**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 have learned so much from your studies. Thank you,
Happy Birthday, Ms. Beth!! Thank you for your service to all of us! I’m doing Breaking Free right now!!
Happiest birthday to you Beth!!
What a blast it was to spend part of your
birthday month with you in Tampa last weekend
and to visit with you and all the SIESTAS after
the conference! I LOVE YOU and thank God
for your life and friendship and love of Tex Mex food.
You spur me on as a minister and leader of God’s Word!
Celebrating you today with taco’s and chocolate!
Happy birthday to wonderful you! You bless my socks off!❤️
Happy Birthday Beth! Always love listening to you speak and your passion for Christ is contagious. (((Hugs))) for your birthday.
Happy Birthday to you!
How does one begin to put into words how deeply someone has touched her heart and changed my life. I come from a life of religion and you have turned my world upside down with your passion and love for Jesus! You have fueled a fire in my bones for my Sweet Jesus! You have made His Word come alive like never before and you introduced me to daily living in Him and walking in His Spirit. I know so many women tell you this but no one has impacted my walk with Jesus like you have, and I know some Godly women. Thank you not only for your large lpl ministry (which I love to attend) and your bible studies (that teach me and convict me and inspire me) but also for this blog and Twitter and being real with us and letting us in your daily walk…the ups and downs.
Love you so much and am so blessed by you!!
Happiest of all birthdays! Hope you have a wonderful time with your sweet family!
Happy Birthday, Beth! May the coming year bring you joy and laughter and blessings galore! 🙂
Happy birthday, Beth! You inspire me to know Jesus better!
Happy Birthday, my dear friend Beth….we have walked many roads together through your books, bible studies and the few times I have been so blessed to see you in person in a room full of hundreds of other women hanging on every word and emotion coming from the precious little body of yours….you have mad me laugh and cry, and many times at the same time, and those are the most special. We also both loved Marge Caldwell, I was first introduced to her in the 1970’s at a National Acteens Convention in Kansas City, Mo., I was hooked from then on, and when I later learned she was a mentor of yours I knew I would love you…again Happy Birthday precious friend…I hope you have an amazing time celebrating your day and I hope you have a very blessed year ahead….
To have a mother like Beth Moore! What a blessing to no only you but all of us! Happy Birthday! You
Happy Birthday! Hope this next year is the best one so far!
Happy birthday Beth! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your ministry! You have taught me so much thru your bible studies. I’m eternally grateful to you for your commitment and sacrifice to serving us…. You are an amazing woman of God!! I pray a continual fresh anointing over you for many more bible studies!:) This blog is such a joy! I continue to pray protection, wellness, and of course Jesus, for your precious family.
I love you, Sherri
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!
I hope you have a blessed and memorable Birthday.
I sent a message that belonged here to your website, not attentive enough I guess! However I am attentive whenever you speak. Your gifting of teaching draws myself and others to your words. I feel like I need to pay attention, like I am hungry for your words.
I feel blessed to live in a county where I can hear you speak and read your publications!
THANK YOU for impacting so many lives in a Godly way.
Love in Him,
Leann from Minnesota
Happy Birthday Beth! This is my wedding anniversary too. A great day to remember special memories!
Happy Birthday, Beth!! Hope you had an awesome and blessed day ☺️
Happy belated birthday, Beth. You are a blessing!
Happy Birthday, Beth!! And what a beautiful tribute, Melissa!
A very happy birthday to you Beth. My very first bible study 13 years ago was your study on David. I was hooked. Thank you for all you do! Hope you have a blessed year!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for making learning so easy and for helping me understand the Word of God. I have been fortunate enough to attend your DVD bible studies (two per year for the last 4-1/2 years) at our local YMCA. Besides learning, I feel like I KNOW you and your family and I thank you for sharing your personal stories with your unseen audience! Love you and your love for Jesus!!
Blessings on you and your family,
Kathy Polley
Happy Birthday Beth!!
Happy Birhday Beth! I have learned so much from you and I hope I am just like you when I “grow up.” I at least want to look as cute as you. Can we go shopping together? 😉 In all seriousness nobody has had an impact on my spiritual life like you. I am forever grateful. Much love to you!
Happy Birthday Beth!
Thank you and your family for sharing your life and Jesus with us all.
What an honor to wish you a very happy birthday and to celebrate your nativity Beth! Wishing you a year full of Jesus, laughs, adventures, family and love!
Happy Birthday Beth! You are a blessing to me and soo many women! Thank you for your gifts and talents that God has blessed you with! You use them for His glory and bring us closer to Him!
Your daughter’s writing is beautiful! What a treasure from heaven! God is so good! Blessings for a wonderful year as you continue blessing so many and for your protection! Thank you for all you do and helping me on my journey and growing closer to Him! Camilla
Happy Birthday, Sweet Beth! I thank God for anointing you to teach, and that He gave you a special calling to love and teach women. His teachings through you have changed my life and help me grow in Him everyday. Love and blessings to you, your fsmily
Happy Birthday!!! Many blessings be yours, today and always! See you in Cincy next week!
Happy birthday lovely lady–may you be blessed with many, many more wonderful birthdays–love your Bible studies!
Happy Blessed Birthday to you Beth! And a big thank you. Your enthusiasm and your love for The Lord are so contagious and encouraging. I bought several of your CDs just to listen to your encouraging words while I travel back and forth to work. It brightens me in the morning to start my day off on the right path and ends my day on a high note! XOXO
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM IOWA!!!
Happy Birthday to the most influential woman on this side of heaven. Thank the greatest God Almighty for you!!!
Happy Birthday! Thank you for always proclaiming Truth! 🙂
Happy Birthday Beth!
You are blessed to have a daughter that loves you like Melissa. My daughter Lindsay and I had that kind of relationship until she was killed March 1,2009. It warms my heart to see another honest, loving mother and daughter relationship.
I am so grateful for all your work in the ministry of Jesus. Your passion for Him is so real and encouraging to all women, across all boundaries. I love each and every one of your Bible studies that I have done in the last 10 years. Thank you!
Blessings,
Lisa ~ Lindsay’s mom
Happy Birthday, Sweet Beth! I thank God for anointing you to teach, and that He gave you a special calling to love and teach women. His teachings through you have changed my life and help me grow in Him everyday. Love and blessings to you, your family and everyones lives you’ve touched!
Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday, dear Beth! Your willingness to step forward into the journey God has prepared for you has completely changed the trajectory of my life in a most serious way. However, on a light and silly note because life needs to be filled with a large portion of the ridiculous:
Like Honey, William Thacker’s utterly irreverent sister from Notting Hill said to Anna Scott, ” This is one of those key moments in life, when it’s possible you can be really, genuinely cool – and I’m failing 100%. I absolutely and totally and utterly adore you, and I think you’re the most beautiful woman in the world and more importantly, I genuinely believe and have believed for some time now that we can be best friends.”
Love your siesta and faraway sister in Jesus . . . Pam Darbonne! 🙂
Melissa, what a beautiful tribute to your mom! Thank you for graciously sharing her with all of us!
Happy Birthday to you! Hope you have a blessed birthday with your family! Love your bible studies I’ve learned so much from them! They’ve been such a blessing to me in my walk with the Lord. God Bless you!!
Happy birthday to the best Bible study teacher God could ever give to women. You are phenomenal, not just on your birthday. Thank you for your life work.
Be blessed Beth.
Kristina
Happy Happy Birthday to you sweet Mama Beth!!!!!
I hope that today has been one of the best days for you. You are a blessing to so many. I love that you are as blessed by us as we are by you. That is the special thing about the body of Christ. We all love you deeply 🙂
Birthday blessings to you.
Happy birthday Beth! I’m so incredibly thankful for you! I’ve learned so much from your studies and seeing you at Living Proof Live.
Kathie Dini-Happy Birthday Beth. I love how much you love Jesus. Thank you for being such an example of a Jesus lover.
The best gift of all – the blessing that you share your Mom with the rest of us in the world. It is a privelege to wish a happy day to this God-honoring woman. Hugs from the Tomball Bayangs!
I rode the elevator with you when you spoke at Callaway Gardens. I had no idea you were the featured speaker. What a surprise I had. Happy Birthday Beth. You have challenged us to go further with God. Thank you
Happy bday Beth!! What a sweet tribute. Her children rise and call
Her blessed. Birthday hugs!!!
Happy Birthday Beth Moore! Thankful you for following your heart and being obedient to our Lord and Savior!!! You are an inspiration to many! May your Day be great!!!
Happy Birthday to one of the most wonderful God fearing and anointed woman. God bless you Beth. Thank you for doing what God has called you to do.
Happy Birthday Beth! So thankful He created you “for such a time as this”! <3
Happy Birthday mama Beth You sound like a mom that has been so much of agreat influence to your children obvious when listening to Beth’s teaching but not only that but so fun to be around. May your day be special.
Happy Birthday Beth Moore! Thanks for being one of my “sheros” 🙂 I have enjoyed your bible study for years and i thank God for your ministry. Be blessed today as you celebrate. It is a gift to be able to bless you on your day!
Happy Birthday Beth!!! I am thanking God for the gift you have been to my life and the world. Saying yes to God and allowing Him to teach through you has impacted my life over and over again. I am celebrating the day He created you in your Mother’s womb and wrote every day of your life in His book. It has to be one of His favorite reads! I am asking Him to make this year your very favorite so far. Much love!
happiest of Birthdays Miss Beth!