**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
What a wonderful tribute! Beth, you’ve blessed my life by leading me through studies of God’s word yielding laughter, tears, a combination of both and countless encounters with God that have truly changed me.
THANK YOU for being so vulnerable, so honest, so hardworking and so brave. God has used you to bring me closer to Him.
Praying for an abundance of love and joy for you today. And, that this would be the most encouraging year of your life (so far).
Melissa, your words are precious and the love you and your mother share is obvious!
Happy Birthday Beth! I hope you have a glorious day filled with love!
Much love from Louisiana,
LaDonna
happy birthday to a wonderful woman of God, whoever says that Christians are boring has never attended one of Beth’s conferences!
Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!! Happy birthday, dear Beth!! Happy birthday to you!!!
Thank you for your willingness to put yourself in the cross hairs of the world! I am currently going through the study “Jesus, the One and Only” with a few friends from my church, and we are truly being blessed!
I pray the Lord allows you to continue your ministry for many more years.
Blessings,
Tammy
If I could write as eloquently as Anita Moore (comment #751, her words are exactly what I would say to you, Beth!Birthday blessings to you!
Happy birthday! I am so happy for your birthday, be cause if it were not so, I would not have been able to study nearly all of your studies, I would not have been blessed by your teachings, both through your bible studies and the numerous times I have seen you in person ( and I have my tickets for Milwaukee this year too!) I thankGod for the wonderful witness you are to share your past, with all the pain and ugliness, inall the hurt and the absence of shame, as an example to us who have much to live down also, you have taught us to break free!. I have cried with you, prayed with you, praised with you and studied with you. Yes I thank God for your birthday, you are a blessing!
God bless you ever so much Ms. Beth and give you a most memorable birthday. I enjoy your Bible Study. You are the best. Love you!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Beth!!! May the Lord bless you and keep, and turn his face to you, may the Lord make his face shine upon you and give you peace. Thank you for your consuming love for Jesus and faithfully serving his people.
With Love, Vanessa
Happy Birthday Beth…my favorite teacher. I thank you girls and your dad and her grandkids for sharing her with us “strays”. She is our “mama” in that as a mom she only wants the best for others. I love her to pieces and yet have never met her in person but maybe in September in Wichita…cause I already have my ticket!!! Happpppyyyy Birttthhhdddaaayy to you Beth…TYL for this special servant!!! Luv ya!!!!
Happy happy happiest birthday to a pioneer women of Faith and legacy
Happy Birthday Beth….I want you to know that your teachings have blessed me in my life over and over again….I actually wrote you a 17 page letter one time, when you came up to Anchorage, AK and you called me out of a crowd of 2300 women and gave me a hug and told me to keep telling my story. My story has changed a lot since then, got a divorce after 24 years of a hard marriage, walked wide open into sin, moved from AK back to WA to take care of my dad, and the Lord continued to woo me back to Him, even in the midst of my sin…When I repented and confessed, He was there with open arms and has once again Redeemed me and told me to share my story.
I saw you in Seattle in Feb. The Lord laid on my heart to write a book. That is because He used you to prompt me to do something that had been on my heart for a long time.
You have been a huge part of my Christian walk, and I really appreciate the things you do and how you minister so willingly from God’s own Heart….
I hope you have the Happiest of Birthdays, and know that God has truly used you in so many ways in so many lives…
Love you Beth, in Him, Gayle Ann
Happy Birthday to a very special lady! Thank you for your ministry in sharing God’s
love ! What an inspiration you’ve been to me to be! I pray you will have a wonderful day and that God will continue to use you to impact the lives of women.
Judy
Happy Happy day beth!!! thank you so much for everything 🙂
xoxoxoxoxo
Christen
Happy Birthday Beth, you are truly an inspiration!!
Happy Happy Birthday Mrs. Beth!
Words can’t describe how much you mean to my family. Your faithfulness to the Lord’s calling and the way you teach us His word is a huge blessing. May the Lord continue to pour out blessing upon blessing on you and your family. Have a wonderful birthday!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thanks for coming into our churches, our lives, and our homes through your studies and books. Your passion for Jesus and for women is inspiring! May God bless you today and always!
Have a happy and blessed birthday! Thank you for being faithful to the ministry to which you have been called. You have had a spiritual impact on my life! I may never meet you this side of the New Jerusalem but “in that day”, if such things are still up for discussion, I can’t wait to discuss every one of your studies, blog comments and LPL events and what they contributed to my journey!
Happy Birthday Beth! You are a blessing. Enjoy your day.
Happiest birthday to you, a spiritual mamma to many!
Happy birthday to the beautiful Beth Moore!
Thank you for shining His light in the darkness.
You have blessed my life. Thank you for your
bravery to write and share your journey even when
fear was overwhelming. God bless you with the
Sweetest Birthday ever.
One of His,
Gina Christmas
Happy Sweet Birthday, Beth! Although I’m in a season where Beth’s studies are a bit too much I look to this woman’s strength and love for the word to inspire me in my day to day.
Happy Birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. You are truly so remarkable in your Bible Studies. We have done several for the ladies of our church in my home.The men are jealous of how close the women have become because of you. Thanks for sharing and caring with us.
Happy birthday, beautiful Beth. It is a tremendous understatement to say you have influenced my walk with Christ in countless ways. I met you briefly when I was working an event you were speaking at on my daughter’s first birthday. I’ll never forget you pulling her into your arms and how genuine and precious you spoke to her. It was a gift for us both. That was twelve years ago and I look forward to doing one of your studies with my sweet girl. I love how your girls love you. You are truly a gift to us all. Happy birthday and God’s blessings upon you always. I love you!
To one of the most amazing and Godly women I know…may God continue to use you to bless and inspire all of us. Your studies have always made me stretch my mind and have taken me to new levels of closeness to the Lord. Your love for Jesus is contagious and I have caught it! I thank God for your life and for all the lives God has used you to change.
Happy birthday Beth!!! You are highly favored!
Happy Birthday Beth! What a blessing you are to so many women daily. We so blessed to have you as a part of our lives!
Happy Birthday, Beth!! God has used you mightily to help me grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Praying for a blessed day in Him!
Wishing you the happiest id birthdays! Thank you so much for being you, sharing your story and your life with us. Your books and videos have been a huge blessing in my life. Thank you and happy birthday!!
The most beautiful of tributes any Mom could ever hope for! So many of us women who “know” Beth through her life-changing Word-infused studies and videos feel we are her friends…. we can agree, she must be a incredible Mom, too! Happiest of Birthdays to you, Beth Moore – so much love, blessings and eternal gratitude sent your way!
Happy happy birthday Beth
Prayer for a blessed day. I so enjoy your studies and daily devotions.
God continue to bless you as you enrich the lives of all age women (and some men too!).
Happy Birthday Beth. Loved seeing you in Tampa last weekend. The lightening capital of the world.
Happy Birthday Beth!
I signed up for the SEAMLESS Bible study and am SO excited!
Love your ministry!
Patty
Happiest of birthdays to a woman who is known for her love of Jesus and His bride. Thanks for your ministry!!!
Happy Happy Birthday! Yay for today!!!! So thankful you were born! Such a gift to ALL!!!! Hope you have an amazing day celebrating! :))
(What a beautiful post, Melissa!!!!)
Happy Birthday Beth!! I pray you have a blessed day and get to spend it with the ones you love!! Thank you for the chance to win such wonderful prizes, y’all are the best!!
Heppy Birthday, Beth! Thanks for making yourself available to God and to the rest of us. 🙂
Happy Birthday Beth! I hope you have a blessed day….you are such a blessing to so many!
There are few others that have impacted my life like you, Beth. Thank you for your sincerity, your love of TRUTH, and your dynamic ability to share HIM with so many women. My life is richer, and I know my ladies in my SS class love to hear me tell your stories! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, precious sister! Won’t it be fun in GLORY to spend time together at His feet!
Happy Birthday Beth!! You are such an inspiration and spiritual leader to so many. Thank you for your devotion and love for the Lord. May this year be one of the best yet!
happy Birthday, Beth! Your Bible studies and conferences have meant so much to me and my two sisters. We have been through them all together and learned so much! Two of us are Bible study leaders at our church, too and many ladies have gleaned much from your studies there also.
I hope you are taking a well-deserved break today and celebrating your birthday bigtime!
Love and gratitude to you,
Judy
Happy birthday Beth!!
Beth,
You have been used by God in ways that you will never know here on earth but your faithfulness, humility and steadfastness are a testimony to your ongoing relationship to God.
I pray often for you – that you will withstand temptation and attacks from Satan. We have seen so many Godly people fall into sin and traps and I pray that the Lord will continue to protect you and give you full reliance on Him!
You prayed for me back in January after I went through IVF and prayed with such confidence and power that I was shaking. I am now 23 weeks pregnant with a healthy, precious baby boy!!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for giving so much of your self to the Lord and therefore us.
Jennifer Griffin
Lynchburg, VA
Happy Birthday sweet sister! Hope your day is full of lots of love and laughter. I love the spirit of Jesus in you!
Happy Birthday Beth! Have a beautiful day & a terrific year.
Happy Birthday! Although I have never met you personally, you are an inspiration to me to live my life totally for our LORD Jesus Christ. Thank-you! May God bless you abundantly!
Happy Birthday Miss Beth!
You are an inspiration for me as a wife and mama, as a believer, as a student of the word and as a bible teacher. I love and admire you more than words can say. Many times when I have a decision to make, I find myself thinking, “would Beth wear this?” Or, “how would Beth approach this?” I loved the outfit you wore in Seattle this year and would you believe I had on nearly an identical ensemble? (Your black boots were much better though.) Thank you for your courage, your grace, your cuteness and for modeling Jesus for us. Wishing you Ephesians 3.20 blessings on this special day!!!
Love,
Amy
Happy happy birthday! Hope your day is blessed! Thank you for sharing your love for the Lord with us! Your words have given me hope when I’ve felt hopeless! You are such a blessing to so many!!
Happy belated birthday!
Dearest Beth,
I have facilitated about 5 of your studies in my church and feel like I know you. All the women absolutely love your studies. All of us learn so much from you. I pray that your birthday is very blessed, as you have blessed so many of us with your teachings.
Yours in Christ,
Janr
Happy Birthday Beth!!!
You’ve blessed so many. May we all bless you back today. Thank you for your studies. Thank you for sharing yourself unabashedly with us. Thank you for the example you are. God bless you and your family with all His might. And that’s a lot!