**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 sweet friend and even though we have not met, I think of you as a friend. Your studies have made me a better studier, thinker, searcher and mentor. You have stretched my mind in amazing ways and made me a better mother, sister, daughter and friend. Melissa’s tribute to you was beautiful. Thank you for all the years and I pray you have a wonderful birthday!
Happy Birthday Beth, you are truly a blessed woman who blesses many. I am one of those you have blessed in many ways.
Have a wonderful birthday Beth!
Praying for you my siesta Beth! The Happiest of Birthdays
And the continued blessings from our Father! Thank you
For all you do!
Happy birthday, Miss Beth! Thank you for the blessing that you are to us 🙂 God bless you!
What a beautiful birthday tribute to your mother! Happy birthday, Aunt Beth!!
Cindy
Happy Birthday Sweet Friend <3 I am so grateful for you and how you have listen to the Lord to teach us His word and help us though so many things in life. I pray your day is so blessed!!!
Sweet Mama Beth, I’m not eloquent with words – oh, how I wish I were so I could send you the most wonderful birthday wish ever! – but I do want to tell you that Believing God was the very first Bible study I ever did….after 20 years of being a Christian! And it thoroughly and completely changed my life. So much so that I did it twice! 🙂 In fact, if I’m remembering correctly, I’ve done 5 of your studies twice each. Because your words point me to Jesus like no one else’s. I am able to understand His word through your teaching like no one else’s. Your teaching – more than anyone else’s I know – makes me want to love Him more. I so very often pray your words regarding your own mentors: “I want that!” I know there are millions of women who would say the same, but I count you as my spiritual mama, Beth, and I love you dearly. I pray you have a beautiful, wonderfully joyful, HAPPY birthday!!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for putting so much work and love into all your Bible studies. For almost 30 years I saw Jesus as full of love for me, but the Father as wrathful- like I needed to hide behind Jesus from him. A few years ago our Women’s group did your Bible study From Luke on getting to know Jesus better, and suddenly my eyes were opened to how much the Father loves me too- that when I look into Jesus’ eyes, I am looking into the Father’s eyes of love- what a burden lifted off my shoulders! Thank you again for serving Him!
Happy Birthday, Ebeth! (I only know you electronically, thus the E!)
Thankful for all who poured Into to your life since day 1.
Thankful God wanted you in the world.
Thankful for all the hours you study for our benefit.
Thankful for your family shares you with us.
Thankful for your team without whom you couldn’t do what you do.
Thankful for accepting THE call.
Just this week I felt the need for some more Beth Moore study. Glad you’re out there for us.
Happy, happy birthday.
Enjoy your cake…and candles.
As Elisabeth Elliot said, “life gets harder and harder, but better and better.”
Celebrating you in Cleveland, Ohio,
Pam B.
Happy Birthday, Beth!! I hope you are having a glorious day. We have used a number of your Bible Studies in our church Bible group. You have been a great blessing and inspiration to study the Bible and get closer to living the life God wants for each of us.
Carol
Happy, happy birthday to a woman whose leadership helped define my spiritual growth as a wife and young mom. And now I help lead women’s ministry at my own church. Does it help my chances if my birthday is today?? 😉
Happy Birthday to a Godly woman who has given so much of herself to serving the Lord .My you have a wonderful one.
What a beautiful tribute!! Happy Birthday Beth!
Oh, Beth, Happiest of Birthdays to you. Your studies have enriched my life. Thank you! Blessings and prayers
Happy birthday Beth. Hope you continue to write and teach because your studies have changed my life in so many ways. THANK YOU for teaching me about Jesus’ love.
Happy birthday, Beth! I have just recently celebrated my 70th birthday (June 13). It is with some difficulty that I say that age… I don’t know how I am suppose to feel about the number, but part of me is in serious denial… how can I be that old and still feel so much younger?! Anyway, this isn’t about me, but rather about you. You are an inspiration to me and many of my friends who have participated in several of your studies in our Small Group. Your delivery always brings me such joy and learning about our dear Saviour has never impacted me as much during any other study. Keep on keeping on, dear Beth! God loves you and so do I!
Happy Birthday Beth! Was just with you at Living Proof Tampa. It was awesome. Thanks for doing what you do.
Dear Beth-
Happy Birthday! I hope your birthday brings great joy to your heart! Thank you from my heart for seeking God and sharing your journey with all of us. Your studies bring me inspiration, hope, and Christ in genuine ways. Thank you and many birthday blessings to you!
Cathy
Happy, Blessed Birthday to You, Beth!
Thank you so much for sharing the love of Jesus with so many–me included.
May our Lord bless you and keep you this year!
Have a wonderful birthday!!
Happy Birthday!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom, heart, and love for Jesus with us! The world is such a better place because you are in it. You make a difference and I am so grateful!
Happiest of birthdays, Miss Beth! And a most sincere thank you for being my Bible teacher all these years!
Happy Birthday Ms. Beth. Thank you for being a sister in Christ.
Happy birthday!! I Pray you have a blessed time with your family. You’re an inspiration to me with all the work you do. God bless you!
Happiest of birthdays to you! It’s my birthday today too 🙂
This brought tears to me eyes! Happy birthday Ms. Beth!!
Happy Birthday Beth, I have been blessed to participate in several of your bible studies. Each one I think is the best until we start another one! Have a wonderful birthday and eat lots of cake with your tortilla chips & salsa! Love you, Kathy from Tennessee
Happy happy birthday Beth!! Sometimes I feel we have walked the same road of adventure God has us on. God has used you and your teaching to bring healing and wholeness into my life.
Great thanks to Him and to you for your willingness to be transparent about yourself.
Now go and eat some cake and drink some coffee for me girl!
Only God Could have given us such a Beautiful Soul, Happy Birthday. Praying that all your wishes come. You and your ministry means a lot to the body of Christ.
Blessings, Blessing, Blessing.
“Happy Birthday”
Enjoy the day and have some fun!
Happy Birthday Beth! You have been an amazing blessing to me in my walk with Jesus and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart! Hope your day is a day filled with love, laughter and richest blessings.
What a blessing you must be to your mother! She is an awesome woman. I wish her extra special blessings on her birthday and the coming year. I have been reading her books and attending Bible studies by her. I never seem to get enough. She has helped my growth and kept me sane at times when the road has gotten rough. Melissa, what an awesome way to say Happy Birthday to your mom. My mom is in a nursing home waiting to die. Moms are treasures beyond measure.
Happy Birthday to a Life Changer. I can only hope that one day my daughter might be inspired to write such things about me.
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Beth! It’s an honor to wish you a happy birthday! I know Him more because of how He has used you. Thank you for your faithfulness. Praise Jesus for your life, and may you have many more!
Happy Birthday, Beth! Your work has been a blessing in my life.
Happy birthday Beth! words cannot express how much your Bible studies have meant to me. I see Jesus Christ in you, through you and around you. Thank you
Happy birthday to a woman who shares my mother’s birthday! Wow…two women who have shown me how to a Christ seeking life share the same birthday!
Happy, Happy Birthday Beth!
Happy Birthday to a woman who clearly loves God and people! Thank you for teaching us to love Him more! See you in Greenville! (My daughter will speak at the preconference.)
Happy Birthday Beth! You have been in my life, since my youngest was close to a year old…you just didn’t know it! He is now in college! Thank you for writing such awesome Bible Studies that have deepened my knowledge and relationship with Jesus!
Happy Birthday! You are such an inspiration and have impacted my life greatly! Your wisdom is such a blessing! You are such a wonderful gift from God!
Happiest of Birthdays to you!!!!
Beth, Happy Birthday to a wonderful lady who shares her love of God with so many of us around the globe! 🙂 I have learned a lot about Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit from your Bible lessons in phases of my life! For your spiritual influence I am truly grateful! Words cannot adequately convey my thankfulness to you for your faith and to your calling as preacher and teacher! 🙂
May God grant you even more birthdays to celebrate as the years go by!
Happy Birthday! Enjoy some of your favorite things today!
Happy, happy, happy birthday Mrs. Beth! I so hope you have such a wonderful day so filled with love. Love in Christ, Christy
Happy Birthday Beth Moore!
Your relationship with your daughters makes me smile. I lost my own sweet mother ten years ago, and I am currently recovering from a divorce. I so wish I had my own mom to walk beside me right now. However, you feel like a surrogate mother to me through your blogs and books so I want to say thank you. May God bless you richly today and always!
Christie
Happy Birthday! From an Arkansas to Houston
Transplant. Thank you for your service to
The Lord that blesses us all. My favorite BS is
The last day time bs on Nehemiah you did at Houston’s
First Baptist. I listen to it at least once a year to
Help when I am in leadership. Thx. Shelly
Beth, hoping today brings you as much joy as you have brought others!! Thanks for digging deep into God’s word, for having a heart that seeks Him and for sharing it with others!! I love that you share what I am already thinking and yet, I can’t verbalize it!!! Amazing that you are so relevant with your topics, and know just what we need to learn more about! Many blessings on your special day! Linda
Happy Birthday Beth,
Glad to have a chance to tell you that I pray for you often. God has used you to teach us His deep truths. Thank you for being so faithful and to make sacrifices for His glory. You are deeply appreciated and I look forward to meeting you one day…either on this Earth or in Heaven. Hope your family spoiled you well on your birthday!
My Aunt and I were privileged to attend LPL Tampa last weekend. What a blessing! I have also been able to attend in Baltimore and Richmond, done a simulcast and several studies with groups. I can’t express enough what a blessing you are and what an impact you’ve had on my heart! I love you and wish you the most amazing birthday ever! I know Jesus is so proud of you and so joyful to have you in His corner! <3