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!
Sandy Hartley, Clatskanie OR
Proverbs 31:23-25 Her husband is known in the gates when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen and selleth it and delivereth girdles (bolts of fabric 🙂 unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come. (KJV)
Annette Turner, Houston, Tx
Blessed be The Lord
Who daily loads us with benefits
The God of our salvation !
Psalm 68: 19 ( NKJV )
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the /Head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4:15
NIV
Susie, Harrisburg, PA
A promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off ~ for all whom the Lord our God will call.
~ Acts 2:39 NIV
Molly Legg Gainesville, GA
“For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”
Proverbs 3:11 NASB
Christa, Denver, CO
“God is with you, O mighty warrior!” Judges 6:12 (MSG)
Asheville NC Praise The Lord in song for He has done excellent things; Let this be known throughout the earth. Isaiah 12:5 (nasb)
April, Seymour, TN “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Luke 12:34 ESV
Gail Thigpen Tyler, TX
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20 NKJV
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. Psalm 103:2 NLT
Albuquerque, NM
Psalm 139:15
“My substance was not hid from the, when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth”. KJV
Jamie Cormier, Lufkin TX
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away our inner self is being renewed day by day”
2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV
Christy Billingsley, Hattiesburg, MS
“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:23-24 NIV
Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Sarah, Montrose, CO:
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:26 (ESV)
Madison, MS
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, genteleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23.HCSB
Catlett, VA
Psalm 19:6
It’s rising is from one end of heaven, and it’s circuit to the other end.
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Kay Richmond, Va
You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:14 NIV
Spanish Ustedes son mis amigos si hacen lo que yo les mando.
Becky, Edmonton, Canada
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph. 2:10
Martha, Plano,TX
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverence will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Stephanie B
Augusta, GA
Ps 139:23-24 (ESV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and leave me in the way everlasting!
Lindsey Ehle – Kingwood, TX
Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
According to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.
Psalm 25:7
without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good.
2 Timothy 3:3 NIV
Leslie Thibodeau
Union,KY
Jeremiah 15:16
When your words came I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your nam, Lord God Almighty.
(NIV)
Holly H., Frisco, TX
“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”
Philippians 4:12, ESV
Fruita, CO
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.
Micah 6:8 NIV
Deb oakes. Alliance, nebraska
Nkjv rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Romans 12:12
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. ” Hebrews 13:16 NIV
Kathryn Anderson, Jacksonville fl: “.. That you may be filled with the knowledge of His will I all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord to please Him in all respects bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Colossians 1:9-12
Ashley williams
Macungie PA
James 5:16 NIV
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Micah 7.7 NIV
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
I wait for God my Savior,
My God will hear me.
Brenda McGurk, Medina,Ohio
May have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and
High and deep is the love of Christ,
Ephesians 3:18 (NIV)
Nancy, Edmonds Washington
Matthew 5:13 (NIV)
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Anna, Little Elm, TX (Just realized I didn’t submit my verse this last time! Wrote it in my spiral, but forgot this part!)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the worldly forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 (TLV)
Mindy H, West Lafayette, IN : I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and i will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4b
Gwyn Cummings, Rowlett, TX
Psalm 31:24 NIV
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Matthew 7:17
Mallory Barker, Celina,Texas
John 1:5 ESC
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.”
Lauralee Courtney
Austin, TX
Sorry, I am late in posting this verse. Memorized it on time but failed to post on time : )
Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
John 8:32
“For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness— God is witness.”
I Thessalonians 2:5 NKJV
Bonnie Webb Cibolo,TX Galatians 5:1 ESV. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Gina Fernandez, Wilson, NC
All your children will be taught by the Lord,
and great will be their peace.
Isaiah 54:13
krystal ward
dallas, tx
but he said to me, “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
Diane from Cypress, Tx
NIV
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you’ ” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”
Davina Denny Novato, CA The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 NIV
Angela, Cullman, AL
Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. Psalms 119:2 NLT
Raine M., Sherman Oaks, CA
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8 NIV
7/15 – Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord
Allyson, Wichita Falls, Tx
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
(ESV)
Teri, Campobello SC
Isaiah 6:3
And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory,” (NIV)
Stacey, Omaha,NE
1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NLT) Always be joyful.