**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!
For over 10 years your books have helped me know God better and better. Your blogs bring encouragement and make me sigh in gladness and chuckle in my spirit because you are refreshing and very funny! May today be the best day and the year bring fresh revelation of His crazy love for you!
Happy Birthday Beth!!! May God continue to shower His blessings upon you and your family.
happiest of birthdays to the remarkable beth moore!! 🙂
Happy birthday Beth! Hope you’ve had a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday Beth! Enjoy your special day!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for your commitment to God and the blessings we receive because of it.
, Have a blessed birthday Beth! May not only your birthday be special but each and every day to come. Your teachings are enlightening and heartfelt. Thank you.
I’m excited to learn we’re birthday twins! Happy (belated) birthdays, to a mentor I’ve never met, but feel like I’ve known for years, as a sister in Christ 🙂
Happy Birthday, Beth.
What a sweet tribute from your daughter. Thank you for everything you have taught me through God’s Word that I wouldn’t have seen for myself.
Happy Birthday Beth. May it be a day filled with much goodness and celebration!!
From one June baby to another!
Happiest of birthdays to a woman who has taught me so much over the years.I saw you last weekend at the Tampa conference and it was so amazing.Thank you for all you do!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday to a lady who has helped me grow in the Lord with her books and bible studies! I pray your birthday is blessed with many friends and family! Love, prayers and blessings!
Happy Birthday Beth!
What a beautifully written tribute to you by your daughter! I cried while reading it. You are one blessed Momma! Thank you for blessing each one of us that have met you through your Bible studies and books. I know my life has changed by reading and studying God’s word with your help.
Happy Birthday!!!!
Happy Birthday Beth! Today is my youngest daughters birthday! I didn’t know until now that she shares it with such great company! I’m currently going thru your breaking free program and really enjoy it. I absolutely loved Esther! So much so that we named our lab/golden mix Esther!!! Have a great Bday, Love you, Susan
Dear, dear Miss Beth,
It seems so fitting to wish you Happy Birthday while we are celebrating the life of another prolific Christian woman author and speaker, Elisabeth Eliot. It appears your personalities were worlds apart, but your passion and heart for the Lord the very same. Thank you, Beth, for all you do to influence women for the kingdom. You are a treasure. So very grateful to sit under your teaching. Our women at Salem Church of God (near Dayton Ohio) are studying Children of the Day right now and planning our trip to Cincinnati for LPL in a couple of weeks. We love you and are so looking forward to it.
Happy Birthday dear Beth, Where ever I travel or go one of your Bible Study books is always with me. Thank you so much for your inspiration and encouragement but most of all thank you for being real and honest. You are a real southern jewel and believe me there are not too many of those in the public world these day! Praying for you and your ministry.
happy birthday Beth!! Blessed by you!!
Happy birthday Beth! I hope you had a wonderful, blessed day. It was an absolute privilege to sing happy birthday to you this past weekend in Tampa! I thought to myself, if you could handle 7000 people singing you happy birthday that I would never cringe when a handful sing it to me! Thanks for helping me see we are ALL Miracle Girls!
Love ya,
Brandi
Happy Birthday Beth, this is my Mom’s birthday as well. You have blessed my life with your books and Bible studies. This year I am a Siesta Scripture Team member and it has been such a comfort to me. May you have many more happy and healthy years to come.
Happy Birthday Beth! I hope your day is filled with love and blessings! You have impacted the world is such a beautiful way! So grateful that you share truth with us!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY Birthday! I LOVE how you LOVE THE LORD! You are one special lady and I have learned a lot from your studies! May you and the ones you LOVE be BLESSED! Love, Sharon
Happy Birthday, sweet Beth!
happy happy birthday!
Happy happy happy birthday to one of the very best speakers I have ever heard.God bless and I hope you enjoy your birthday.
Happy and blessed birthday dearest Beth. You are highly esteemed and honored by thousands upon thousands of souls who are richer for having heard you speak, read your books, or sat mesmerized in an arena while you opened His word in a fresh new way. You are loved!
Happy birthday! God bless. Thanks for being committed to Gods word.
Happy Birthday to beautiful Beth. In my own walk with the Lord, I’ve had times of exhaustion and doubt. countless times He has used Beth’s unfaltering love for Jesus to remind me of the faithful and to encourage me to keep running the race. I cry just thinking of all the ways God has used her to speak truth over me in times of brokenness. Hope your birthday is wonderful. You are a treasure.
What a beautiful post! I hope to have this kind of close relationship with my girls when they are grown!
Happy Birthday Siesta Mama! I hope it’s as wonderful as you are!
Happy Birthday.
May the Lord continue to shine on your ministry. May you continue to allow the Lord to use in bringing closer to the Lord.
Happy Birthday……….
Happy Birthday Beth! What a beautiful tribute your daughter has written for you! I’ve only begun getting to “know” you this past year through a small group bible study and I LOVE what I’m learning!! May you have a wonderful birthday and many more. You are such a blessing!
Happy Birthday, Beth! I hope you feel loved and treasured today because you are one of God’s brightest and boldest gems. I had the blessing of spending last weekend with you in Tampa, and when I left, as I have at each Living Proof Live event I’ve been blessed to attend, I thanked God for you and your ministry and your ability to bring the scriptures to life for your audience. I love your wit and your tender heart and mostly I’m crazy about how you love Jesus! Even though I’m a few years your elder, when I grow up, I want to be like you!
PS – I love the scripture memorizing challenge you presented to us. Ready to start working on #12 tonight!
Dear Beth,
I don’t know what anyone could say to be more of a blessing than what your own dear daughter posted. Nothing blesses us moms more than the love of our dear children. You have been like a mom to me even though I’m probably old enough to be your mom. You have nurtured me and given me a great love for the Lord and His Word and I am so blessed that you were born and you have followed the Lord so faithfully. God bless you richly all of your days to come. In His love, Connie
Happy Happy birthday dear Beth. You are such a blessing to me. I have learned more from you than any other teacher I’ve studied under. Thank you for sharing your life with us. Praying Gods richest blessings on you and your family. Happy birthday !!
Happiest of birthdays to you, Beth! Your bible studies are my favorite because you’re not afraid to be real. I hope you’re having a blessed day. 🙂
Awwww…what a lovely tribute. Happy birthday, Beth!
Happy birthday, Beth. I’m so grateful that God brought you to this earth for such as time as this. You inspire me to get closer to our Lord. May you be immeasurably blessed today and for the rest of this birthday year. Love you, Sister, loved by God.
Happy Birthday Beth! You have certainly sowed into my life and I thank you for all the sacrifices unseen. God bless you this day!
Happy Birthday Beth! You have blessed me over and over with your bible studies. I pray God will continue to bless you in your personal life and in your ministry.
Happy Birthday, Beth! I see God at work in your life. It is so awesome. And you have passed on your love of The Lord to your daughters. Yeah!
Happy happy birthday sweet Beth!
Happy Birthday Miss Beth! We’re so grateful for the impact you have in the world!
Happy Birthday to a sister in Christ!
Happy Birthday Beth! You are a blessing!
Happy day of your birth!! Hope it is a great and enjoyable day!!
Happy Birthday, Miss Beth! I pray today you will be blessed, even just in part, for the blessing you’ve been to others. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and for being brave enough to be honest about your walk with our Father. You’re such a gift to so many people, and I’m grateful God made you just like you! 🙂
A BIG Texas sized Happy Birthday from HOT and sunny Arizona.
This is the relationship I’m hoping to build with my children. Thank you so much for posting this.
Beth, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. Your Breaking Free study changed my life. I am going through a huge transition and that study has helped me keep my sanity and focus on God’s plan for me, instead of another’s. I am so thankful that you wrote it.
Again, I sincerely wish you a wonderful day. God bless!
Happy birthday Beth!!!
Wishing you blessings & joy beyond measure. Thank you for the light you’ve brought into countless lives.