Tammy Arceneaux
To me there is nothing more delightful than sharing your faith with others, proclaiming the gospel of Christ in whatever way you can, be it through your business, or just as you walk down the street and meet and greet people. The Bible says be not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power unto salvation to those who believe. Jesus himself said, "everyone who confesses HIM before men, HE will also confess before HIS Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies HIM before men, HE will also deny him before HIS Father who is in heaven".
Declaring your faith with boldness is what Tammy set out to do when she started Visionsxpressed in 2006. Their Dog tags and tee shirts allow you to be literally a walking billboard for the Lord. Tammy said VisionsXpressed has been in the making for her entire life without her even knowing, however, she says, "God knew"!
VisionsXpressed is very dear to her heart. Although the road was bumpy at times, Tammy said God held her hand, and has guided her. She counts this ongoing journey a true blessing in her life. I have had the pleasure of speaking with Tammy on more than one occasion. I am delighted and honored to share my interview with her.
LHU: This talented woman and I are no strangers we actually became acquainted when I found her website VisionsXpressed. Tammy please tell us how you started your company and why?
Tammy: Since I was in elementary school, I've been drawing and have won numerous art contests. Art was my passion and still is. I've been a professional graphic designer for over 25 years now, with the last 3 years doing freelance as Visions Graphics Studio. A couple of years ago, I had developed a huge mass the size of a golf ball seemingly overnight on my left breast. When I noticed it, I couldn't believer how large it was and fear immediately set in. Anything that came up that large and in that amount of time certainly couldn't be good news. Instead of turning to God, I became withdrawn and unapproachable, even with my husband. I kept it a secret for a couple of months and spent my time researching the internet on cancer and formed my own opinion that I had a rare form of a highly aggressive cancer. Crying is all that I did. I reached a breaking point and cried out to God. It was during this time that I began listening to Him and the direction He wanted me to go in. VisionsXpressed was born. "Visions" is also part of my graphic design business. All ideas begin with a "vision". The "X" was meant to represent the younger generation, which was the generation that I felt God wanted me to minister to, but come to find out, people of all ages love the products! Within three days, I had a business name and 31 designs! Oh, and the mass was removed surgically and was benign! It was a non-cancerous tumor surrounded by a huge amount of staff infection. Praise God! Now I have two businesses.
LHU: I love that your products aide in helping others declare their faith in Christ. What are some of the items VisionsXpressed carries.
Tammy: My products include D+O+G (Declarations of God) Tags and The BBold4God Collection T-shirt line. Both product lines are extremely bold declarations of faith and are unique in today's market place. The t-shirt line is based off of the tag product line. In other words, for every D+O+G Tag statement, there is a corresponding BBold4God T-shirt. To date, I've designed 31 D+O+G Tags, but have only introduced 5 designs to the market until VisionsXpressed has it's feet planted firmly.
LHU: Do you find it hard balancing family and work? What are some things you and your family do that you cherish most?
Tammy: Yes, it is extremely difficult with family and work. I don't have the help that I need for marketing, so it falls back on me, plus, I'm always trying to find graphic design projects to help with my contribution to the household. It's a small contribution though! LOL! Seriously though, everything is in God's hands! Through the years, God has been teaching me patience, which was very tough teaching me! Through life's lessons, I'm a very laid-back person and fully accept that things happen in God's timing, not mine! To get flustered only brings me down and life's too short for that!
LHU: I like the fact that your website has a personal testimony section. When we share our testimonies with others it can truly encourage and help them in their present situations and walk with Christ. Please share your personal testimony with us.
Tammy: My birth mother was barely 17 when I was born. She left me at 2 years old in a high chair while my dad was at work, never to return. My dad found me and we moved in with my grandmother. At 9 years old, my dad married the most wonderful woman, who took me in and loved me as her own. She couldn't be more my mom if we were true flesh and blood! As a teenager, my birth mother (out of curiosity) came into our lives and turned them upside down. I believed that she wanted and loved me and I began to rebel against my mom who truly did love me. I ran away and tried to quit school. My mom and dad found me and successfully had me back in school within a matter of a few days. Although I did graduate and settle down some, I was miserable. After all, there was a birth mother who wanted me back, when in reality, she didn't. I married my daughter's birth father after I only knew him 3 months, just to get out of the house. I really thought that I had it bad, when in reality, my parents were the most loving people! It still amazes me to this day on how my mind worked back then! The next 3 years were totally abusive and horrific. I also found out that my birth mother never wanted me and she even told me so! God had been so good to me by giving me a wonderful dad and mom, plus He protected me and later on, my daughter. We both could have lost our lives! Despite all the blessings, I never gave God the glory, or even gave God acknowledgment for that matter! I was brought up in church and I believed in God, but even though He carried me out of harms way many times, I turned my back on Him! Sadly, it wasn't until I thought I had cancer that I answered God's call. He had been knocking on my heart's door for a long time! I regret the pain and hurt that I caused my parents growing up, and of course for being so stubborn! I now give God all the glory and will use the creative gift He blessed me with as a way to minister. My birth mother had 4 other children by different fathers. They grew up being abused and the 3 girls had run away from home and each had a child by the time they were 16. I actually spoke to one who had made contact with me. We spoke for a long time and she told me how horrible their childhood was and that their mother, my birth mother, would be in their life one minute, then get upset with them and wouldn't speak with them for 6 months or more, then out of the blue she would call and act like nothing had happened. She also said that the men were physically abusive to the girls. My half siblings and I don't speak, nor do I know where they are now, but it's because we don't know each other, and love of family was never instilled into their lives. However, there was a statement she made that I will never forget as long as I live. She said "We knew about your existence, and always thought that you were the lucky one." She was and still is right! I am so very blessed! Today, I enjoy spending time with my husband (my soulmate!), daughter, dog, and horse! Life is good!
LHU: In our daily walk with God, trials and tribulations will come, but thanks be to him we have Jesus to lean upon. Which scriptures do you draw strength from during these times?
Tammy: With my back being turned to God for so many years, I've got a lot of catching up and learning to do on scripture! I must say that John 3:16 is the one that I think of right off the bat. We've all been taught this verse since childhood. As a parent, I relate to it especially. I can't even imagine doing what God did! My second verse is Psalm 138:3. When I was looking up scripture to relate to my products, that I refer to as "Bold4God", I came across it and loved it. To proclaim our faith and witness in this world filled with ridicule is being bold4God! I now use this scripture in my email signature for VisionsXpressed. The third verse is one of comfort and stems from the days when I lived with my grandmother. It is Psalm 23:1-3. To me, it's a verse of hope. Not matter how "bad" things get, it reminds me that God is holding my hand and will see me through.
LHU: What can we pray about for you in 2008?
Tammy: First, please pray for my Mom. She's still adjusting to life without my Dad. We're all still adjusting, but my sister and I do have our husbands to lean on, whereas Mom is now alone. And, if there is time to pray for VisionsXpressed, I would so appreciate it. I need guidance for my company, and a little help wouldn't hurt either.
In closing, do you have any final thoughts to share with our readers?
Tammy: Never give up hope and faith! Even when you feel like you are alone and you don't "feel" God, He is there and with His arms wrapped tightly around you! Sometimes we get so caught up in what's going on, that we feel that instead of opening our hearts to feel God. For years, He saved my life countless times, He fed my daughter and I when I only had $10 left in checking to last until payday. He was there for me, but I wasn't there for Him. I am now, and will always be.
I would like to thank Tammy Arceneaux for giving me this interview. May God continue to bless her in all she is doing to Lift Up Jesus and his Kingdom! For more information on Tammy visit VisionsXpressed
Sherri C. Walker, Editor
Comments
Post a Comment