**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’m so thankful for you and the gift you’ve been to so many in the family of God. He has given you such gifts in teaching the Bible. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for being in God’s Word. I love your open and honest way of sharing of your life in order to point others to Christ. May Christ richly bless you!
Happy birthday Beth! Though we’ve never had a personal conversation I feel your heart beat. Blessings my friend!
Happy, happy Birthday Beth. Love your heartwarming post Melissa. Today is my mom’s birthday too!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you or answering the call… And for counting Him who called you faithful.
Beth & Melissa, no one has influenced my love of the Word more than your wisdom and inspired words from God. Just tonight, a group of young women from Liberty University gathered in my apartment and we discussed week 5 of Breaking Free and watched session 6 about being satisfied by Jesus from John 4! Thank you for being obedient, vulnerable, and persistent in seeking the Lord and pushing so many others after you to do seek Him above all else!! Happy birthday!!!
Happy birthday, sweet Beth!!! I had no idea that you share a birthday with my 4-year-old son. What a special day indeed!!
Happy Birthday Beth! I have learned so much deeper from your studies and have been able to share those with my daughter and mom and friends. You speak from your heart and your belief is so open and ‘real’. You are truly a heaven sent blessing. We are the same age, literally within two days, and I am in awe that you began such a strong relationship with Jesus when you were at a young age and I wonder if I will ever get there. Hold tight sister for many more cake and ice cream days, And don’t miss any candles!
I want to start off by saying Happy Birthday! I had the pleasure of seeming You (Beth) when you came to Biloxi,Ms. Your words meant so much to me, it help me come to terms with some things in my past, I have learn to forgive and I Thankyou! Your studies online are wonderful!!! You Rock!!!your are a Great Blessing to a lot of women including my self!!! Thanks for All you Do!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH! This post by Melissa is truly wonderful, and makes me miss my Mom. (She passed from breast cancer many years ago ). I know I am one of millions of women to say this, but Beth’s teaching has been my favorite and most formative in my personal study of Christ and Scripture I love learning more about Beth from her daughter. Beth and Melissa are two peoe I’ve always wanted to go to dinner with and talk theology and life! Love and blessings to Beth on her birthday and Melissa as well!!
Happy Birthday Beth
You are a treasure to me. Through you I learned to love bible study and what it means to grow through my personal relationship with Jesus Christ I wish you were my friend and I would absolutely love to work with you. God Bless You and your sweet family !!!
Your loyal Siesta,
Marti
Happy Birthday Beth!!! I know you have been so incredibly blessed today. I pray this birth of a new year brings abundant blessings that can only come from God. Hope you have the MOST FUN!!!!!
Happy, Happy Birthday! It was such a privilege to spend last weekend with you at you Living Proof Live conference in Tampa. The way that the Lord uses you to speak to my heart is incredible! Thank you for your obedience, thank you for serving Him and ultimately serving us. You are adored by so many, and I would consider you my Earthly Hero! Hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Happy birthday Beth – I cannot wait to have girl time with you even if it’s not until we get to the other side. I love you to pieces. You bless me.
Happy Birthday, Beth! Thank you for sharing your Godly wisdom with so many!
happy birthday – and thank you for all you do for the kingdom of God.
Happy Birthday, Beth! I feel like I know you 🙂
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19,
Lauren Kennedy, Denham Springs, LA
Oh, Beth, happy birthday! I have been so touched, and I don’t think it would be an overstatement to say some of your Bible studies have been life-changing. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of and passion for the Lord with others.
Happy Birthday Beth! I have gone through many of your studies and every time the end result is that my love for Jesus grows deeper and I am challenged to grow up in the Lord. So many times I place something you teach onto index cards – like the “Believing God” statements – “God is Who He says He is, . . ” Then I have the Esther statements about it being tough to be a women on index cards in my desk at work – the ones about being underrated, under qualified, underattack. . . and I am still reading your description of “Grace” that you gave us at a simulcast. This one is actually in my prayer journal, and it is there because I read it to strengthen my faith as I pray for my son to return to God. I just love you giving us wisdom like this. It sticks and usually ends up on index cards that become worn. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your life with us:)
Happy Birthday Beth!!!! I thank God for you each day. I listen to your teachings with your sweet voice every morning on “One Place”. You have no idea what a blessing you have been in my life. Wishing you the best birthday ever.
Happy Birthday Beth! Your daughter described you perfectly! Prayers for you in your calling in the coming years!!!
Happy Birthday Beth!!
Happy Birthday Beth. I pray your day overflows with Gods blessings and encapsulates you with his endless love. I so appreciate your gift of teaching. You draw me in so deep to Gods word thru your bible studies and i soak up every word of new insight eager to see another aspect of Gods personality. Enjoying the journey.
Happy happy birthday! Thanks for inspiring and teaching so many of us to know and love Jesus and people more.
Happy birthday to an amazing sister in Christ who has truly poured herself out like a drink offering through her teachings and has been the aroma of Christ for many of us! Thank you Beth! Thank you Jesus for Beth!
Beth,
Birthday blessing to you on your special day. Thank you for being obedient to God! Your obedience has brought so much joy to others by teaching us how to go deeper in Gods word.
Sherry.
Happy Birthday Beth! We almost share the day…mine is today (16th). Love the way God speaks through you. Thank you for your faithfulness!!!
What a sweet birthday tribute to your wonderful momma! Thank you, Mrs. Beth, for being a shining example of what it looks like when a woman says, “God, my life is yours.”
Happy birthday, my sweet Beth!!!! Thank you for being in all of our lives! Thank you for interceding and praying for all of us. Thank you for allowing God to let your heart break and then make it brand new. If you could get through it, so can I. I love praying for you and your precious family. I feel like we all know each other 😉 You have stretched my mind and my heart. You have taught me so much about the Bible and a deeper love for God. I love you so much. One day I hope I can meet you face to face and tell you how much you mean to me. I thank you for allowing God to work in and through you so that others can break free, like I am doing now. Hope you had a wonderful day with your family! AND hope you had some yummy Tex-Mex!! =) I love you!!!!
Happy Birthday! God bless you!!
Happy Birthday Beth ….thank you so much for your unending gifts to all of us hungering for the word of God!
Happy birthday! Thankful for your passion to know God!
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, every day of the year may you feel Jesus near, a happy birthday to you, a happy birthday to you, and the best year you’ve ever had!! Clap, clap, clap! Happy birthday, Beth! Your teaching of Gods Word has meant more to me than I could ever put into words! Thank you!
Happiest of birthdays, Beth. May your day … week … month … year be more blessed than you could have ever asked or imagine.
Happy Birthday, dear Beth! You have inspired me and lifted me more than you will ever know. Wishing you many happy birthdays to come!
Blessings & Love,
Janie:)
happy birthday, Beth! It’s so amazing to know that the woman you are extends much deeper than the books you write and the stage. If your very own daughter says these beautiful, life-giving words about you, you must shine!! Thank you for all you do to further the Kingdom and point others to Jesus.
PS: flowerbomb is my favorite too!
Dearest Beth – I so pray for you to have a Happy Birthday but even more, a God filled blessed birthday. Are those just not the best? I have been teaching your Bible studies for some time here at home and in Jamaica. The women love you and your knowledge of the Word. You speak a bit fast for the Jamaican women but they get it! I too have two girls that are the most fabulous gifts from God, born again, living for Jesus, raising four grandchildren in the light of the Word, so I am very grateful and thankful to my heavenly Father for his blessings. I encourage you to continue teaching us as you do, to stay faithful, and love us back as we love you. My prayer for you on this special day is that God would bless you above and beyond what you could even imagine. With much love, Jean
Happy Birthday to you, Beth! You’re an amazing woman. I am so excited to see in you in August. You’re a blessing to everyone.
Happy Birthday Beth! May you feel the love from all the women whose lives your speaking and writing have changed. I appreciate your boldness in teaching the truth. Have a blessed day full of chips and salsa!
Happy Birthday Beth! May your day be a celebration of life and God’s richest blessings.
Happy Birthday Sweet Beth! I hope some of the JOY, LOVE, and LAUGHTER that you bring to us will grace your day! Wishing you a fabulous year ! Love, Linda
Happy Birthday Beth – you are such a blessing!!!
God Bless!!!
Hello Wanda Beth (lol, learned that tonight in my women’s Bible study),and Happy, Happy Birthday. Besides a birthday wish I would like to thank the Good Lord above for allowing women like me to enjoy the messages He sends through you to me. We are currently studying the Fruits of the Spirit study of yours and each week, we anticipate the fire for Jesus you bring to us and we leave with a fire to know Him more because of you! God Bless You and have a terrific day!
Happy Birthday Beth! I have enjoyed many of he bible studies you have written and always learned something new and exciting about Jesus. Thank you for your commitment and servants heart.
Happiest of birthdays, Bet!. You’re birthday buddies with my 9 year old, Rose!
Happy Birthday, Beth! Your studies have been a big part of my journey. Thank you for sharing and being so funny and real!
Happy Birthday Beth!!
I count it a privilege to share a birth month with you. Mine is on the 12th.
Happy birthday! What a gift you are to me!
Happy birthday, Beth! Your book “Get Out of that Pit” helped heal my marriage and my heart. Thank you for being a willing vessel and pouring out on all of us. Blessings!
The first scripture to pop into my mind after reading this : Her children arise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:28.
Happy Birthday Beth!!!! Thanks so much for your transparency and sharing God’s love!
Happy Re-Birthday Beth! My Dtr Amanda Moore-K and I truly enjoyed you last weekend inTampa! You are a blessing to all of us and for that I am thankful!
Happy birthday, Beth! This post made me tear up as a daughter, stepmother and mother. I have many lessons to learn on my role as a mother. I appreciate this so much as I head to bed tonight. Much gratitude, Ava