**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!!! Many blessings wished for you on this very special day!! May God continue to richly bless you as you have blessed me! <3
Happy birthday, Beth! You are such an inspiration to women everywhere! God Bless.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH! Because of you, JESUS is my ALL!
Heavenly blessings to you!
Happy Birthday Beth! I have learned so much from your studies about the Lord and life. Thanks for your graciousness and love of Christ. xoxo
Happy birthday, Beth! I pray that you have a wonderful day.
happy Birthday, Beth! May your day be blessed as you have blessed the lives of so many! I am one of those whose life you have changed, and I hunger for more of your teaching! Celebrate the blessing your life is to so many!!!
Hope you have the happiest of happy birthdays. May God bless you on this day! Celebrate big.
Happy birthday!
happy birthday, ms.beth!
Happy Birthday! I’ve been blessed to participate in two of your bible studies at my church. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family.
Wishing you a Happy Birthday Beth – thanking the Lord for the gifts HE has given you that you so faithfully share with all of us. Praying that HE will continue to bless you in all things – family, friends and in your walk with HIM.
Beth,
I have most of your Bible studies on the shelf behind me, done, years of study, you are a mentor to me and many, happy birthday!
Happy Birthday Beth!!!! You are a light in my world as well! 🙂
Happy Birthday Blessings to a wonderful woman who has allowed God to use her to bless so many. Enjoy your special day
Happy Birthday to you, Beth!
Happiest of birthdays! Thank you for allowing God to move in you and through you to bless, encourage, and challenge so many people, especially myself, through bible studies, Living Proof live, SSMT and Passion conferences. Would you see God more glorified in your life this next year!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for serving God’s precious women!
Happy birthday, Beth! Have a wonderful day, celebrating with your family and friends! We love you!
Happy Birthday dearest Beloved Beth. You have helped me on my learning journey with our father God and Jesus in more ways I can begin to express. I pray that God continues to bless you, your family and all that know and hear your divine teachings. I love you Beth.
Beth, When I saw twitter posts about your BDay, I thought “so soon?” Meaning while it’s another year that has passed, and I’ve experienced from you GREAT ones, I now wonder what in the world the Lord has planned from you for us this year. Hallelujah! Take care and happy birthday!!
Happy Birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!!!!!
We have something in common as tomorrow is my birthday as well!
I recently had the privledge to sing Happy Birthday to you in person at the Tampa, FL Living Proof live event this past weekend!!! I prayed that one day God would give me the honor to meet you face to face and thank you for helping me fall more in love with Jesus through your Bible studies. As I sat in Tampa and watched ladies clamor for a chance to hug your neck as you walked the aisles, I actully had to thank God that this wasn’t my time to meet you (and it may never be this side of heaven) becaue if I had I fear that I would have acted like a Fan Girl instead of a Jesus girl (because I am such a fan of your work but I strive to be a bigger fan of the Jesus we both love so much). You have had such an impact on my life personally. I love that I feel like I know you through the years of the different studies we’ve done togehter. At the times I lifted prayers for you and your family.
My favorite part about you is that when you teach the word of God I want to fall more in love with Jesus! I agree with Melissa you are amazing!!!
I pray that you have a tremendous Birthday! Thank you for the honor to learn how RE is the most beautiful prefix in history!! God Bless you and the entire Living Proof Team.
Happy Birthday dear Beth! Thank you for allowing God to use you in such a mighty way…. this is from one Arkedelphian to another!
Happy Birthday! May youhave a blessed day!
Happiest of birthdays to a hero in the faith who has taught me so much! Praying you feel every wish and prayer on this birthday! God bless you and your sweet family!
Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday, Beth! God has used you to impact many lives including mine! May He greatly bless you!
Happy Birthday Beth! What a blessing you are!
Happy, Blessed,Joy filled birthday to you, Beth Moore !!! May our Awesome God continue to use you mightily in drawing others to Jesus.
Felix Cumpleanos (Happy Birthday) Dearest Mrs. Beth. May the good Lord continue to Bless you and guide you and your entire family as well.
Happy Birthday Beth!! You have made a huge impact on my life, and in turn has helped me make an impact on my kids’ lives. Love you sister in Christ! Hope your day is fabulous!!
Wishing you the very happiest of birthdays. Your enthusiasm and love for the Lord is wonderfully contagious. Your books and bible studies have meant so much to me. I look forward to seeing you in Greenville,SC in July.
God Bless.
Allyson
Happy Birthday Siesta Mama! God has used you in such a mighty way to bring about his goodness and light on this earth, but what better testimony is there that her children arise and call her blessed! May your day be filled with all the light and love of Jesus and the oh so many people you bring so much joy to! Much love!
Happy Birthday to you!
Beth, Happy Bithday!!!! Beyond grateful for you!!!
Happy Birthday Mama Beth! May this day and those to come be as big a blessing to you as you have been to all of us.
Happy birthday blessings to you, Beth…your studies have guided my study group over the last several years, and I have been blessed by your passion and desire for God and His Word! May His blessings pour richly over you and your family today and every day.
Happy, happy birthday, Ms. Beth!!! I joined Twitter so I could see your posts that my sister kept telling me about, and seeing Melissa’s has been a wonderful and unexpected bonus!
Have a very Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for every book and every Bible study you have written. Thank you for all the hours put into them. Thank you for being real and open. God bless you and your family.
Happy Birthday Beth! You have been such a blessing to me and my fellow church ladies! We thank God for you!
Happy Birthday Beth! Have a FUNtastic day! Sending you love and light from Kentucky!
Happy Birthday to this precious soul Beth Moore! You are fearfully and wonderfully made and we are so grateful for you!
Happiest of Birthdays Mrs. Beth!! Your ministry is amazing and you will never know how many lives you have impacted for the Kingdom of God!!
Happy Birthday Beth! I’m thankful for how The Lord has used you in my life and walk with Him!
Happy birthday, Beth! You are such an inspiration to thousands of women. You have shown us God’s Word and His love in so many ways. May He bless you today and every day with His light and love!
Happy Birthday, Beth! You bring so much sunshine into all our lives and I hope today covers you with God’s light, peace and rainbows. Celebrate your special day and make it the best ever.
In Jesus’ love…
Pam
Happy Birthday Beth!!!! I pray you have a very special day with your family. Thank you for your faithfulness to teach God’s Word.
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Beth! You inspire me to study God’s Word! God bless you on your birthday and for many, many years to come!
Happy Birthday, Beth! We are so blessed by your love for God. Thank you for living your life for Him and serving us!