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!
Tonya Thibodeaux – DeQuincy, Louisiana
Psalms 46 : 10 – ” Be still, and know that I an God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
“If only my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!” (Psalm 119:5 HCSB)
Wendy Buttrey Acworth, Ga
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NIV
I Samuel 2:2
There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no ROCK like our GOD
Heather Smith
Nashville, TN
“So I am Christ’s ambassador; God is making His appeal through me. I speak for Christ when I plead, “Come back to God!”
For God made Christ, Who never sinned, to be the offering for my sin, so that I could be made right with God through Christ.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NLT)
Betty Murphrey, Wendell, NC
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.
Leavenworth, KS
Ezekiel 36:26 NLT
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.
Regina Coleman, Salado, TX
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,
while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
John 15:2 (NIV)
Martie Carter, Belton, TX
Do not fear for I am with you; Do not look anxiously about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NASB
Judy Dreeszen, Clay Center, KS “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 NLT
Janet Bell
Pinson, Alabama
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV
Amy from Everett, WA
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
Christy
Fayetteville, AR
Psalm 144:1 NIV
“Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”
Stacy from Hawkinsville, GA:
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Terri G, Corinth, TX
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:14 NIV
Franklin, TN
“I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers.” Isaiah 65:24 NLT
JulieB
Sharpsburg, Ga.
2 Timothy 1:14 NIV
“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”
Tiffany Wooldridge, Bolivar, MO
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 NKJV
The same was in the beginning was with God. John 1:2
Romans 12:12-13 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. NIV
Cassia, Spring, TX
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV
Allison Brown, Hickory, NC
“…and be sure of this–that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20 TLB
Andrea Jones – Houston, TX
Leviticus 25:10b NIV
It shall be a jubilee for you….
Diane, Wichita, KS
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
I Cor 13:5 (NIV)
Brenda, Ottawa, Canada
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Philippians 4:4 NKJV
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13(NLT)
Carol Kirby. Amarillo TX
2 Peter 1:8 (NIV)
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Stephanie Murphy, College Station, TX
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
-Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Patrice in Albuquerque
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
“Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” Psalm 108:13 KJV
Lindsey Gibson Soddy-Daisy,TN 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Janessa Ford, Cookeville, TN. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12, NLT.
Meggie JOY – Calgary Alberta Canada – “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will,” -Ephesians 1:11 -NIV
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,”
Philippians 2:10 NKJV
Jennifer Chatman
Jonesborough, TN
Beverly Welch, Dallas, NC
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Ps 108:13 (KJV)
Faith in Coeur d’ Alene, ID.
psa.130.5.nkjv
I wait for the Lord , my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.
Kim Foley, Arnold, MD
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4 NIV
Laura Proctor, Madison, MS:
Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. NIV
Pickerington, Ohio
“Do not merely listen to The Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
-James 1:22 (NIV)
Cathy Morris Sedona, AZ
“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, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Eph3:20-21 NIV
Abbie, North Platte, NE
Romans 3:21 “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” (ESV)
Lesa, Garden City, Kansas
John 10:9. NIV
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
Jen Wellman, Camp Hill, PA
Micah 6:8
“He had told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and go walk humbly with your God?”
ESV
Bonny Hansen, Mitchell, South Dakota
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:12-13 NIV)
Beverly – Jackson, TN
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” -Phil. 2:5-8 NASB
Marie Skipper from Granger,Tx
“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.”
Psalms 23:2
College station Tx
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil 4:8 esv
Lori, McDonough, GA – For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14 NIV
Nicole Blake, Severance, CO
“the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.” Ephesians 3:15 (NLT)