"What is Faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot see."
Hebrews 1:11 (NLT)
The Story ....JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE ... Just like you and me, God uses ordinary people . After working tirelessly on a job that wasn’t bringing much fulfillment, I began to seek God’s face for HIS will and purpose for me on this earth. God has blessed me with many gifts and talents. I couldn’t just continue to be the jack of all trades and the master of none. A few years ago He spoke to me in stillness -the quiet of the night – through the midst of turmoil and confusion ‘YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A BANQUET HALL”. I put him to the test for confirmation. Much to my surprise, HERBERT (my Husband), Mom Brown (my mother-in-law) and my mother supported this wonderful idea. Here comes Herbert – “so what are you going to name this place? I sought Gods face again and he spoke – VISIONS (WITHOUT A VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH) if you can envision it, THEN it becomes a reality. I gave up for a while, but God didn’t. I lost my job – one that I absolutely hated, but needed (I thought). I was searching to and fro, excited and fearful. Herbert did not let me rest without at least trying. Well, here comes Herbert again!!! – “Linda, I found a building”. And what a Vision it has been. Here we are standing in faith, trusting God and looking back from where He's brought us. We praise him for his unmeritable favor toward us. Although we are not worthy of his many blessings, we THANK HIM. To our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: May we always remember from whence we have come and strive to reach the mark of Your high calling. Thank you for giving us this vision to share with others. You are so awesome and true to your word. To those of you that don’t know him. Learn of Him. Give Him a chance to make something beautiful and meaningful out of your life. Give your life to Him. Give to others and IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU. When it comes back, throw it out there to someone in need. OPEN YOUR FIST. I promised Him that I would tell the story and I DO. So when you begin to seek God’s face for HIS will and purpose for you on this earth, just listen and you’ll find all of your answers in the quiet, in the still small voice in which HE continues to speak. THANK YOU FOR VISIONS. And the story continues .....
After many bumps and bruises, trials and tribulations, ups and downs and hosting some wonderful affairs, The Lord spoke to me again in 1999. I began to get very frustrated and unsettled. Satan was knocking at my door left and right. I was leasing this building and the landlords were just going nuts. They really wanted me out this building and everyday became a struggle. I saw no end to my frustrations. I started to look for a property, to start over again. God said, "I had to grow before I could move". Well, I was beside myself. I wanted to know why God would force me to stay in this place surrounded by crazy people. How could I work, maintain my sanity and keep a smile on my face? I obeyed God and he FIXED the situation and erased the problem. It took 2 years. Visions is still standing. We began to grow. We became a certified and licensed catering company in 2001. We hit the deck running not knowing what was to happen next! As we grew the future was unclear. I knew that in 2006 I probably would not have a building in which to operate the business. We had to find another building. We had to GROW! Nothing worked out for us, I thought. God stepped in on time and perform a wonderful and remarkable thing. Again he led my husband to a building. I didn't have any money. This acquisition was to be a quick transaction and I needed plenty of cash to make it happen. Within 2 days God moved people to bless me with over $65, 000. It was unbelievable that people would trust me with their money? This simply blew me away. I knew without a doubt God had his hand in my life. Thanks to the 31 people who blessed me with their finances! We needed a bank to finance the project. Well the banks turned us down. One bank agreed to finance the project but turned us down a month later. I just didn't understand. Smitty, my accountant, and my business mentor, Sonia, worked so hard to make this happen. It seems we were stuck on "NO!" Herb was saying, "So what .... We don't need them". I was crying like a baby wanting to give up. Family and friends continued to encourage me to just hang in there, don't give up. Dare to trust God ...... Just in the knick of time God sent Anita Thomas, a customer, with the answer to my problem. The answer came in a person, someone I had never met. She gave me the information I needed to make it happen.
On November 3, 2004, God blessed us with a new grandson and new building(s) which comprise a banquet facility, apartment house and church! We serve a mighty God. He has blessed my daughter with the knowledge and fresh new ideas in order to work in the company. He blessed her to work in the business so I can work on the business. God says it no longer a business but a COMPANY! What in the world is going on? With a full staff, two banquet facilities, and almost owning a full block, I'll say yes. Visions Banquet and Catering is a Company. God has blessed my husband to put the physical part of "Visions" together. Thank you Herbert. There is absolutely no way I could have done this without you. Your work is better than any contractor, architect, designer or HGTV. God wanted you to do this work in less than 4 months. I won't tell anyone you loved every minute of it. Just look around and you'll see his labour of love. The baby was finally birthed after 4 months of labour. We pushed, breathed, walked, talked, cried, moaned, visited the emergency room many times, wanted to give up. We just couldn't. We wanted to deliver this baby. We wanted to see what it would look like, to see the joy it would bring. We were so excited for our friends and family to see our baby. Just take a look around. Isn't our baby beautiful? We think so. Now we must love and nurture it so it will continue to grow.
God has blessed me to meet some wonderful people. He's blessed me to help so many people. I've seen so many things and experienced so many things that would send a normal person crazy. I've learned so much, walked so many miles. He's placed so many people in my path and I need you. I couldn't be me without you friends and family. You know who you are. You are my WIND!
Well, I'll just keep working and listening as He speaks. I'll follow where He leads. He's taking me through all of this and all I know is that it's not over yet. I know, all of you around me on a daily basis are saying, "Oh No". So am I. Let's just enjoy this baby for a while, just maybe I'm finished having children, maybe not. I'll just wait in the quiet, in the stillness and LISTEN as HE continues to SPEAK in that still small voice.Again I say, THANK YOU FOR VISIONS.
you are. You are my WIND!
