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!
To God belong wisdom and power;counsel and understanding are his.
Job 12:13
Sara O, Missouri City, TX
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8, ESV
Delores Perley, El Cajon, CA
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV)
Amy Toney, Houston TX:
Trust Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. (Psalm 62:8 NKJV)
Sherie
The Woodlands, TX
“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying.”
Romans 12:12 NLT
Sacramento,CA
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
Psalm 9:1 NKJV
Ephesians 6:11 ESV
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Desiree Reimer, Calgary, AB
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 ESV
Kim K., Lancaster, Ohio
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:14-15 ESV
Kristie Mallory, Goshen, KY
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
Leah Eller, San Antonio TX – “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
Sharon, McKinney, TX
For nothing is impossible with God.
Luke 1:37 NIV
Sarah Tarr, Franklin TN
‘My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock & my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.’ -Psalm 62:1-2
ShaNada Williams
Birmingham, AL
1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)
“Let all you do be done in love.”
1 John 3:23-24 (ESV)
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Charmaine, Miami, FL — “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
Susan Brown. Mandeville, LA
John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” NIV
Bobbie Lutz
College Station, Tx
1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)
Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial.
Diane Ellison from Littleton, CO
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2
Becky Douglas, Houston TX
“I in them and you in me-that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me and you have loved them just as you have loved me.” John 17:23 NET
Vicky, Winchester, Hampshire, England
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 KJV)
Kathy, Easley SC.
15
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.
16
Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,
for no godless person would dare come before him!
Job 13:15-16 NIV
Maria Cristina Bruschi
Orlando, Florida
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
Kerri Turner, Milton, FL
You discern my going out and my laying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Psalms 139:3
Nance from Newmarket, ON Canada
“The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
Rev 21:14 NLT
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; Romans 12:10
Theresa Dau, Chesterfield, MO
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Sandi H. – Holt, MO – “For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Lisa from Hutchins, TX
Ephesians 3:21
to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Lindsay, Los Alamos, nm
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord , my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 ESV
Lisa Walton, Port Saint Lucie,Fl
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance
through the knowledge of God and Jesus
our Lord.” 2Peter 1:2 Niv
Nancy Terwilliger – Lebanon, Tn
“I am Yahweh,and there is no other; there is no God but Me.”
Isaiah 45:5 HCSB
Bobbi, Houston, TX
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Kelsey Chance, Shawnee, KS
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image. James 3:9 (NET)
Kelly from Reno, NV
Psalm 63:1 – NKJV
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
Eph. 3:20. NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasuredly more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Kathy
Noblesville, IN
Kathleen Orange, TX
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:13 NLT
Shiela Meert, Elkhart, IN
“Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.” Psalms 8:5 NLT
Leslie Jordan
Rochester, MN
Be cheerful no matter what;
pray all the time;
thank God no matter what happens.
This is the way God wants you
who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 MSG
Joni Woodward, Port Neches, Tx. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35, NIV84
Noel Carlton Clarkburg MD
But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. (Psalm 3:3 NIV)
Melissa Briggs, Brandon, Mississippi
‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’
Luke 23:46 NIV
Jo Ellen Chance, Shawnee, KS
Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. John14:19 ESV
Jenny England, South Bend, IN
“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NASB
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1:6 NIV)
Josephine M. Kerley Mtn. City, TN III John 4 I have no greater JOY than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Psalm 119:105 ESV
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Lynda from Ocala, FL: But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)