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!
Marilyn, Houston TX: ” In the day when I cried out, you answered, and made me bold with strength in my soul”. Psalms 138:3 NKJV
Melissa from Simpsonville, KY
Psalm 9:10 NIV “Those who know your name and trust in you, for you, Lord have never forsaken those who seek you.”
Sharla Robertson, Granbury, TX
““What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi, ” the blind man said, “I want to see!””
Mark 10:51 NLT
Kathy from Bethlehem Pennsylvania
The Lord is for me,
So I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me.
Yes, the Lord is for me;
He will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
Psalm 118:6 and 7 NLT
Brenda Ammons, Byhalia, MS
Psalm 63:8 NIV “I cling to You; Your right Hand upholds me.”
LeAnn Nichols, Spring, TX
“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 (NIV)
Philippians 2:4
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Kendra from Fort Wayne,IN “for this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace…Rom 4:16a NASB
Dana, San Angelo Tx
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11(NIV).
Jenny Manis, Granbury, TX, Finally, brothers and sisters, 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)
Shelley, Brigham City, Utah
Galatians 5:16, ESV
But I say walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Sally, Gahanna, OH
“She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.”
Proverbs 31:12-13 NIV
Susan Stefens, Emmaus, PA
Still working through Isaiah 40 ESV:
To whom, then, will you compare me that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the great deeds of His might and because He is strong in power, not one is missing. vv.25,26
Angela Brown Rogers AR
“And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:20-21 AMP
Louisville, KY Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” NIV
Carrie Guion, Wentzville, Missouri:
No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy one living among you and I will not come to destroy. Hosea 11:9 NLT
Judy says: Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11 NIV
Christy MacDonald, St. Clements, Ontario, Canada
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Romans 8:26 NIV
Pam in Texas:
“Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hand,your walls are continually before me.”
Isaiah 49:16 (ESV)
Melissa
Raymore, Mo
“In the day when I cried out, you answered me, and made me bold with strength and my soul.”
NKJV
Jeanette Plummer, Mesquite, TX:
But I trust in you unfailing love; I will rejoice because you have rescued me. ~Psalm 13:5 (NLT)
Gay
Round Rock, Tx
Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against You? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
Psalm 139: 21-22 NIV
Mary Witte
Grand Rapids, MN
Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Phil 4:6 NLT
Brenda Russell
Hendersonville TN
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. Eph 3:20 NASB
Cheri
Louisville, KY
“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31 ESV
Matthew 6: 32-34
32″For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33″But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34″So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Irene, White Pigeon MI – Seek the Lord and his strength;seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11 Esv
Tammy,
Lusby, MD
Isaiah 65:23
They will not labor without success or bear children destined for disaster, for they will be my people blessed by the LORD. HCSB
Debbie, Orlando
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)
“Finally, be strong in The Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you may stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Lisa, Granville, Ohio
“Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!” Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
Isaiah 1:16-17 NIV
Cindy, Perrysburg,OH
Romans 3:23
Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Jesus Christ when he freed us from the penalty of our sins.
Lee Ann Wimer, Norman, Oklahoma
Therefore, I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
Ephesians 1:15-17 NKJV
Kristi, Pensacola, FL:
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6, NIV
Fredericksburg, VA
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Sherry Stewart
Winston-Salem, NC
If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.
John 15:10
HCSB
Baebara Smith – San Antonio, TX
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Cindy, Deming, New Mexico
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8 NKJV
Karen, Trenton, OH
Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 HCSB)
Ashlie Black Missouri city, Texas
“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” Hebrews 12:6-7
Ephesians 6:12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blod, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Cheryl Swanson – Tulsa,OK
I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2 (NIV)
Linda Hunter Lumberton, TX
O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and the earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17 NLT
Perri Lee, Shallowater, TX
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2
Allison Rains—-Benton, Louisiana
“LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our hearts desire is to glorify your name.”
~Isaiah 26:8~
Lori, Edenton, NC
It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people. It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Ps 118:8-9 NLT
Laurel Montealegre White Pigeon, Michigan
“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11 NASB
Tracy, Sidney, Ohio
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
Matthew 7:13 NIV
Dani, Greer, SC: “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;”
Daniel 2:21 ESV
Tonya
Apex, NC
“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 (NASB(
Debbie, Tennessee
The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Ruth 2:12 KJV