My name is Melana Cummings (aka MooseMama…story to come). I live in Sheridan Wyoming. I have been married to Tim Cummings for 32 years. We met through a letter and he asked me to marry him in a letter. (It’s a very long story, but oh so sweet and God designed!) The first time we kissed was when he put the engagement ring on my finger. It’s not a common way to start out a life together, but we were best friends who got married. He’s still one of the dorkiest people I know. He makes me laugh. He makes me shake my head. He has always said that if I ever leave him, he’s coming with me. We have a 26 year old daughter Sarah, a 16 year old daughter Emily, and a grandson, Jensen, who is 3. I have worked for the State of Wyoming for 28 years, and have a degree in psychology from the only university in the state. I was raised in the Lutheran church but had no idea what a personal relationship with Christ was. When I was 21, Christ sought me out, and I prayed to receive Him. From that day forward JESUS HAS BEEN MY LIFE!
In 2006, I prayed that I would grow even more in my faith and in Christ. About a week later a snippet of video was played about the Bible study, Believing God by Beth Moore (never heard of her!) that would be starting soon. A prayer answered!
A few months later this Beth Moore was going to be in Salt Lake City with Living Proof Live, so myself and 5 friends drove to see her. She taught from Ephesians 3…how wide, how long, how high, and how deep is the love of Christ….to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. One phrase she said “All excess is a result of emptiness”, hit me hard. As a woman who has been overweight all my life, all I could think was “nuh-uh”!
That one Bible Study and Living Proof Live event were the beginning of many more Bible Studies and live events through the last 9 years. My prayers for growth were being answered! I loved reading Beth’s blog and made a lifelong friend through it: Adrienne Hudson (aka Fuzzytop in Tennessee) and I became online friends. In 2008 a friend and I drove from Wyoming to San Antonio Texas for the Living Proof Live, and “Siesta Fiesta”, where I finally got to meet Adrienne face-to-face. I wish I could name all of the Siestas I have met over the years! They have become so dear to my heart and really, an integral part of my life in Christ! Honestly, the kindness, love, support and joy these women have brought to my life is no small miracle.
The most hilarious part of that trip was a stuffed Moose with a Wyoming bandana on his neck. It was my intention to give the moose to Beth as a gift. Well, we started to take pictures of “Miesta Moose” (Miesta is a male Siesta), along the trip. The pictures got posted on a secondary blog that a couple of Siestas had started, which was all about the Fiesta. By the time we arrived in San Antonio, Miesta Moose had become somewhat of a celebrity. And so it began. I took him to every Beth Moore event I went to. He would even end up in recap pictures, and then Siestas from all around the country, most of whom, I had never met, asked me to send him to them so they could take him to the event in their area. He has been kissed and carried by some of the most wonderful women! Around his neck, he wears the wristbands from the events he has attended. I became MooseMama. He became so recognizable, that women asked to have their pictures taken with him. It pleased me that he showed up at tapings and book signings that Beth was doing.
In 2009, I felt God really was telling me that I could be more of what He wanted for me if I lost that excess weight and fill the emptiness with Him. I lost 120 lbs. in a year’s time. I was leading Bible Studies. I was teaching Sunday School. I even went on a mission trip to Africa with my church. Something I never would have tried when I was so overweight. Prayers answered!
The year 2011 brought with it a season of severe loss and struggle. A heart attack altered the health of my husband, my oldest daughter became a widow at 22. Two weeks following her husband’s death she discovered she was expecting our grandson Jensen. I grew steadily depressed with these changes and gained back all the weight I had lost. I felt like I was trying to hold everything from flying apart. I was exhausted. We stopped going to church. But God…
We returned to church last year, and God is showing me how He used Jensen to redeem these past few years. His faithfulness to me never faltered. This verse has never meant more to me, than now. Today it is my verse to memorize:
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
AMEN!
Kris Braun, Shakopee, MN.
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV
“And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”
Colossians 3:14 – The Remix
Judy Williams – Round Hill, Virginia
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18 Niv
Jen, Cedar Park, TX
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19, NLT
Tracey Richardson from Shawnee, Kansas
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10 (NIV)
Beverly
Midlothian, VA
Philippians 4:4 ESV
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Julie Camp, Adrian Or. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up on his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45 NIV
Shannon, Churubusco IN
“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8, NIV
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” Isaiah 40:28-29
Alisha Hoschton,Ga
Psalm 37:4 (ESV)
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Amanda, Olive Branch, MS
continued scripture from last month’s verse:
“filled with the fruit of righteous that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:11 (ESV)
Dee, Prescott AZ
The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 2 Timothy 2:11, ESV
Mpls, MN
Esther 4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (NIV)
Palm Harbor, Fl
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV)
Angie; Belleville, il
Proverbs 22:1 Contemporary English Version
“A good reputation and reapect are worth much more than silver and gold.”
Tangila, Pearland TX
A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash. (Proverbs 15:14 NLT)
Ye are of God, little children, and have
overcome them: because greater is he that
is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 John 4:4 KJV
Vickie Gray-Wichita Falls,TX
And God is able to provide you with every blessing in
abundance, so that by always having enough of everything,
you may share abundantly in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8 NRSV
Vicki
Murfreesboro, TN
Matthew 6:33,34a (HCSB)
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore, don’t worry about tomorrow…”
Laura from Apopka
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. (Ezekiel 36:25-27 NLT)
Hap 🙂 in Heath OH
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV
Sharon Lee, Riverside, Ca.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. I Peter 5:6,7.
“Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8. (NIV).
Gina Demangos San Diego
When you said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You,”Your face Lord, I will seek.”
Psalm 27:8 NIV
Margie Davis – Beaverton, Oregon
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever us admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. (NIV)
Kelei Liggett. Iowa Park, Tx
2 Timothy 3:16 NIV
All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteous,
Sandra, Rock Hill, SC
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
Psalm 34:5 NIV
Cindee Johnson
Portageville, Mo
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified, He also glorified.
Romans 8:28-30 ESV
Ephesians 4:4-6 NASB
There is one body and one Spirit
just as also you were called
in one hope of your calling.
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all
who is overall and through all and in all.
Joy from Iowa ~”But do you want to know, O foolish man (woman) that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works and by his works faith was made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness?'”-James 2:20-22 (NKJ)
Jen Z. Greensburg PA
“I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works.” Psalm 145:5 NKJV
“He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
Proverbs 17:9 NIV 1984
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: nKJV
Maggie, Atlanta, GA
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Ruth, Bartlett, TN 1 Peter 2:23 KJV Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously :
Prescott, Az
James 1:17 Everything good thing is bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. (NASB)
Phoebe Cunningham, Tucson, AZ
“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” 1 Corinthians 13:8 ESV
Adrienne, Valdosta
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Proverbs 16:24 NASB
Melissa K
Houston, TX
““I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Jeremiah 32:27 NIV
Phyllis, Ft. Worth, TX
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 NLT
Paige Woodard Mitchell, Minden, LA
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
Elizabeth Marchman Blue Ridge, Georgia
Therefore He says,
“Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
Ephesians 5:14 nkjv
Kristy McIntyre, Eugene, OR
2 Timothy 4:5 NASB “But you, be sober and all things, endures hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fill your ministry.”
Carol Rea Midland, Texas
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3
Robin Wickman, Merriman, Ne – So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers]. (Galatians 6:10 AMP)
Jan Morton
Hawkinsville, GA
Psalm 118:8 (ESV)
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
Isaiah 40:29 (NLT)
29 He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Debbie D O’Fallon MO
Romans10:9 NKJV
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord
Jesus and believe in your heart that God has
raised Him from the dead, you will be saved
Angie Wilt, Kansas City, Missouri. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
Dana C.
Newnan, GA
Psalm 31:7-8a Holman
I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because You have seen my affliction. You have known the troubles of my life and have not handed me over to the enemy.