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!
RaeLeen Ellis – Bloomington, IN
Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 1:20 (NIV)
Molly Petrey
Paris, KY
Philippians 2:3 (NIV) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather value others above yourselves,
Paula Schumacher – Dalhart, TX
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Jodi M, Sweetwater, TN – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
14 I John 5:13 NLT
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
Cindy, Beaumont TX. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
Sheryl (58) Bella (7) Parker, KS
But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?” Does the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? Rom 9: 20,21
Melana, what a beautiful story of God’s relentless love. Thank you for sharing. And I must meet this Miesta.
Robin Myers, Salem, Indiana, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Psalms 91:2. NIV
Robin Myers, Salem, Indiana, The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7 NIV
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
2 Peter 1:2
Dawn Ferguson, Peoria, AZ
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2nd Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
Monica Pribe, Blacklick, OH ” For all who are lead by the Spirit of God are sons of God” Romans 8:14 ESV
Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for ever more.
This scripture was on a card my dear friend Maggie gave to me not long ago. I just found it. She is now with our dear Lord now, so it is very special to me.
July 1 and July 15 verses:
Romans 8:18, 19, 20, 21
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
The creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Mary Gray, Fieldale, VA. “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”
Psalm 119:50 NIV
Lesley, Oceanside, CA
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 ESV
Tracy, Kountze, Tx
It is better to live in a corner of a roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 21:9 NASB
Allyson
League City TX
Psalm 86:12 ESV
” I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your name forever.”
Patti Knobbe from West Point NE
“Not by might nor by Power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)
Rita Ford, The Woodlands, Texas “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NIV
Natalie Cumberland Gap, TN
Ephesians 4:1 KJV
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called
Catasauqua, PA
Romans 8:1 (NLT)
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus
Bethany Stephens, Garland, TX
Ps 37:5-7a ESV
“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 noon day. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”
Missy
Humble, Texas
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Cor. 10:31 KJV
Stephanie and daughter Madison, Louisville KY
Been out of the country with limited internet service, so getting caught up:
Phil 4:13 I can do all anything through him who gives me strength NIV
Psalms 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it NIV
I Cor 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirt within you, which you have from God? You are not your own, you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body. RSV
Don’t remember if I placed 7/15 verse on here yet or not.
Pat Jones, Springfield, MO
I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me.
Phil. 4:13 (ESV)
Martha, Asheville NC
“I dwell in the high and holy place and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isa.57:15 esv)
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
ESV
Beth D, Madison, MS You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV84
Marilyn, Dearborn,MO.
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness
given by the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:15 ESV
Thank you ,Melana
“Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit— you choose.” Proverbs 18:21,MSG
Jan In Katy
Ps. 146:1,2 NEV
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, oh my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Abi Welch, Luverne, AL “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24 NIV
Anna Lange Mobile, Alabama
Ephesians 1:9 KJV
“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:”
Although they claim to be wise, they became fools.
Romans 1:22
Jamie, Crossett, AR
Psalm 119:126
“It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void.”
NKJV
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Vivian, Person, NC
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 John 2:6 NKJV
Cynthia, Russellville, Arkansas
Philippians 4:11 ESV
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”
Sandra Smallwood, Anchorage, Alaska
Psalms 103:1, NLT
Let all that I am praise the LORD;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Joshua 1:9 NIV Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
If any of you lacks wisdom , he should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 NIV
Vicki, Merriam, KS
Psalm 103:3-4
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
ESV
Jana Troy, KS
“Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another her, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availth much.”
James 5:16. KJV
Sylvie Nicol, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada ♥
Isaiah 49:13 The Message (MSG)
Heavens, raise the roof! Earth, wake the dead!
Mountains, send up cheers!
God has comforted his people.
He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people.
Joy, from Iowa ~ ” And he was called a friend of God. You see then, that a man is justified by works, not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” ~James 2:23 (b)-26 NKJ
From Asheboro, NC NET Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, Show Courage, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
Sydney, AUS
Mathew 9:38 NIV
“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field”
I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3: 10&11. NIV