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!
Sherri Medford, Abilene, Tx
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1 NIV
Robin, Chambersburg, PA
Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me.
O God of my salvation.
Psalm 27:9 (NKJV)
Tulsa, OK
1 John 5:3
This is love for God; to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.
Terry, Odessa, FL
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1, NIV
Lisa, Mauldin, SC
For this reason, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1: 9-10 (NKJV)
Terri from Mechanicsville:
‘Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.’
Psalm 17:8 (NIV)
Proverbs 4:23 NIV
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Shiffra, Kalamazoo, MI
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of G-d. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength G-d provides, so that in all things G-d may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11 NIV
TJ, Clinton, OK
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Reanna, Cypress, CA
“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord”
Luke 1:45 ESV
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:23(NLT)
Julie F.
Ann Arbor, MI
“Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils;
For why should he be esteemed?”
Isaiah 2:22 (NASB)
Beth Belflower
Caddo Mills, Texas
Genesis 1:6-8.
And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. ESV
Elizabeth Johnston
Dallas, TX
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
Psalm 37:4-6 (ESV)
Carol ~ Webb City, MO
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
toni from Tallahassee fl. Says
Nasb
Hosea 6:3
So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is a certain as the dawn, and he will come to us like rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.
Sheri Matsumoto
Riverside, CA
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21
Rhonda Butler, Jackson, Tennessee, For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Sara McPeek, Decatur, TX
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Glennell Strawn
Buda, TX
John 16:33 (eSV)
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Dawn Moore, Buford, GA
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 1 John 3:23 NIV
Psalm 121:3-4 NKJV
“He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
Karen, Clarksville, “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27 NIV
Laura Stiehl in Bedford, TX
For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:6-10 (NET)
Tara, Eustis
Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 NIV
Deanna, Harwood, MD
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Jackie Houser, Pikeville, NC: As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; Psalm 103:13 NIV. Loved the testimony, Melana!
Kerry, Nederland Tx
For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.
Psalm 100:5, NLT
PROVERBS 14:26 NIV
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge.
PROVERBS 14:26 NIV
psm 112:4 niv
even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man
Holly Tabor, Nixa, Missouri
Do everything without complaining or arguing
Philippians 2:14 NIV 1984
“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” Proverbs 29:25 ESV
Ruthy Parish Stratton,CO. July15-11:20AM. If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselfs and pray and seek My Face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
Susan Chung, Long Island, New York
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 NIV
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
North Richland Hills, Texas
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1Thess. 5:16-18 NKJV
“When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. For You have been my Help and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.”
Pas. 63: 6-7 (NASV)
Kelly in Lees Summit, MO
Habakkuk 3:2 NIV
Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
Melanie Toups
Bridge City, TX
Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in Your house, LORD. –Psalm 23:6 Contemporary English Version
Melana, I wasn’t sure who the guest blogger would be this month, but I’ve been praying for you. Thank you for sharing your precious testimony. What an encouragement for all of us around the world!
Jacquie Terada from Mt. Vernon, WA
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Psalm 139:17 NIV
Linda G. Crawfordsville, IN
2 Corinthians 10:3
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
(NASB)
Diane Hotchkiss from Cypress, TX
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
Ps. 33:20 NIV
Christy Chattom; Jasper, Alabama
And whenever you turn to the right or the left your ears will hear this command behind you “this is the way walk in it”. Isaiah 30:21 (Yay for VBS week!)
Julie in Rancho Cucamonga
He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge…
Psalm 144:2 ESV
Sara Blakely, Lavonia, GA. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God because of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1 NIV
Susannah Hotchkiss from Cypress, TX
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I Thess. 5:16-18 ESV
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Collasians 3:13 NLT
For through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
Colossians 1:16a
2 Timothy 3: 16-17 (NIV)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Susan Toney
Raymond, MS
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”
Romans 8:1 NIV