Tomorrow Is Not Promised

Tomorrow Is Not Promised

Debra Owens

Copyright © 2021 by Debra Owens

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

All Scriptures were taken from The King James Version

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

One Voice United

The End Shall Come

I dedicate this book to my husband, Cirus, who is the love of my life. We are not two, but we are one, and this is how God meant for it to be. You have been there for me and I for you. Our love for each other is very real and true. We have had to face many tests together, but with God’s help, our love remains stronger than ever. I thank you for being there for me and praying for me as I attempt to do the work of the Lord. I appreciate your patience with me and your everlasting support. I thank God for you and your love.

To my precious daughters, Cameo and Allishia, and my awesome son, Chris, and his amazing wife, Natasha—I want each of you to know individually that my life has been enriched beyond measures because of you all in my life. Each one of you, in your own personal way kept on pushing me even when I wouldn’t push myself. I can gladly say all of you have given me hope that this book could become a reality. I want to thank my family once again for being so supportive of this dream of mine. I kept hearing all of your voices, encouraging me to pursue my dreams and stick with it. Not one time did you ever let me down and I just want to say, thank you. I love all of you and I know without each of you, I would never have completed this plan of God.

To the apples of my eye, my grandchildren: Harrison, Hayden, Kennedy, Harlow, Huntley and Jakaydra, who are truly the grandest gift from God. Each one of you have brought great joy to my life and I love you all very much. I thank my heavenly Father for the family He blessed me with and I dedicate this book to them.

These Words

Are not

To Frighten you,

But to Encourage you,

To believe in

The one and only

True and living

God,

Who cares about

Our Lives now

and

Our souls

After death.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

Revelation 2:17

Preface

Today, I begin a new chapter in my life. God has placed something amazing within my spirit. It may have been there for years, but it’s now coming to the surface. Who knows, I could have been born with it; but it’s a deep and longing desire to share God’s Word with the world. I am both excited and a little fearful because I will be representing my heavenly Father. I know this is another level for me, and I take it very seriously. When I stand before many, which I know one day I will, or when the television camera points in my direction and that person says, Possibly thousands—or maybe even millions—will be listening to your words, I know I will have to be strong and of good courage, knowing the Lord is with me. I will have to trust Him to word my mouth and that He will be glorified with the words I speak. I praise Him in advance.

How will I be doing this great and marvelous work for God and His kingdom? I hope that it will be through poems, short stories, books, and possibly through speaking engagements. I feel a stirring in my sprit to make a joyful noise unto the Lord of my salvation for I know He will do great things through me. Only God knows what other gifts are within me and what other doors He may open for me. I want to always be willing to go where God says go, speak what God says speak, and do what God says do. Because I know without a shadow of doubt that with God on my side, the sky is the limit in what I can accomplish through Him. I am glad to know with God on my side, I will be able to do all things through Christ who will strengthen me day by day and hour by hour.

This is an awesome privilege the Lord has allowed and entrusted me to do. I want to thank God for believing in me and putting this ability within me. I know, with all my heart, what you are about to read is the Lord’s doing. I claim no glory; nor honor of my own, but to God be all the glory, honor, and the praise. I pray, as you turn each page, that your heart will be delighted and your spirit will rejoice over the chosen words God granted me to write. I pray that you read as if God is speaking to you directly. I pray thousands—maybe even millions—will read and God will reveal Himself, in His own way, through these words.

God gave me these words, to write in this book, for you to be blessed immensely. Believe it or not, it has taken over fifteen years to accomplish this lifelong goal, not because of God, but because of fear holding me back. I have learned a lot along this way. First, when God speaks, you must let everything else go and sit down and listen to what He has to say. Second, there will always be distractions, obstacles, and cares of life that will always try to block the work of God. Third, fear for many reasons: failing, not being good enough, disappointing God, yourself, and others. I have learned fear will always try to block your blessings, and that is why we must conquer fear with faith.

My greatest prayer has been for an increase of faith because this whole journey has been a walk of faith. God has been speaking to me for years to go forth. He has spoken to me that I may speak a word to others. These words come first to encourage me that I may encourage others. I had a hard time allowing God to inspire me, so that I could inspire others. I now know that it was fear that was holding me back. I’ve learned that all I had to do was find a quiet place, sit down, and let God do the talking and my fingers do the writing. Taking heed to the voice of God was an act of faith.

I write this book out of my love for God and His Son, Jesus. I know that the two are one, and I believe in them both. The works they have done in my life has changed me forever. God lives in me and He is enabling me to write these words to you.

Author’s Mission Statement

Winning The Lost

At Any Cost,

Because A Soul Lost

Is A Wasted Life

Author’s Opening Statement

What a blessing it is to wake up every morning and see a brand-new day, but we never know what each day may bring our way. We leave our homes every morning, not knowing if we will return to see our families, loved ones, or friends again, due to unseen danger of all kinds, everywhere. Each day may be our very last day here on earth because, Tomorrow is not Promised.

We are truly living in the last days. Our world seems to be turned upside down, and there seems to be more hate than love, more lies than the truth, and more sorrows than laughter. We see people who choose wrong over right and bad over good. Our world is growing darker every day, but God can bring light to our darkest days. Remember all hope is not gone because Christ is always working behind the scene of our lives to draw us closer to Him.

Our God is still sitting on His throne, and one day, He will right all the wrong. We must remember God sent Christ to be a light in this dark world. Not only did He bring light, but He is also the light of the world. With this light came an abundance of life in Christ, but the only way we can experience this abundant life is by laying aside everything that’s not like Christ and love Him with our whole heart. We can have everything in this life that God wants us to have, but we will have to give up everything and follow Christ. I promise you everything you give up for Christ, He will give you more in return. Time is short so, let us work together and get busy for God.

He wants us to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper and to live together in peace and harmony. He wants us to love one another because Tomorrow is not Promised. God wants us to live in faith and not in fear, even while we live in perilous times. We must learn to trust in God, knowing He is able to bring us through all things. No matter how bad things may get, we must keep our faith in God and always remember, Tomorrow is not Promised.

Acknowledgment

From the writer: To my heavenly Father, Jesus and the precious Holy Spirit, I just want to say, thank You for working in me and through me from the beginning until the end. Thank You for inspiring me and encouraging me along the way. It’s good to know that God is with me. I am convinced that the Father can place a desire within a person, then turn around and bring that same desire to pass. I know what I am doing is of you, and I ask You, Father, to be glorified in your daughter. I ask this in Jesus’s name.

I thank You, Lord, for the words You have given me to write in this book. I know they will be powerful because You are speaking through me. The whole world will know and see what I do is not of my own, but it’s by Your power and Your spirit. I thank and praise You in advance. In Jesus’s name, I pray.

I want to also acknowledge my parents, Annie and the late Boston, who have lived a holy life before me to the best of their abilities. You both gave me my foundation in my natural as well as my spiritual life, and for that, I am grateful. You both taught me so much. I acknowledge all my sisters, brothers, brother in-laws, and my entire family. A special thanks to my dear sister, Carol, who has always encouraged and supported me in the writing of my book. She has been a great inspiration to me. She never stopped asking me, Have you finished that book yet? These simple words nudged me to the completion of my book. Thank you for your love and support.

I want to give thanks and share my appreciation to my pastor, Elder Arthur Sledge, and his wife, Missionary Lisa Sledge, for the many years of teaching God’s Holy Word. You both have been a great inspiration to me, and I have enjoyed being under your leadership and guidance. I contribute most of my growth in the Lord because of your teaching and many prayers. I acknowledge all the saints of my local church, Kedron Church of God in Christ, for their love and support. I am so thankful to God for the way of holiness that our church was founded on and continue to stand on.

I would like to acknowledge some special friends. Thank you, Hazel, for Proverbs 18:10, "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe." You spoke those words into my spirit, and once it entered my ears, it went straight to my soul. Thank you for those profound words, which I will always hold close to my heart. Thank you, Grenola, for Proverbs 10:22, "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." These words really helped me trust God the more. Ms. Erma, thank you for your tender heart, and, Brenda, your kind spirit. Each one of you are my sisters always—and I want you all to know that I truly appreciate you all for sharing your faith with me. Your words helped me to grow in the Lord. Thank you for believing in me, and I pray God’s blessings upon each of you.

Introduction

I have found, in my everyday life, we must deal with the laws of God and the laws of the man. It’s good to obey both,