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!
Lindsey Fellers from Myrtle Beach, SC
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20 ESV
Linda Lorring, Reno, NV
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
Thank you for sharing and being so open.
So many of us think we have gone astray
When life’s trials come upon us and we sort of Drift……
Our Gid is so patient and Loving to bring us back
So softly and sweetly! Your precious verse is a testament
And proof of our God’s Love!!! “Praise be to the
Lord my Rock.. My Fortress.. My Steonghold..
And my Deliverer.. My Shield in whom I take
Reduge!..” Psalm 144:2. NIV
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NIV
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Mark 16:15
Pam Williams, Olive Branch, MS
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 NLT
Sheila Oakes
Cary, NC
Psalm 36:7 NLT
How precious is Your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of Your wings.
Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Susan
Tyler, TX
July 15, 2015, 8:23 a.m.
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken.”
Matthew 12:36 (NIV)
Carol Hartley Montgomery, Al
Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.”~ Ephesians 3:20-21 ASV
Esther, Lancaster,PA 2 Corinthians 4:9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. ,NLT
Christine- Kingsburg, Ca
Ecclesiastes 3:12-12
So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
Ellen, Fort Worth, TX
This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it – the Lord is His Name: ‘Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:2-3 NIV
Pat Tilson, Fort Worth TX: I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. (Psalm 16:7 NIV)
Emily, Loveland, CO – “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)
Cyndi Patterson
Bloomdale, OH
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Deb, Loveland, CO – “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 (NKJV)
Stacie Kilgore, Lee’s Summit, MO
2 Corinthians 10:3-4. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. (KJV)
He must become greater; I must become less.
John 3:30 NIV
Sorry. My verse is Psalm 16:7, not 16:17 as I just posted!
Donna, Indianapolis, IN. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 NIV)
Eleanor MacKay, Saskatoon, SK.
….may be able to comprehend with all the saints
What is the width and length,
And depth and height-
To know the love of Christ….
Ephesians 3:18,19a
Emily McAnear, Corona, California
“In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.” John 1:1, NIV
Jayn, San Diego, CA
He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always. Psalm 121:8 MSG
Philippians 3:13-14
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Vickie, Pella, Iowa
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the son of God. 1 John 5:5 (NIV)
Cathy from Loxahatchee, Florida
James 5:15 NIV
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
Sheryl, PA – And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
Romans 8:27 NIV
Romans 6:14 esv
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Sherry from Perry, GA
“And we know that all things work together
for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called
according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NKJV
Kimberly, Montezuma, Indiana
Psalm 62:8 New Living Translation (NLT)
O my people, trust in Him at all times.
Pour out your heart to Him,
for God is our refuge.
Jeanette Dahm. Lake Oswego, OR. Ephesians. 3:20. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Valerie, Taylors SC
A bright look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the body. Proverbs 15:30 NET
Kelly, Missouri City TX ( Just moved here a week ago!)- originally from Glenwood , MD..
” The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.” NRSV
Col. 3:2. Set your mind on things above not on things on the earth.
Kris C. – Westbrook, ME
Ephesians 6:18 NIV
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27 NIV
Jaime Weaver, Klamath Falls, OR
Because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:3 NIV
Julie – Calgary, AB
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
Psalms 91:9 (NIV)
Vonnie Baker
Marble Hill MO
Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up forever. Psalm 28:9 KJV
sierra. Wyoming, Mi. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:12 NIV)
Terri Plumlee, Stamford Tx
I waited patiently for the Lord; He returned to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1. NIV
Danyelle
Beavercreek, OH
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest….Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
Exodus 33:14,18 (NIV)
Shelly Slagle, Mount Ulla, NC-
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV)
Cheryl Paganelli, Medford, New Jersey
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”
Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Donna Stephens, Wylie, Texas
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
Florence, Rancho Cordova, CA
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.”
Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)
Judy, Satellite Beach, FL
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Stephanie Morris, Norman Ok
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,[a] 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:44-45 NKJ