**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!!!! What an inspiration to been to millions of women world wide!!!!!
Your love for God’s word continues to encourage me in my daily walk. May God bless you with many many more birthdays!!!!
(((hugs)))
~ Lakeisha
Happy Birthday Beth from a devoted Siesta!
Happiest of birthdays to you! May your joy in life continue to spill over into many others lives for many more years!
Happy Birthday Beth. I have enjoyed watching you over the years. I love the truthfullness you give your audience.
Happy, happy birthday Beth. Words are my love languages, so you are very dear to me thanks to your sharing of words!!
Your mama and I share a birthrday. She sounds like a beautiful soul! Happy birthday!!
Happy Birthday,God bless you. I was in Tampa last week end ,and I will remember the 6 re- verbs:)
Happy Birthday, Beth! I know with your awesome family around you, it will be a good one. I so enjoy your studies and your blog. I am ready to sign up for the next one at Grace Community Church in Great Bend, Kansas. I will be seeing in Wichita in September!
🙂
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for all that you do! You live your life following Jesus and you have helped and will continue to help so many come to know God and to have their faith strengthen and grow! God Bless you for all that you do! Thank you!
I wanted to be a blessing to you, because you have been a blessing through your ministry. You have open the doors of so many hearts to allow Christ to come in. May God bless you on your birthday, and continue to bless you with many more. Thank you for all that you do.
Happy, happy birthday Siesta Mama! You are so loved. On the day you were born God gave the whole world a beautiful, beautiful gift. Many blessing to you today and always!
Happy birthday to sweet Beth Moore! 🙂 I can NOT agree more with the words MelisSA wrote on her blog! :_ BLESSINGS TO YOU BOTH!
Wishing you the happiest of dsys, Beth. This blog post is a darn good start! You are blessed beyond measure to have a child describe her mom like that! All the accolades this side of heaven don’t compare to words of love from our chikdren and husbands. You, my friend, are blessed indeed.
Happy Birthday Beth! I hope you enjoy your day. God bless you and your family: )
Happy Birthday, Sweet Beth. I praise God for anointing your heart to teach woman with a passion that only comes from Him. I love and appreciate you very much. Blessings.
Happy Birthday Beth!!!
As tears run down my face after reading this amazing tribute from your daughter I know the best gift a Mom can have. It is a daughter who loves Jesus like she does. Enjoy your day and ALL of Gods great Blessings!!!
Lidija Hankla
Happy Birthday Beth!!! May you have a very blessed day!! Thank you for being such a blessing….I love your studies!!
Aw, you share a birthday with one of my boys! Happy, happy birthday and may this year be the best one yet.
What a testament to who you are – your daughter, who’s seen it all, blesses you, honors you and loves you so deeply. May you sense the Lord’s delight over you in the deepest place and rejoice in Him for what He has done.
Praying out Lord opens up the heavens and pours out extra special blessings on you and your loved ones, Beth. Thank you so much for your obedience and faithfulness. Your commitment and passion have helped me and countless others to grow in Christ. Your words have lifted me out of a pit, stretched me, taught me, given me strength and great joy. I love you. Happy, happy Birthday!
Happy happy birthday Beth! Thank you keeping it real! May your birthday be as joyful as the words you preach. “I Love You Too!”
Happy Birthday Beth!! I love all of the Bible studies you have written! They have helped my grow in my relationship with Jesus so much! Thank you for all of them! I keep you in my prayers. I pray that God will continue to bless you with writing Bible studies for women! I thank God for you, Beth!! Love you!! Hope you have a wonderful birthday!!
Happy birthday, Beth. We almost have the same birthday. Thank you for your Bible studies. I have them all. I can’t say that I always enjoyed them because no one enjoys having their toes stepped on! God bless you for your commitment to share and live God’s word.
Happy Birthday Beth. Thank you for your ministry and may God continue to bless you.
happy birthday, Beth!!! Your wisdom and willingness to share Jesus with the world is over-the-moon inspiring to me!!
Happy Birthday Beth. Thank you for your faithfulness and your teaching Gods Truth! I appreciate you. Xo
Happy Birthday Mrs Moore.
I sharing this story hoping that it will tickle you like it did me and because you were inadvertently a key player! A couple years ago I had hand surgery on my dominant hand. It was hard to get out of bed and do many things one handed while also protecting my bandaged plated and pinned arm. At a loss as to how to call for help I pushed a hardcover book off my night stand. It worked and my dear husband came to rescue. It became a habit and it worked. The book? Jesus the one and only. In hardcover. It did survive but one day my husband was teasing me and said, “stop dropping Beth Moore on her head!”
Whenever I see that book on my bookshelf I smile and recall God’s faithfulness during that season, and His healing.
As for the book, I loved it! You were great company as I recovered.
Precious words for a precious lady. Happy Birthday to a lady who has taught so many women so much about loving Jesus!
Happiest of birthdays, Beth!! You are a mentor, inspiration, and blessing to many, many woman. We are forever thankful for you!! Have a fabulous day!
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday Beth! You never cease to inspire me! I thank you for being you! And I thank God that He graced the world with you!
Happy Birthday Beth. May God continue to bless and use you!
Happy Birthday Beth! What a legacy you have already given your family. God bless you. Psalm 34:8
What a pleasure and Blessing to Wish you a Happy Birthday, Beth. God Bless
Happy Birthday Beth! You are an amazing woman and a virtuous wife and mother as your precious Melissa has testified. What a blessing to hear her love and respect for you . . . I pray your day has been full of love and countless blessings. Hugs to you girlfriend . . . I love seeing the Lord in and through you, it inspires me to reach for Him more and more!! Much Love, Lori
Happy Birthday Beth! What a blessing you are!
Happy Birthday Beth! I hope your day is filled with all your simple pleasures! I loved reading your daughter’s tribute to you! What a gift!
Happy birthday, Beth! Wishing you a thousand fold back of the blessings you so faithfully give to thousands of other ladies! Grace and Love….From the other Beth M. 😉
Happy birthday, Beth! What a blessing you are to so many. I thoroughly enjoy you and have learned so much from you. Thank you for being a light in this world!
Julie
Happy Birthday!
I have tears reading this. What a precious relationship you have!!
Happy birthday Beth! Thank you for allowing Jesus to use in the lives of many broken women like yours truly!
And Melissa, what a lovely tribute:)
Birthday greetings to a woman beloved by so many women who have so benefited from your teaching over the years. May the Lord continue to bless your life and your ministry. What a beautiful family you have and such a sweet tribute from your daughter.
Many many birthday blessings to you Mrs Beth Moore.
Melissa. You slay me. Also, the West Wing. I knew we were soul sisters.
Happy Birthday to you dearest Beth. Love you!
Dear Beth, I have a Bible Study leader in Naples Florida who could be your sister, soul sister at least. She is beautiful on the outside as you are and so beautiful on the inside and knowledgeable about the Bible. Her Bible looks like a road map, aqua yellow and pink high-lighter stripes inside. We also had another ‘studier’ who died last Dec of cancer. She was also beautiful on the outside as on the inside. I once told her that God made her beautiful because it made her more approachable for people she ministered too. She died at 64 I think because all the work she had done for our Savior was finished. Their names are Cheryl Fuller, Indianapolis and our sister in heaven is Mary Jane Haener from Marine City, Mich. We loved our Beth Moore Bible Study, so I say thank you, Beautiful sister! Dottie
Happy Birthday, Beth! Thanks for all your hard work you’ve put into your bible studies and conferences. They have truly blessed my life.
What a beautiful thing to do. Your mom has been such an inspiration in my life over the years especially this year with the loss of my dad and various struggles this year.
Thank you so much for doing this.
Gah…reading that just brought me to tears, the ugly tears..! Oh how at 40, I still miss my forever young (passed in 1989) momma..! We lived in Houston in our old life, she LOVED Mexican food, strong sweet tea, and I just know she would spoil her grandkids, but especially my daughter with Matilda Jane (saw pic!!)…! Happy happy birthday..your blog, Bible Study (start What Love Is soon!), I have some scripture app that I need to get serious about..but it encourages me..lol..all just really really give me peace..thank you..!! I hope alllllll of your birthday wishes are coming true, and you are surrounded by everyone you treasure with lots of chocolate cake..also..stay safe and dry..!!
Happy Birthday! What a sweet post!
Happiest of birthdays, Beth!