Women's Life International Conference Speaker: 1980 Miss America Cheryl Salem, Speaking Sunday, Feb. 7th 9am, 11am & 6pm Services

Cheryl Prewitt grew up in Choctaw County, Mississippi. Through her unyielding trust in God, she overcame a crippling car accident and being sexually abused as a child. Her faith in Him enabled her to fulfill her dreams and brought her victory!

A scarred face, a body cast and a wheelchair did not add up to disaster for this little girl.  When Cheryl was a young girl of eleven, this accident forced her to decide whether to trust God or just give up and accept the prognosis...Doctors promised that she would be scarred, they claimed that she would not walk again, they insisted that bearing children would be impossible for her...they were wrong!

Cheryl not only walked; she walked the runway at Atlantic City to become Miss America! Only her focused faith in God kept her on the road to winning.  She married Harry Salem and gave birth to three beautiful children! Throughout the years, she has relied upon that same focused trust in Him to keep her on the winning side.  She is a wife, mother, musician, and minister of the gospel, traveling the world, to preach the Good News.  

The news that the Salems received in early 1999 was anything but good, however. Everything in life had seemingly come together to near perfection.  But in a matter of a few hours one January morning, this family was rocked to the core.  Their beautiful 5-year-old daughter, Gabrielle Christian, received a diagnosis that declared should would not live to see her 6th birthday.  For 11 months, this family stood in faith, believing God for Gabrielle's healing to manifest. She now lives in Heaven, completely restored! Theirs is a testimony of hope, trust in God's sovereign plan, and of restoration.  Gabrielle went to Heaven in November 1999.  This family has not backed down, they have not given up, they continue to reach out to people, to show them how to go from mourning to morning and from grief to glory.

In the days that followed Gabrielle's death, Cheryl realized that the Lord was bringing the family through the valley of the shadow of death, and into a deeper, more intimate level with Him, a level even beyond faith, called trust.  Harry Salem says that failure is nothing more than broken focus...may Cheryl Salem's testimony fo perserving faith and trust in God  inspire you to keep your focus as you run your race to win!

www.salemministries.org

God's not in control of EVERYTHING

The first thing that God did after He created the world...He gave man authority! He gave man dominian! (Genesis 1:28-29)


But Adam & Eve both fell and the curse came upon the Earth. Jesus came to redeem us from the curse and for those who have received Jesus Christ into their lives, there has been re-established authority and dominion. That's why the Bible says in Matthew 16:19:


"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."


Why did He say that? Because everything that happens in your life is not up to God!  


What are you allowing or what are you dis-allowing? 


If God were in control, there wouldn't be the disasters that you and I see, because he is not the taker of human life. God says "I have come to give life and life more abundantly.  It's the thief that comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." (John 10:10)


You ask "why is there pain and problems?" Because we still live under the curse.  The Bible says that the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. And then there's the foolishness of men. C'mon...you and we can do some dumb stuff sometimes.  


God is not a controller. He is not a manipulator. God does not want to control.  God wants a relationship! You have a right to choose.  


You have the power of choice.  


"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;" -Deuteronomy 30:19


God is giving us a big hint on what he wants us to do! Through the Holy Spirit He tries to lead us to make the right choice but ultimately you will make the decision. 


You are a summary right now of the choices you have made in your life.   


Most people don't want to admit that because they don't want to take responsibility for their lives. It's much easier to blame other people and make excuses for why things aren't working out. But we have the power of choice! 


Only be careful that this power of choice (this permission and liberty to do as you please) which is yours, does not [somehow] become a hindrance (cause of stumbling) to the weak or overscrupulous [giving them an impulse to sin]. 
- 1 Corinthians 8:9


The power of choice is very powerful!  It can lead you where God wants you to go or it can be something that can hinder you. The thing is that we have to take responsibility for the choices we make.  

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. - Jeremiah 29:11