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!
Joyce Lobmaster, St. Louis Mo. Psalm 119:41-43 May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,your salvation, according to your promise; then I can answer anyone who taunts me,for I trust in your word. Never take your word of truth from my mouth,for I have put my hope in your laws. Psalm 119:41-43 NIV
Karen, Flower Mound, TX
He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord. Psalms 112:7 (HCSB)
Kim Bignon-Orlando, Florida
“Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28 NIV
7-15-15
And thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30,31 KJV
Amanda Aikin
Pittsburg ks
He must increase, I must decrease. John 3:30 ESV
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 ESV
Cara Roberts, Reelsville, Indiana. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that The Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12 NIV
Margo, Burlington ON
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1 NIV
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 (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.” ~ Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Amy Brown
New Palestine, IN
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13 NLT)
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24 NIV
Michele Gibbons, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14 ESV
“Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.”
Psalms 103:15 NLT
Sue Big Rapids, MI
Ps. 62:8 NASB Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
Debbie Fitzpatrick, Bossier City, LA
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 NIV
Judy Berey Mandeville, LA “I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to Him and He answered my prayer.” Psalm 120:1 (NLT)
Evan Stratton, Charlotte NC
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise,
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my toungue
you know it completely, O LORD.
Psalm 139:1-4 NIV
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Isaiah 43:2 NIV
Margie Snyder, Groveland FL
Psalm 103:1 (NLT)
Let all that I am praise the LORD;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Pamela Shaw, Bangor, Northern Ireland
“… may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ …” Eph 3:18 (NIV)
Misty Keith – Pflugerville, TX “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)
Charlotte, NC
They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.
Psalm 37:26 (NIV)
Heather Hart | Seymour, TX
“I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.” Psalm 118:17 ESV
Carol Stainbrook, Kimberling City, MO
Melana, your story is beautiful & inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.” Ecclesiastes 3:12 (NIV)
Terri Lundskow – Hughesville, Maryland
Psalm 23:3 – He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Dianne Detrick – Magnolia TX
Psalm 46:1(NIV) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Mary Bettie, Medina TN
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19 NIV
Sherry
Indianapolis, IN
Isaiah 61:10a, NIV
”
I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness”
Loma Linda, CA
Psalm 18:19
He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Kelly Davis, Danville VA. Psalm 89:8 N.I.V.
Who is like you Lord God Almighty? You Lord are mighy and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Amanda Porter. Kansas City, Missouri. “Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.” -Proverbs 17:17 (MSG)
Mary McNeal
Roswell, Georgia
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37
Cecilia
Pflugerville, TX
Philippians 4:8 NIV
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
Angie Shockney Lafayette IN
1 Peter 1:14 NIV
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
Carrie Foreman Horatio, Ar.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1John 1:8 NIV
Vanessa, Johnson City, TN
Psalms 23:3a NKJV
He restores my soul.
Judy, Panama City, Fl
Psalm 46:10 ESV
Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth !
Heidi~Lindale, Texas
Psalm 68:19 NKJV
Blessed be The Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation.
Mary Joy, Dayton, OH.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7 NIV
Kay Martin
Tupelo, MS
“Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe for our God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV
Kelly, Auburn, Al – For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37 NIV
Janet, Midlothian, Texas
Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord could ever survive?
But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.
Psalm 130:3-4 NLT
Naomi – Colorado Spring – “But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward” Jeremiah 7:24
Tessa Clark, Jefferson City, MO
Psalm 86:11 ESV
Teach me your way,O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
Amy B.
Montezuma, IN
Pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV)
Rebecca Holmes, birmingham, Alabama
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 underfoot.”
Matthew 5:13 NIV
Karoletha
Longview,TX
Ah,Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 32:17
NIV
Lily Green, Madison, AL
” . . . always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)