**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
Happy Birthday, Beth! You have been such a blessing in my life, and you don’t even know it! I do a lot of driving, commuting to work, and I have listened to your devotional cd’s so many times, I could almost quote them. I have talked about them so much, my husband wants to listen to them too! I truly see the hand of God in your life and your teachings, and I appreciate your willingness to be used by Jesus to spread His name and Word. May God continue to bless and use you for His name and His glory. I apologize for the wordiness–but that’s just me. Very wordy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday to a beautiful woman on the inside and the outside! A great inspiration to all!
Wishing you the most wonderful birthday yet. May God continue to use you to bless the world with your teaching, wisdom and humor. Celebrate and enjoy every moment!
Have the most beautiful & blessed Birthday Beth!! My husband & I have learned so much from you, thank you for serving the King of Kings and your Love for Him❤️
May your birthday be blessed with the love of our heavenly Father.
Also, thank you for Breaking Free…..I am free indeed!!!
This is so sweet! What a testimonial of your mother.
Happy Birthday Beth, your studies have brought me further in my relationship with Christ, and I thank you for that. I hope you have a blessed day, as you deserve.
Happy Birthday Beth! May God bless you with many more amazing birthdays!
Happy Birthday Beth Moore!
Happy Blessed Birthday! Thank you for all the years of passionate bible study!
Happy Birthday Beth, to the women who inspired me, 11yeas ago to get out of my pit and trust God. I am so thankful for that. May God continue to bless your path.
Ahhh Happyy Birthday Mrs. Moore!! <333 I hope your day is as lovely as you are and you have an incredible year as well!! <33 You are such an inspiration miss, and your love for God is so contagious and impeccable! You have touched my life in so many ways, and thank you for the reminder that I am perfectly and wonderfully made by the Great Creator, that I am not just any girl, not just some tragedy girl, but genuinely a MIRACLE girl! A beloved daughter of the Great Father! The servant's heart you have been blessed with has instigated such a beautiful movement toward's Christ and I can not wait to see how God will further use you! Your life has been a blessing to me and many others, may the love and joy you share with others return to you ten fold on your special day! Love you miss! *P.S. you and your family are absolutely precious! :')
Happy Birthday! Wish I could hug you in person! You have no idea what you have helped to teach me about trusting God, being humble before Him, knowing His truth, acquiring more of his wisdom, and being more courageous in shining His love to others! My soul is eternally thankful! 🙂
Dearest Beth,
So many times I have wanted to write you personally to tell you the difference you have made in my life. I sit and start to write and something always gets in the way. But now…I have a chance to sum it all up in a birthday wish!
My prayer and wish for your birthday is that the Lord, our God, would bless you with a GREAT HAIR DAY! We know how important it is that we rock out a good hairdo on our special day. 😉
On a more serious note…If you got back just a smidgen of what you have given to so many, all of your days would be richly blessed. You speak into my life like none other and I don’t even personally know you! May God continue doing his mighty work in and thru you sister, until his Kingdom comes.
Sending love from Austin, Texas – Sandra G.
Happy Birthday wishes to you. What a fabulously loving life kinda mom you are. I hope today that you receive all the love from kisses, hugs and smiles to quiet reflections of memories that bring happy tears. May you have these every day, not just on your birthday.
You’re books are such an inspiration!!! Some day my dream is to actually attend one of your talks! I pray that you have a truly blessed birthday! Happy Birthday, Beth! Here’s to many many more!!!
Happy birthday, Beth! Thanks for being such an amazing siesta in the Lord. We love and admire you.
Thank you for all your dedication and sharing of wisdom. Your devotionals and workbooks mean a lot to me and have helped me grow. Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday, Beth! I hope you have a very blessed and amazing day! May God’s glory continue to shine down on you!!
Happy Birthday Beth! You are such an amazing woman that has allowed God’s light to shine through you to us. Thank you!! May your days be blessed and may you continue to run your race for Jesus.
Happy Birthday Beth! I am so enormously grateful for the way that God has used you to bring deliverance (ongoing) to my life! I am so blessed by your entire body of work and I thank my God upon every remembrance of you! Have a marvelous, totally blessed day!!!
Happy Birthday, Beth Moore! You are such an inspiration to myself and others! Heather
Happy Birthday! Have a blessed day and may the next year draw you closer to the Savior! 🙂
Happy birthday, Beth,
Thank you for your transparency to us & your faithfulness to our God of me you & grace.♡
Happy birthday! Thanks for your beautiful words Melissa what a wonderful relationship you have with your mother and sister! May God continue to bless you and your family as well as your ministry!
Happy Birthday dear friend. Your teachings have touched my life in so many ways!
Happy Birthday Ms. Beth! You are a gift from God to so many women. This is my first year doing one of your Bible studies (the one on James), and it’s my first year doing the SMMT. I’m loving all of it, but I’m REALLY loving memorizing scripture. 🙂
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV)
Happy birthday Beth! You have blessed me more than you could ever know. Thank you!
Happy Birthday!
Love studying with Beth through her Bible studies and videos. Beth you are funny and real. Thank you for that! Love ya!!
Happy Birthday to a dear sweet lady! I have enjoyed my walk with you and your studies!
Happy Birthday to a lady I don’t know personally but with whom I feel as though I could sit and drink a cup of coffee and talk for hours! Thank you for your obedience to God to help others know God in a more intimate way! Thank you for sharing His love with us!! Thank you for your contagious passion for Christ! You make me hungry for more of Him! Have an absolutely blessed day my precious friend!
Happy Birthday, Beth! You have taught me so much about the God we love and who loves us infinitely more! May He bless you richly today and always!
Happy Birthday Beth!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Beth! You don’t know me, but you have become a good friend of mine. After many Bible studies together, watching many shows on tv, scripture challenges, and blogs… I talk to you a lot. I appreciate your heart, your wisdom, and your energy to spread the word! As we celebrate you today, I pray for continued blessings as you continue to bless so many!
Happy Birthday to the most amazing, inspirational, and Godly woman I know. Thank you for being such an awesome instrument of God for me to learn so much more about Him and making the journey such a passion. Love you much Sista!
happy life event anniversary!
Oh Beth, what a special day it is! This is the day the Lord has made and we rejoice in it because it is the day he created you! What a tremendous blessing and treasure he showered upon the world when he made you. May he shower you with a multitude of special moments crafted by his hand this day.
Happy Birthday, Beth! I know your heart is just exploding with love for those two beautiful daughters God has blessed you with. Such a beautiful post, Melissa.
Happy Birthday Beth! You deserve the best birthday ever! I hope you know how special and awesome you are…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, you feel like my dear friend, sister and mother even though we’ve never met…Thank you for being you!
Happy Birthday Beth! You mean so much to me! You know I have never met you but feel I know you so well! You are on my prayer list most days to keep the evil one away from you! I pray you have a great birthday and may the Lord bless you with many more! Phil 4:13 we do all things through Christ!
Love you bunches!
Cammie in Pasa-get-down-dena
Happiest of Birthdays to you Beth! I attended your Living Proof seminar in Eugene several years ago and was so blessed to be there. Your life is such an example of God’s grace and love!
Happy Birthday!! You are a great role model! Have a great day!!
HAPPEEEEEEEEE BIRTHDAY BETH !!!!!!!
Sure hope you have the most blessed day ever you so deserve it, you feed all of us daily with your such wise spiritual wisdome and we all so appreciate that you have excepted this call on your life
from from the Lord MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU TODAY !!!
Have a wonderful day! I can’t wait to spend some time with you (and 10,000 of our soon to be friends) in Greenville SC in July! 🙂
I didn’t know Beth and I were birthday twins! Happy happy birthday!
Happiest of Birthdays Beth. My life has been changed by the way you have allowed God to speak through you. Thank you. I’m so glad you were born.
What a joy to share on this 16 th day of June is our commitment of marriage also for 15 yrs… Birthday Blessings Beth, my personal fav!
Happy Birthday Beth Moore! I pray for you often. May you be celebrated today with all the joy and love you can stand and may God be honored through it all!