I promise that I’m going to get to the giveaway part in just a second. But first I want to tell you a quick story.
About a year and a half ago Melanie and I were in Nashville to do some stuff for dotMOM, and a friend of ours invited us to her house for supper on the last night we were there. I knew the second we walked in the door that the supper was going to be seventeen kinds of memorable, primarily because I caught a glimpse of homemade pasta draped over clothes hangers in the kitchen.
I mean, I may have spent my whole life in the deep-fried Deep South, but I have sense enough to know that homemade pasta is always a promising sign.
There were four or five other people at supper that night, and Lisa Harper was one of them. Lisa was in charge of making the salad, and I will NEVER forget what she served us. She used gorgeous little Heirloom tomatoes from her garden, along with fresh basil, goat cheese, some sort of fig balsamic reduction that I have tried (and failed) to replicate, and she topped off everything with the a pinch of the most glorious sea salt I have ever tasted. It was one of those dishes that was so simple, so elegant, and so unbelievably delicious that not a single one of us could stop talking about it.
Well, apparently I went on and on and on about the salad – especially about the texture of that sea salt – because when Melanie and I got ready to leave a few hours later, Lisa walked in the kitchen, picked up her jar of sea salt, and pressed it into my hand right before I walked out the door. She insisted that I take it, and ever since then, whenever I see Lisa, hear her, read something that she’s written, or try to copy that salad she made, I think, Well, there’s sweet Lisa Harper – she’ll give you the salt right off of her back.
[AND THUS CONCLUDES OUR “QUICK STORY.”]
[WE WILL NOW SEGUE’ INTO THE GIVEAWAY PORTION OF THE POST.]
[ALSO: I MIGHT NEED TO PRACTICE MY TRANSITIONS.]
Last year Lisa released a new Bible study called Malachi: A Love That Never Lets Go, and it is all about the never-ending mercy of God. So often we can fall into thinking that God has forgotten about us or has finally – FINALLY – gotten completely fed up with us, but in Malachi we see how God pursues His people and continues to love them, even when they’re (we’re) at their (our) most rebellious.
Lisa is such a gifted communicator – so wise, so funny, so real – and she’s also a Bible scholar. Those two qualities make for some mighty fine teaching, and Malachi would be a perfect study for a small group at your church or for a eight-weeks-o-Bible-fun with two or three close friends.
If you’d like to win a DVD leader kit for Malachi: A Love That Never Lets Go, here’s what you need to do:
1. Leave a comment on this post.
2. The end.
I’ll leave comments open until Friday night. As soon as I close comments, I’ll draw for a winner using random.org.
And listen. If I could throw in one of those salads that Lisa made, I totally would. However, I can’t really recommend eating a salad that has traveled to your home via the USPS. I have some odd hang-ups about things like, you know, refrigeration. And whatnot.
Y’all are going to love this study – hope your week has been great so far!
This giveaway is now closed. I’ll notify the winner via email sometime on Saturday.
Thanks for the giveaway! Love the blog!!
Love this story! Now we all must know about this sea salt. Ha ha
You’re going to need to give us more detail about the salad – and the sea salt. Thanks for the chance.
Would love to lead a neighborhood bible study with this!
I just love to read your blog!
And I’d love to win!
This sounds like a wonderful study! Would love to have it!
Looking for something wonderful to do with my sweet ladies (we’ve pretty much done everything Beth Moore has ever written, plus a couple of Priscilla Shirer’s with a Kay Arthur and Kelly Minter or two thrown in!) This looks wonderful!
Lisa is my fave! She is an amazing woman. I’m praying for her today as she attended her dad’s funeral.
This looks like a great book, thanks for a chance!
Yes please! Lovely giveaway, and now I’m hungry.
Sounds like a great bible study!
Sounds like an awesome study! Would love to do it!
Looks like a good study!
You were in Redding this past week and got amazing reviews… I would love to study your study with my girls bible study… Thanks for considering me.
I would love to bring this study home to my ladies Bible Study… Thanks for the very generous offer.
Would love to do this study with my bible study girls!
Yes, please! =)
You are hilarious. And I am intrigued by this study.
That study sounds great!
Would love to win, but thankful for a recommendation for another study!
Wow, I’d love to study out Malachi.
Thank you for the giveaway! I am always looking for a good bible study!
Sounds great! I would love to have the study.
Thanks for the opportunity! Happy Valentine’s Day!
It would be terrific to share this with my Thursday evening study group.
Would love to win! Thanks for the chance!
Our group would love to do this study.
I would love to win this study. You, sweet Sophie, are a hoot!
Love the Old Testament!!
I would LOVE, LOVE to win this book!
thanks for the chance. I have been looking for a new study to do with a small group of friends.
I’m so thankful that God doesn’t get fed up with me. His love for me amazes me everyday. I don’t deserve it, but I’m so glad He freely gives it.
This sounds amazing – thank you!
My accountability group would love to do this study!
Me! Me!! Me!!! We would love it!!!!!!!
Great story! I’d love to work through this study.
Sounds like an excellent study… would love to win it!
This study sounds AWESOME!!! Also, I love how you analyze and remember things around food…I am so like that, too!!!
yes, please! My soul needs a reminder of his love…
I would be so pleased to win this Bible study guide! :) Thanks for doing this give-away!
This sounds great!
Been looking for a new bible study
I would be so blessed to win this, and share it with the ladies at my church!!!
Would so love to win a copy of this for a womens small group at our church!!!
Yummy post about an exciting new study. period.
First time I have heard of Lisa Harper, I don’t get out much. I could use something really inspiring right now. I would have a bible study in my own home and invite other women who could use a little of God’s Inspiration too.
Never been a fan of sea salt but you’ve convinced me I must not have tried the good kind! Thanks for the chance to win!
i love malachi!
thanks for the giveaway,
and i hope you get to share Jesus’ love with lots of folks this Valentine’s day.
Pick me! Would love to share this with my bible study group!
That sounds like a really good Bible study.
monk5 at charter dot net
This book would be good for my hubs
There’s nothing like a good salad…other than maybe a good steak. Hope I win!
I think I would really love that study! I have managed to flake out of both women’s study groups at our church this year due to unforeseen circumstances. Having it at my house next time would really force me to be there!
I’ve been led to start a women’s group/study/something at church but haven’t been able to settle on anything. Perhaps if I win, it’s divine revelation as to what study we work through.
Thanks for the opportunity!
I would love to have this. Thank you Sophie.
The bible study sounds wonderful. Perfect for out Thursday night gang. My husband is allergic to tomatoes, but it sounds really yummy.
I’ve read another book by her. I can’t think of it right now (I’m starving and anxiously waiting in my pjs as my husband orders online curbside take-away dinner from Outback) (That’s how WE do Valentine’s Day.) My memory is spotty at the moment. Anyway, I recognized Lisa Harpers name, and I know I enjoyed her book, because authors I don’t care for, I don’t remember. I would love to read this study! I also looked for Melanie’s book at the Family Bookstore with no luck.
I can think of a few pals who would love to go through this study with me.
Our small group at church is trying to choose our next Bible study. This would be such a blessing. Thanks!
Would love to win this for the guys at Renewal Ranch.
http://www.therenewalranch.org
I’d love to win!!! Regardless, I’ll be checking into this. Never thought about doing a study on Malachi!
Oh this study sounds amazing. So does the salad!
I’d love to hear about what came AFTER th salad course! ;)
This sounds great! Thank you!!
Lindsey
I would absolutely love to have this Bible study.
Pick me!
I need some of that sea salt! Oh, and the study. :)
Please pick me!
Ooh, I hope I win! Thanks!
I’ve missed reading your blog (not due to your fault, by any means!). Always a pleasure. The study looks wonderful and we’re trying to figure out what to do for a ladies’ study. Guess if I win this, we’ll have our answer. ;-)
The texture of the salt is extremely important. I’m skeptical about figs, but not tomatoes or basil. Reduction sauces reduce my confidence. With all that said, a ladies bible study sounds great & I already have some peeps in mind.
That sounds like a great study. And a great salad!
Sounds like a complete winner–not only encouraging and Biblical, but written by someone who’d give you the salt off her back! ;) I’d love to win.
My small group would love to study Malachi. Thanks for telling us about it.
The study sounds great!
Count me in! I’d love some sea salt as well. ;)
You crack me up!! WE are currently looking for a women’s bible study, this sounds great! ….and thanks for making me hungry! haha
Would love to win this study!
Thanks! I would enjoy the opportunity to study Malachi wit Lisa.
I would love to share this with our small group!
Would love to read this book!
My young mom’s small group is half way through Priscilla Shirer’s Jonah and we are loving it! Would love the chance to do this one next!
Thanks for the chance to win! Would love to study Malachi!
I have never commented on a blog before, and I read lots of them, but I will for a chance to win the Bible study.
Thank you for this chance to win something from a great author and a great person.
Would love to go through this with friends.
Thanks for the chance to win!!
I would love to read this Bible study!
I had the same reaction when ***** died on Downton Abbey! Still don’t think I’m quite over it. One of those TV moments that stays with you!
(Edited by SH – just in case there are folks who haven’t started Season 3 yet and this comment caught them unawares.) :-)
This looks like a great study. And can’t wait for your book – know it will be fabulous!
Would love to have that study for a group!
I would love to win this study. I have been wanting something to study!!
thank you for the chance to win! happy Friday to all
I would love to win this for my Bible study group!
Just wanna give it a try. I’ve never studied Malachi!
I have never studies the book of Malachi so this would be great.
Good gravy, this preview video got to me. I took notes! “…it’s about giving everything we have to God and when you don’t give God everything you have, most of us live lives much smaller than God designed us to live.” I am one of His “messy, mistake-prone people”, I could use this study :)
When do I get my invitation? Would love to win.
This study looks cool! I love how God aways persues us even when we’re running the other way.
In the middle of this study now and woud love to share it with family and neighbors. Thanks for the opportunity to win and hopefully the recipe for the salad and the name of the sea salt used in the salad