**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!!! Happy Birthday to You!!! The first organized Bible Study I ever did was one of yours. I’ve done so many I don’t even remember which one it was, but oh, the door it opened in my heart! The study of God’s Word is my greatest joy. Thank you.
Happy Birthday! To a Godly woman who continues to challenge me and inspire me to grow, serve and live my life surrendered to my Lord and Saviour. Thank you for your obedience even when it is hard. You are an inspiration!
Thank you!
Happy Birthday Beth!
Thank you for being sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and for your willingness to be used in such a mighty way in the Kingdom. May God abundantly bless you and your family.
Happiest birthdays to you! Thankful for your faithful ministry to our Lord.
You have given me so many years of Bible Studies and then came along with LP Live. With all that you share with us and then all Melissa shows that you share with them what a wonderful woman of love and giving you are. Thank you for being you. Happy Birthday to a sweet, dear lady.
Hi Beth! Hope you had a wonderful birthday! This was a very touching essay from your daughter!!
Happy Birthday, Beth! Your honesty about real life and how God is in the everyday living has encouraged me to keep trusting Him and seeking Him even when I feel like I have failed! Your Bible Studies have drawn me to Him! Thank you!!!
Happy Birthday Beth! You have been a blessing to me.
happy birthday to a lady who inspires so many. You are a mighty vessel for our Lord.
Happy birthday, Beth!!! Thank you, Melissa (and Amanda) for sharing your mom with us! She is one awesome woman!
Happy Birthday! Beth..
I have been to several of Beth’s conferences and I too enjoy your ministry. I am richly blessed by what you do for others and your testimony, and through numerous bible studies. This shows how sweet you are to give when it’s your special day. May God continue to shine through you Beth. Thanks for being the woman you are.
Happy Birthday Beth!
You are such an inspiration to me. I am from Gilbert Arizona. We flew to Houston Hobby last year and I wanted to go to your church in hopes that I might get to meet you in person. Well it didn’t work out because we were on the other side of Houston….not that I would have found you at your church anyway…LOL but I do get to read your blogs and do the Bible Studies that you have so graciously prepared and poured your heart into. Thank you for being such a real wife, mother, grandmother and sharing the talents that God has given you to share with us.
Happy Birthday, Beth! Have a Blessed day!
Happy birthday!
Dear Beth,
I wish you the happiest of times on your birthday! You are a lovely, strong, courageous woman who has taught me many things about our walking life with God. You walk the walk and talk the talk sister! What a blessing you are to so many people!!! Your wit, humor and laugh are infectious!!! But what has impressed me most is your open mind and heart for God! I absolutely love you dear one!! And I hope we can meet someday this side of eternity so I can give you a Texas-size hug )) and tell you how much you mean to me. I am praying for you my dear sister!!! Birthdays come and go, but please try to celebrate this one audaciously, with family and friends to celebrate the uniqueness of you!!!
Love you lots,
Fran
XO
Happy birthday, Beth! I thank God for you. You are a gift from Him to the rest of us. My birthday is just a few days after yours!
Happy birthday Beth. I love your ministry. Your books and studies have blessed me and my family. Have a great and blessed day.
Happy Birthday Beth!!! Thank you for passionately loving Jesus and spilling that love over into our lives!!!
Blessings beyond measure!!! Cheryl Beasley
A great post, Melissa! What a woman your mom is to aspire to! She is amazing! Happy Birthday Beth! You are beautiful and beautifully loved! I am thankful for all you have taught me! Love and prayers always!
Happy Birthday, Beth, absolutely love your books, your Bible studies and the conference I went to in Albuquerque. Totally amazing. Hope you have a very BLESSED Birthday and everyday after that. Thank you so very much for your humble servants heart. God is so good.
Happy Birthday, Beth! Thanks for all your hard work on the Bible studies. Keep them coming! I’m looking forward to the next one. Have a blessed year.
Happy Birthday, Beth! I pray that God will continue to bless you because He’s blessed me and taught me so much through your teachings.
Happy Happy Birthday Beth!! Loved Melissa’s words of honor to YOU!!
Happy Happy Birthday Beth! Such a beautiful story by a loving daughter. God Bless! Have a fun filled bless day!
Happy Birthday!!! I hope your day is blessed because you are such a blessing.
Beth,
You are a BLESSING to me! 13 years ago, after having been out of church since a teen, I reluctantly joined a fellowship of women at our new church. The ladies were planning an outing and kept saying ” Let’s go to a Beth Moore event”. I had no idea who Beth Moore was or why we wanted to go “see her”. This was a LPL in Nashville and it was the one where Beth called out different types of bondage and asked us stand if we wanted to be freed. Lord, how I stood the entire time! I’ll never forget that moment as long as I live as it’s where I finally understood the meaning of grace. Happy Birthday to you dear friend!
Beth, What a privilege to wish you a happy birthday. You have influenced my life through your studies and have given me the courage and sparked the desire to keep doing more study. My first being at age 40. Being raised in the church but really biblically ignorant, I started on Breaking Free 13 years ago. That gave me the curiosity to join a regular study that meets weekly. Over the years I have done many more of your studies as well as others but I just want to thank you for your work and dedication. The Lord works in a mighty way in your ministry. Have a wonderful birthday and thank you for blessing me!
Happy Birthday Beth. I praise God for your insight into his Word! I have done many of your studies and they are all my favorite because they are about my Savior. I love your forthright speaking and honestly. May God bless you on your birthday and thank you for allowing Jesus to use you to reach so many!!!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for reminding me that “RE” is the most beautiful prefix in history!Enjoy your special day!
Happy Birthday Beth! May your days be filled with all the joy, love, hope and faith that you provide for so many around the world.
Happy birthday Beth. May God richly bless you this year and always.
What a lovely word-celebration of your mother, Melissa! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Miss Beth – Happy Birthday! May the next year be full of blessings and new adventures straight from Jesus!
Happy Birthday, Beth!
It has been my privilege to be able to travel to Houston and sit on on several of your video tapings. It has meant the world to me. I have become re-interested in the Lord’s Word. I began to participate in Bible studies again. I just can’t get enough of it! Thank you for being who you are and doing what you do so well.
I wish you the happiest of days today.
Sending you love & hugs—-your love for God is contagious & I have a deeper understanding of his word from your studies. Thank You for being obedient to his call on your life
I will never forget meeting you at a taping of Life Today 2006. Its was packed and we had to sit in the overflow. After the show, you came back to meet the ladies. You shook my hand and held it with both of your hands as you looked at me with so much LOVE and said “Its a pleasure to meet you.” I am a woman who struggled with “rejection” most of my life. Thank you for making me feel loved and important enough to look at and acknowledge! I am now a women’s minister at my Church! Happy Birthday Sister! You are loved!!
Happy Birthday to you, Beth Moore! May you be blessed with many, many more.
Happy Birthday, Beth. I hope your day is filled with family, love and joy!
What a wonderful post, Melissa! I will be in the audience in Cincinnati next weekend, and am looking very much forward to seeing you mom in person! Beth – have a wonderful birthday!! What an inspiration you are!! Leslie
Happy birthday Beth. Thanks for sharing your love of God with all of us. I pray that God pours out abundant blessings on you and your family in the coming year. We’re not getting older, we’re getting better!
Carol Marshall, Gilbert, AZ
Colossions 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ESV
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Miss Beth!
Happy Birthday Beth! I have been challenged and stretched by each and every Bible study of yours that I have participated in and I can’t wait to meet you in person (probably in heaven some day)as I already feel like you are my friend. Much love in Christ, Sherry
Happy Birthday Beth!!!! Great post from Melissa. Have a Blessed Birthday
What amazing words about your mom. Happy Birthday Beth.
Happy Belated Birthday wishes Beth! You are such an inspiration and encouragement in my life! So thankful for the person you are! God bless you as you CELEBRATE this Birthday and many more to come! PS Melissa, lovely post!
Happy Birthday, Beth! I was first introduced to your Bible studies about four years ago when a long time acquaintance asked me to join her in a small study group. The last four years have been an amazing transformation and introduction to God and His Word. You have helped me know and understand who God really is, and who I am in God, (I grew up in a Christian home)!!! I hope your birthday is a very special celebration and a beautiful day!! Hugs and love!!
Celebrating you–Happy Birthday!