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!
Becky Purchase Euless, Tx
Ephesians 3:21 NIV
[21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Gwen Wray, Miami, OK
Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV)
Concetta, White Oak, TX PSALMS 116:7-9 NLT
“Let my soul be at rest again, for the LORD has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the LORD’s presence as I live here on earth!”
Leigha, White Oak, TX LUKE 6:37 NIV
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Ginny White of Orofino
He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:6. NIV
Tonya, Searcy, AR
But the Lord looks after those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His love.
Psalms 33:18 NCV
Julie, Sugar Land, TX
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
Dana Johnson, Waterford WI.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Cris – New Lenox, IL
He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.
Psalm 23:2 (NIV)
Phoenix, Az
Psalm 31:14 (nkjv) But as for me, I trust in You, o Lord; I say, “you are my God”
Angie W., Federal Way, WA and Ennis, MT
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 ESV
You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Psalm 32:7 niv
Malinda Hiles, Hurst, TX
Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Cheryl Wright , Everett,Washington
Philippians 2: 3 The Message (MSG)
Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Liz, Round Rock, Texas
I used these verses as part of a prayer to close our GriefShare meeting last week.
Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 28:6-7 NIV
Allison Crook
Albuquerque, NM
I’m continuing with the same one from last time:
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NASB)
Judith, Scott, Louisiana
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
John 14:15 NASB
Ann, Cataula, GA
Proverbs 31:11
Her husband has full confidence in her
And lacks nothing of value.
Ella, St. Augustine, FL
“that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” Romans 1:12 NIV
Columbus, OH
“. . . and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the [j]saints according to the will of God. And we know that [k]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:27-28, NASB
Cindy S. Walker, Clear Lake area of Houston, TX,
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 (1984 NIV)
Kathy – Neosho, MO
Psalm 33:3 NKJV
Sing to him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy!
Jackie, Mobile, Al
“Lord, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them.”
Isaiah 26:11 NIV
Shelley from San Angelo
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4 NIV
PatWilfong, GreenBankWV,
(20) “Only two things Do Not Do to me, then I will not hide myself from You:
(21) (Do Not) Withdraw Your hand far from me, And Let not the Dread of You make me afraid.
(22) Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me.”
Holy Bible, NKJV. “Job Desires to Speak to God”.
Job 13:20-22.
Allison, Pittsburg, Tx
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but
it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
Ellen, Moneta VA
May The Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. -1Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV, 1984)
Nancilea, The Woodlands, TX
“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.
(Luke 12:4 ESV)
Kim Haines–Ashland, ME
Ezekiel 36:26
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. (NLT)
Tammy from Alexander, NC
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. 1Corinthians1:18 ESV
Christi Hudson, Newnan, GA
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3 NLT
from Cornelius, NC: Philippians 4:8 ( NIV). ” 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 on these things.
Lana from Mishawaka, IN
Joel 1:3
Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children and their children to another generation
“… who comforts us in all our troubles
so that we can comfort
those in any trouble with the comfort
we ourselves have received from God.”
II Cor. 1:4 NIV
Linda, Fort Collins, CO
Melissa ~ Black Creek, GA
“if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13 ESV
Bethany, Magnolia, TX
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”
Jude 1:20-21
Elizabeth Schroeder
Whitesboro, Tx
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct your paths.” NKJV
Erika, Monson MA
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
1Thessalonians 5:24 NAS
Rebecca M., Clifton, NJ. “But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.” Psalm 109:21-22 NIV
Marilyn, Piedmont, Oklahoma
“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
Alas I did it again – I posted my verse from Bible Gateway and forgot to write it in my Scripture booklet. I posted it when I was sick and fighting a cold. Mind was not 100% – naturally will it ever be??? Please also pray for good news from my vascular doppler ultrasound so I will not have to go on plavix – it makes me bruise all over and I look like I get beaten and I already am a bruiser without it. For those of you who don’t know plavix is a blood thinner. Thank you for your prayers and sending my verse that I may hide God’s Word in my heart.
Sarah M., Laurel, MS “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7 (NIV)
Thank you for sharing, Melana. I am also learning of God’s unconditional love. Praise be to Him.
Chrystal – Coachella, CA – “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Sherilyn, Warsaw, IN
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Prov 4:23 NIV
(Sorry this post is so late–I was at Momentum Youth Conference last week–what a blessing!)
Elizabeth Thompson, Florence, AL “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
Romans 12:14 NASB
Diane, Nowata, OK
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and it is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 NIV
Kathy Lonergan
Folsom CA
James 1:9-12
The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation, but the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will wither away while pursuing his activities. A man who endures trials is blessed because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
Melissa Fancher- Marble, AR
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way walk in it”
Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Lauren Fancher whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will this command behind you this is the way walk in it.
Isaiah 30:21