**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!! Thank you for all that you do. God has truly blessed the world by putting you in it! I hope your birthday was great!!
Happy Birthday, Beth! Thank you for the dedication you have to serving God and sharing His Word with His daughters. Your Bible studies have stirred up a passion to know my Father God and my Savior Jesus. Much appreciation for allowing yourself to be used for the Kingdom! Wishing you the happiest of days with many more to come.
Beth, hoping you have a blessed day. Just seeing pictures of you with not only you children but grandkids is such a blessing. Life is so short and precious and you never seem miss that in your classes. You can always see and hear just how much family means to you. Thank you for that. Once again hoping you have a love filled day.
Happy Birthday Beth! There is no Christian leader I look up to more. When I had my daughter Ava last June, no one told me how your emotions and hormones are all over the place. Your devotional Whispers of Hope held me accountable to spending every precious morning with Jesus. I still use your model for prayer. Each month I would look back at my prayers and see how God had answered them. Thank you for your words and how you’ve touched my life.
Happy Birthday, Beth! You and my Mama share a birthday!!!
Happy birthday, Beth. Have a blessed year!
Happy Birthday Beth, may God bless you today as much as you have blessed the lives of so many women through the years. I still remember that small group of women many, many years ago in Jackson Hole, WY where I first heard you speak. Your passion and love of Jesus helped bring His words alive for me. Thank you for your faithfulness
happy Birthday, Beth!! It has been a pleasure getting to know you through your studies over the past few years. I have traveled some crazy paths during your studies and it never ceases to amaze me that God uses the studies and times them perfectly to coincide with what is going on in my life! Thank you for your faithfulness and hard work!
happy, Happy, Happy Beth! So enjoy your gift of teaching.
Happy Birthday, dear Beth, happy birthday to YOU!
Happy birthday Beth! I just started and deleted 3 sentence attempts so I am not just saying this – I legitimately cannot put into words how thankful I am for your life. I’m looking forward to a coffee one day (even if we don’t get to sit down together until Heaven) so we can marvel at what Jesus did through your influence in my life. You actually take up square footage in my heart. Seriously, my eyes are welling up as I type this. That’s all I’ll say for now. I’ll save the rest for that coffee one day. So much love to you in Christ, Amy 🙂 xo
Happy birthday Beth! I have participated, facilitated and loved your studies for over 15 years!! Grown by leaps and bounds! Related most every step of the way! See, we are the same age (well, you’re ahead, now) and folks have told me I remind them of you!! An extreme compliment! Have a delightful and joy-filled day — and year!
Happy Blessed Birthday!!! Your words and photos are such an inspiration to me. I love your humor and your honesty. What a wonderful woman! May God Bless you and yours!!!
Happy Birthday Beth. Praying for many blessings in the coming year. Thank you for loving Jesus.
Happy birthday! Beth, you are such a godly woman and a magnificent teacher. The way you open God’s Word to us brings it to life and becomes a part of our lives unlike anyone else. God bless you and yours!
Happy birthday Beth!! May Gid bless you with many many more! Thank you for your dedication and devotion to our Lord and Savior and for your unwavering commitment to teaching His word.
Happy Birthday!
I cherish the relationship with my mom and love reading about other mom/daughter bonds! God Bless!
Happy Birthday, Beth!! Thank you for helping me love the Lord. Have a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday, Beth Moore. I named my fourth child Esther after doing your study on that wonderful book of the Bible.
Happy, happy birthday to you, dear Beth. We love you like you were family because you have impacted so many of ours. Studying God’s word alongside you has met some of my deepest needs and in God’s sweet way, prepared me for needs I didn’t even know I would have down the road. I pray that the coming year will be filled with a boatload of God’s richest blessings.
It’s hard to remember a time without your teaching. Believing God continues to be an anchor for me. Yes, God is who he says he is. And yes, he can do what he says he can do. Thank you for sharing your heart with faithful transparency. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Beth! What a beautifully written post! I hope you and your family had a great day celebrating!
Happy birthday to you!. What an amazing testimony you are, both to your daughters and to women around the world. Have a great one!
Happy birthday!! God has touched many lives through your faithful service. Thank you for being His hands and feet.
Happy Birthday Beth!! Thank you so much for sharing your love of Scripture and of Jesus with others so we can live and love and learn too.
Jane Turner
Beth,
I wish so much that our paths could cross. I wish I could tell you how very, very thankful I am that you are you. That you have taught me so much….more than I could ever dream I could know. I just want to tell you how very sincerely, from the bottom of my heart thankful I am that you love Jesus so much and you care that we do too. Happy Birthday Dearest Beth.
happy birthday Beth! May Jesus continue to bless and use you mightily!
Julie Harris
Happy Birthday! Beth is one of my favorite Bible teachers ever. Thank you for always allowing God to use you to bless the rest of us.
Happy Birthday Beth! Hope your day has been the best day ever! God Blessing to you!
Happy Birthday Beth! It was a blessing to hear you speak in Tampa this past weekend. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my home town. May your birthday be full of all the things you love.
Bronye
Happy Birthday to one of the best teachers I know.
Happy birthday, Beth!!
I am from Houston, became a believer in 2002 as a 16 year old and it’s a good thing I didn’t know about you until I had left home and gone to Baylor, or I may have hunted you down and made you my friend.;-) What I wouldn’t give for a face to face mentor like you in my life. Every study, tweet (well, most…some are just plain funny), and word from you blessed me deeply. I’m forever grateful for your obedience to Christ and His calling on your life. My husband is a pastor or a large church that used to be small. I have watched the demands, expectations, and stress placed on his shoulders through his role and found so much truth and comfort in your James study. I can’t even count how many times your God-given words have left me awed and changed. I love Jesus more because of you and that is what life is about. Thank you for equipping me and disciplining me from afar. I met you and Melissa a few years ago at Escalante’s in Houston with my almost 4 year old boy, who wasn’t even 1 at the time. My sweet Mama took a picture. =) May God bless you and keep you, and may this be your best year yet!! xoxo -Becca Herbert
Happy Birthday, Beth Moore. Thank you for allowing God to use you to impact so many lives. I am one whom He has helped shape thru your amazing ministry. I am forever grateful to you. Hugs to you!
Happy Birthday Beth! I am so touched by your daughter’s Birthday letter she posted for you. God has used you to touch so many women’s lives, and you have been such an inspiration to me. I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day with your family…..
Happy Birthday, Beth! Your love for God’s Word sparked my own. Changed my life. Grateful to the core for your biblical mentor-ship.
May Jesus’ great grace, lavish love, and outrageous joy be yours this new year of life.
I hope I’m not too late 🙂 Happy Birthday! Mine is Friday!
Happy Birthday, Beth! Thankful for you … Robyn
Happy Birthday, Beth!!! You have been a life saver to me. May God continue to bless you with the gift of teaching for many more years!!
Happy Birthday Beth! I thank God for you!
Beth, you have been such a gift in my life! Your stories, your hair, your relationships, griefs, joys and triumphs! Maybe not in that order but I totally get you my sister!! Jesus is the light of our lives teaching us through the happy times and the suffering!! I am so grateful to Melissa for writing this. I so aspire to be the mom, wife and woman of God that you are. Happy Birthday Beth!
Beth,
I pray that your birthday is extra special. I have been blessed by your daughter sharing with us about you and the love you and your family share. You have been such an inspiration to me and I thank God for you. You and your family will be in my prayers today and everyday.
Happy Happy Birthday Beth!! Hope your Day is Filled with Blessings! Love your Bible Studies, and the conferences , thank you for all you do! You are a Blessing!
What sweet and precious words. May the Lord continue to bless your family as you walk with Him and for Him to serve others. Happy Birthday Beth!
Happy Birthday Sis,
Hope you a blessed day.
Thank you for sharing your love for your (our) Saviour and Lord Jesus the Christ with many other women.
Love
Your sister in Christ,
Mary
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you happy birthday dear Beth, Happy birthday to you! I am so glad you have a daughter who wanted to give us a chance to tell you HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Love, Carol
May God grant you a wonderful day, Beth! Can’t wait to see you in Fargo, ND I’m a few short months! Happy Birthday!!
May you always have chips and salsa in abundance! Happy birthday! You are dearly loved!!
Happy Birthday Beth!
I have been so blessed by your bible studies. As everyone around here we feel like you are family. Happy happy birthday! may the Lord bless you on your day and in the year ahead. thank you for sacrificing so much so that we ladies and some brave men can get closer to Jesus! hugs and many many blessings,
Sandra
Happy Birthday! Thank you for all that you do!