**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! I hope this year is filled with blessings. I know you bless me often enough!
HBD,
Susan
Happy Birthday Beth. Thank you for listening to HIS voice and sharing HIS word to so many all over the world. Your teachings have deeply touched my life and I am so profoundly grateful to the Lord for your ministry. May your day be full of joy and gladness, and may your salsa bowl never be empty! 🙂
Happy Birthday Beth. You are an inspiration and blessing to so many! Thank you for your ministry! Blessings!
Happy Happy Beth day!!!!!!
Thankig God for you today!!
Stephanie
Happy birthday sweet Beth. You have gotten me through more than one hard time. I feel like I know you. And,I wear Flowerbomb also. I love how you guys love each other and Jesus. Have a fabulous day. 🙂
Happy Birthday Beth. That was an amazing tribute by your daughter. I have taken part in many of your bible studies and have been blessed by each and every one. Thank your for letting our Lord Jesus Christ shine through you.
Happy birthday Beth!
Thank you for allowing the Lord to use you to accomplish His will!
Blessings in Jesus,
Dana
Happy Birthday Miss Beth!!! Can not thank you enough all that you have tought me!!! Thank you for saying yes to God’s call!
Happy birthday, Beth! The ladies at my church are always doing one of your bible studies. We just finished Esther and are going to be starting Believing God in the fall. I love doing your studies. You have encouraged me so much through them!
Happiest of birthdays to the most delightful woman of God! I adore your Texas humor and all of your Bible Studies which helped me and countless others to grow in Christ! THANK YOU! May our precious Lord bless you always! BIG birthday blessings to you!!!
Happy, happy, birthday Beth. You are such an inspiration to me. You challenge me and have taught me so much. I’m praying for a very blessed day for you and many more birthdays to come. Enjoy your special day.
Happy Birthday, Beth!
Beth, you have had more of an impact on my spiritual life than anyone I can think of, and I don’t even personally know you. I know you have impacted many others, as well. I’m so grateful that The Lord chose you to teach me to love the Scriptures…of course He needed to pick a Texan or I may not take them seriously! In all honesty, I can’t find the words to thank you. I will be forever indebted! Happy birthday! I hope it’s great because YOU deserve it!
Happy Birthday Beth! May God bless you more abundantly than you can ask or think! May the blessing that you have been to all of us return to you ten fold!!
Love,
Linda
Happy, happy birthday!!
Happiest of birthdays!
Happy Birthday! You have been such a blessing to so many, including me. Enjoy this special day surrounded by your loving family!
Happy birthday blessings Beth! So thankful for you and your ministry!
Happy Birthday, Beth! I just celebrated my 56th on 30 May and I hope yours is as joyous and blessed as mine was. Your studies have helped me and the women I share them with to grow in our walk with the Lord. I can’t thank you enough for allowing God to use you in the way that He does. I had the opportunity to meet you in Germany many years ago and then to shake your hand at the Pentagon, almost to the exact day, 10 years later. You are everything your daughter, Melissa, describes you as. Till we meet again! Love, Rebecca
Happy happy Birthday Beth! Thank you so much for helping me grow in my walk with Jesus through your Bible studies!! Hope you feel so treasured today!!
Happy birthday Beth,
I loved hearing from your daughter about for love for you and your character, and also learning more about your personality. So fun!
Happy birthday, Beth. What a sweet tribute from your daughter. I can only hope for something similar from one of my sons someday. Who am I kidding? Sons don’t write this kind of stuff about their moms. Instead, they punch you in the arm and say, “That was FUN!” Or during tender times sit so close that I can’t even breathe. There is hope for mothers of boys…that they might marry daughters like yours!!!
Happy birthday!
Oh, Beth, we all wish you a FABULOUS birthday!!! What a friend you have been to all of us! We love you and thank The Lord for you!!!
Lots of love-Christi 🙂
happy birthday to one incredible woman! I am so blessed by your faith and life and love for God’s Word! Thank you for loving hard and loving well!
Happy Birthday Ms Beth! Your Bible studies are such a blessing to this gal who needs all the help she can get when leading a study! Thank you to you and your family for ALL your sacrifices!
What beautiful words! Happy Birthday, Beth!!! You are dearly loved!
Happy Happy Birthday to Beth! Melissa, your lovely message about your mom was deeply touching!
Happy Birthday Miss Beth!!!
Your Bible studies have prompted so much spiritual growth in me. Thank you thank you for your ministry to women like me!
Hope your birthday is a wonderful time of friends family love and great food!
happy birthday, Beth! You are definitely a light to this world! Grateful for all you do!
Happy Birthday, sweet Beth! Jesus pour down Your Love on my precious sister in an extra special way today. It’s her birthday and I love her too!
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Ms. Beth! I hope it’s filled with blessings and fun times with your family.
Happy Birthday Beth. May your day be filled with many happy moments. And may God continue to bless you with His wisdom and knowledge of His word as you allow Him to use you to Bless us and allow us to grow in Him!
Happy birthday, Beth!!! Just saw you in Tampa and I am ready to REignite so many things in my life and in the lives of those around me! Thank you for allowing God to use you to speak truth into others!
Beth, I am wishing the very best Birthday the Lord has for you. I know He has so many new adventures to take you on and to let you open up many more gifts of His, that are buried deep in His word. Thanks for sharing with us the treasures God has revealed to you.
May this Birthday be one filled with much love, but most of all fun.
Happy Birthday and many Happy Returns!!
May your Birthday be blessed!
Happy Birthday Beth! Just wanted to tell you that as a ladies group we have been studying “A Woman’s Heart”. The timing of this study in my life couldn’t be more perfect. We have been going before that throne of grace a lot as we as a family deal with the joy of a beautiful granddaughters birth but the sorrow of her twin brothers death. Thank you for sharing God’s truth’s with so many!
Beth, You have changed my life when it comes to Bible studies. I thoroughly enjoy your studies and have done to many to name. But my favorite one has been Joshua. I still remember everything about this study and I did over 10 years ago. I was fantastic.
I want you to have a blessed, joyful, and rememberable birthday this year! Have many, many more birthdays, also.
With love,
Lori Troher
Happy Birthday Beth.May God bless you and your family
Happy birthday Beth! I love every study I’ve done! You bless me and thousands of women every week! May He continue to bless you and your family!
Happy Birthday Sweet Lady. I’ve met you only twice in person but feel we are best friends. I planned my vacation to Ohio around your Lifeway event in Cincinnati so I could take my sister’s to see you. I’m so looking forward to see how God speaks through you to them. So again Happy Birthday Beautiful Friend, Leader, Sista in Christ. I Love You…..
Happy Birthday to the MOST godly woman I know aside from my own mom! Because you were born, so many women’s potential in Christ has been called out, chains have been broken, and hearts made alive in Christ! I LOVE this post from Melissa and hope that my now six year old son and one year old daughter feel the same about me now and when they’re older! I hope your day is filled with all the coffee, all the nature walks and all the love from your family! Happy, happy birthday!!
What you just shared about your Mom… very sweet. And it’s always fun to see pictures! Thanks for the blessing that you are to all of us!
Happy Birthday Beth!! Hope you have a blessed day!
Happy birthday, Sister Beth! I had the joy of seeing you for the first time in Tampa this past weekend. It was a blessing. Thank you for sharing the “re-verbs” with us!
Happiest birthday Siesta Mama! So thankful you were born and that you pour out everything you are to the Lord. Thank you for teaching us His Word and how to love Him more!
Dear Beth,
It’s been close to 15 years since I first did one of your Bible studies… and to my great joy, the little group of military wives that worked through A Heart Like His are all still close friends, emailing and facebooking and encouraging each other as we celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. For women and families that have been through more PCS moves and deployments than I can count, your Bible study knit us together and has been a powerful presence in all of our lives. Happy Birthday.. and thank you, my sister in Christ, for bringing me into fellowship with my sisters all those years ago!
Happiest of birthdays to you Miss Beth!! You are such an inspiration to me! Hope you have a wonderful day with your beautiful family!
Happy Birthday Beth. I have studied with you many times and I must say that you really make me think, which is a good thing. You truly do energize me to go farther into the word than I have ever been before. Do have a most tremendous and wonderful birthday ever and please keep the studies coming.