you helped me to walk thru losing my beautiful sassy 17 yr old daughter a yr and a half ago to cancer. Honestly believe God prepared me long before that journey thru studying the word with you! I’m thanking Him for You today! Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday Beth! So grateful for your life!!!
Happy birthday, Beth!! Your Bible studies and scripture memorization has greatly blessed my life. May God continue to use you and richly bless you!!
Happy Happy Happy Birthday…Blessings and love sent to you on your day~~~~ May the Lord continue to cause His face to shine upon and through you Beth….
Happy Birthday Beth! Just another example of how sweet you are – it’s your birthday and YOU are giving the gifts!
Happy Birthday Beth. May God richly bless you and your family. You have been a wonderful blessing to me from your books to your Bible studies.
Happy Birthday, Beth!!
We would love walking our dogs in the woods together. It is my daily prayer walk too. Happy birthday girl!
XO
Happy Birthday! Your ministries have changed my life! Have a blessed day!
Happy Birthday Beth! What a beautiful mom you are and blessed with such amazing daughters. You are a blessing to the Kingdom and I’m so grateful for you and your teachings over the years. May you have a wonderful birthday and many more to come.
Happy Birthday Beth and dear sister in the Lord. You have inspired me for years and I pray you’ll go on inspiring others for years to come! 😉
Happy Birthday, Beth!!!
Happy Birthday Beth, may God richly bless you this year and many more.
Happy belated Birthday Beth. What a Blessing you are. Thank you for being a faithful woman, obeying God & following the call He’s given you. You’re such an amazing Jesus Lovin’ Girl. Thank you for sharing your life & being an encouraging cheerleader for so many. Love ya Lots :))
Happy Birthday, Beth. I hope your day is especially blessed and wonder filled!
Thank you for sharing your ALL with each of us. You are such a blessing to so many.
Happy Birthday beautiful lady. What a wonderful tribute from your daughter. May your day be blessed and filled with special moments with family.
Happy Birthday Mama Beth!
You are my favorite Bible Study Teacher. Thank you for your dedication to our Lord, Jesus Christ. I cant’t wait to. Set you someday.
Best wishes for a very blessed and happy birthday. I just love reading your blogs. They warm my heart and make my day brighter. Can’t wait to see you in Greenville SC in a few weeks. 🙂
Truly dislike auto-correct!
***I can’t wait to meet you someday***
Happiest of birthdays to you, Beth!! I’ve enjoyed doing your Bible studies for many years. Esther was one of my most favorites. Thank you for bringing scriptures alive through your writing. I pray God’s richest blessings on you and your family!
Happy Birthday, Beth!! Your studies and teaching have blessed my socks off for years. Hope that you are richly blessed today!
What a legacy of love, happy birthday and lots of tex mex and salsa!!!
Happy Birthday Sister! Blessings to you and your family! Thank you for giving of yourself to others. Love you much!
Happy Birthday, Beth!!! Thank you so much for your bible studies! I was first introduced to you this Spring through your Thessalonians study at a local church. What a blessing! I hope you and your family are blessed just as much as you have blessed me.
Happiest of Birthdays! What a gift of love and family for your heart today, and a blessing to me to share it with you. I feel as though we are old friends, for you have been there through some very significant steps in my journey, and a blessing as God reveals Himself to me, and one day I want to hug your neck and chat for awhile, whether on this side of heaven or on the other. Much love on this special birthday Beth!
Happy Birthday, Beth!! What a lovely tribute from your very lovely daughter!! We all love you and the way you show Jesus to us in such real ways!!!!
God bless you this year and always. See you in Cincinnati.
Happy Birthday, Sweet Beth! You have inspired me and an entire generation of women to be better, bolder and more real for Christ that I personally thought possible. Your Bible studies have helped the scriptures come alive in such a power way – over and over again. The legacy you leave for your daughters and grandchildren will be of monumentous proportions. You are a reflection of God’s love to all you encounter even if it is through a computer screen. May the favor of God be upon you and our family until the day of Jesus Christ’s return.
And to Melissa, what a beautiful blog post and precious gift to your dear Mom! I can only imagine the tears of pride and joy that streamed down her face as she read.
What a beautiful writing and pictorial to share with all of us what a beautiful mom she has been to you. Your writings give us a glimpse of Who would we should be as moms and yet reminds us of the gift that Beth Moore is to all of us ! Happy birthday and thank you for how transparent and honest you are for us but most especially for your own family !
Happy Birthday Beth. May you be as blessed as you have blessed so many others.
Happiest of Birthdays to you Beth!! Thank you for the life you inspire us to lead.
Happy Birthday Beth … I hope your day and year are blessed and full of happiness.
Oh, Beth, if you only knew how often I have opened your precious studies, wept like a baby, and pursued The Almighty One with renewed hope and vigor!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening to HIS call and putting it all to “pen and paper”! We are all richer for it!
May sweet Irish blessings be yours darlin’!! And may the Good Lord be Blessin’ ya always!!!
Happy Birthday Beth! You inspire us all and I wish you the happiest day possible! What a beautiful tribute from Melissa. May you be blessed this year!
Happy Birthday sweet Beth! You are a lovely role model and an awesome inspiration!
Keep on keeping on!
Have a blessed birthday, Beth. Thank you for all you do for the Kingdom.
Happy birthday Ms. Beth!!! Melissa that was beautiful and I love the pictures!!
Happy Happy Birthday Ms. Beth!
Happy Birthday, sweet Beth!!
What an amazing bday tribute to an amazing lady! I just love it!
Happy Birthday, Beth. Hope your day is extra special
Happy Birthday Beth. I hope you have a very beautiful birthday.
Happy Birthday, Beth! Thank you for your commitment to sharing the truth of the Word of God. Your studies have been an inspiration to me in my walk with the Lord. Have a blessed year ahead!!
Happy Birthday, Beth! May God continue to richly bless you and yours.
Happy birthday, Beth. You have influenced my life and my daughter’s life more than you can know until we meet in Heaven. May God’s face shine upon you.