Matt and I became one flesh, soulmates, balancing partners, in 1991, after not only knowing one another all through high school but after dating for a year. We now have two sons, Nicholas and Jeremy, one blessing of a granddaughter, Alayah. Matt grew up in church as his father, Porter Hoover, was a Baptist preacher and his family would sing in church. Although he was surrounded by the church and God, he didn’t actually know God for himself until he attended a revival with his father at the age of 16. The Holy Spirit spoke to his heart and he made his way to an old fashion altar. He poured out all of him and God filled him up with love, grace and mercy. Unfortunately due to the influences of his peers, he drifted back to his previous life. 

Then in 1995, during a time of great struggle, Matt saw his need for God once again. While attending a church service, he re-dedicated his life to the Lord. Then just a month or so later, I started my walk with God. God had a plan. In 1997, Matt surrendered the call God had placed on his heart, to preach. In 1999, we began his first music ministry. We have traveled all over this beautiful America, and even to many other countries in ministry. God has blessed us to be a part of thousands of congregations worshipping the Lord. To this day, Matt continues to serve the Lord in the many ways God has provided him with. Over the years, God has taught me many things through Matt; such as, true strength, to love as Christ loves the church for that’s how he loves me, to honor God and your family, how to be the backbone of the family and to love God and family passionately. Matt’s iThirst Life started the day he gave his life to the Lord and his path, even though runs parallel to mine, is still different. 

My iThirst Life began when I gave my life to the Lord in 1995. The day I knelt at an old fashion altar and poured myself out at the feet of Jesus. Then He filled me up with His most amazing love, grace and forgiveness that covered my multitude of sins. Unfortunately I fell by the wayside due to my lack of direction, guidance and thirst for God. This didn’t happen overnight, it happened over a series of years by neglecting my walk with God. Then in a moment of complete desperation, I knew in my thirsty, dry heart that I needed to return to God. I was being given a second chance. This time I would not allow any sin, any lack of thirst, in my life. I poured every last drop of me out, emptying all that I tried to fill up with and I started thirsting completely for God. I was determined to not be slothful with my second chance. I no longer wanted to sit on the sidelines watching as others knew and understood more than me simply because I didn’t or wouldn’t read, study, actually seeking from God His understanding and wisdom. There’s a difference between reading and understanding and truly seeking, asking and finding from God through prayer and supplication. I finally started to understand that by allowing God to empty all of me that He could start restoring me. Now I started to learn His Word. I was that empty, dry, dusty well that so desperately needed and thirsted for water, Living Water…Jesus. Once that fountain started flowing into me, God allowed daily growth that I had never known, love beyond compare, forgiveness unlike anything I’d ever felt and complete everlasting grace that can only be described as amazing. I strive to reveal my genuineness with a true desire for God because I once walked away. I am thankful for that second chance and even though I was in such a complete faithless state of mind, I found my true self because of Jesus, my intercessor. My iThirst Life was only beginning and I didn’t even understand it yet. After years of hard work for God, building my iThirst Life the talent, gift that I once longed for came in a fashion I would have never thought. He makes me look deep within, in order for me to be used for His glory and succeed to the full potential on my life. 

My iThirst Life has taken me down a road of being used as God’s tool when He started placing these small posts on my heart for social media. At first they were simply quoted scripture. As the posts continued, the Lord transferred them into thoughts. He is the author, I am the pen, the avenue by which they’re shared. I didn’t even realize what God was doing until He opened my eyes, because these thoughts come from a place of conviction and teaching for me. 

My iThirst Life is one to give all glory to God; iThirst Life to live and strive for Him daily in all I do; iThirst Life was created out of pure love and complete forgiveness through Jesus Christ; iThirst Life is desiring a closer walk with God, to have a heart for Him, and to live the rest of my life for God and to encourage other iThirst Lives.