About
I was raised in the Arkansas Ozarks, near Eureka Springs, by a Christian family that never had a lot of anything other than love. We always had plenty of love. In fact we had so much love that we shared it with the people next door, the people down the road, the people in town, and the people in the next town over. At times we even had occasion to share it with people in the next county over and beyond. This was a love that was deeply rooted in the Word of God. My prayer is to share that love through my writings, based on truths from the Word of God. Thank you
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Location: Springfield, MO
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Country: US
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Country: US
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Blogs: 11
images: 8
Songs: 1
Winter Haven - Divine message or coincidence?
I just received a new revelation as I wrote about my ministry on my home page at this site. I wrote about God giving me a scripture, which was II Chronicles 15:7, "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded," and about how it became my battle cry. I would like to share more with you here about this scripture and how it came to be my battle cry.
In early 1998, I earned my living as an over the road truck driver. My passions included reading and sharing God's Word, and also writing poems and stories that praised Him. Every stop I made I tried to find someone to share His love and Word with, and always took time to read a few scriptures. On one particular run, I hauled a load of potatoes from Idaho Falls, Idaho to a Walmart Distribution Center in Winter Haven, Florida. It was a long, hard run and I had to make a few extra stops along the way to make repairs to the truck and to the refrigeration unit on my trailer. Despite those setbacks I managed to arrive in Winter Haven on Sunday afternoon, and my delivery appointment was for the wee hours of Monday morning, so I had some time for reading, writing, sharing, and resting.
The aforementioned scripture came to me as a vision while I was sleeping. It was an experience I had never had before and will never forget. I was at death's door and talking to God! I was torn between wanting to let go of this life to go be with Jesus and feeling that there was so much more I could still do to produce fruit for His kingdom. Suddenly a vision appeared, seemingly right above my head. It was an open Bible. As I looked at it, I began to focus on the words. I could make them out, and I read them with excitement! I looked closer and could read the book of the Bible, along with the chapter and verse. I climbed out of the sleeper and opened my Bible to II Chronicles, 15:7. "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded." It's my belief that God was directing me to go back and finish the work He had called me to do.
In the coming years I found myself at death's door many times. The life that I was living was one that would not have been envied by anyone. Like Job, I wanted it to end, but I knew what God had shown me in that vision, I knew my work was not done, and I knew I had to be strong in order to complete it. I stood on that word from God in II Chronicles, and refused to curse God and die. Through my faith in God, which sometimes seemed to be smaller than a grain of mustard seed, His grace has delivered me to new heights. "Onward....Through the Fog" is finished and a new project is underway. The revelation I received today is simple. The Word that carried me through the coldest, loneliest, darkest time of my life came to me in Winter Haven, and has became my haven for the winter of my life. Was this a divine message or a coincidence?
Winter Haven
I had driven hard to get there,
And I had some trouble too.
I had to make a quick repair
So that I could make it through.
I arrived on time and gave God praise,
Then I laid down for a while
Contented I'd gone through that phase
And I had passed another trial.
A vision came to me that night
Like I'd never seen before.
The Word of God was clear and bright
Telling me what lay in store.
As I read the lines He gave to me
My heart raced within my chest.
Cause if I'd serve Him faithfully
My life would become fully blessed.
I've gone down a lot of highways
Since that Winter Haven night.
I've given God all of my ways
Now I'm walking in the Light.
He said I'd have to remain strong
Work with my hands for my Lord.
I must show the world right and wrong
So I'll receive my just reward.
Cpoyright Jack Hoover
In early 1998, I earned my living as an over the road truck driver. My passions included reading and sharing God's Word, and also writing poems and stories that praised Him. Every stop I made I tried to find someone to share His love and Word with, and always took time to read a few scriptures. On one particular run, I hauled a load of potatoes from Idaho Falls, Idaho to a Walmart Distribution Center in Winter Haven, Florida. It was a long, hard run and I had to make a few extra stops along the way to make repairs to the truck and to the refrigeration unit on my trailer. Despite those setbacks I managed to arrive in Winter Haven on Sunday afternoon, and my delivery appointment was for the wee hours of Monday morning, so I had some time for reading, writing, sharing, and resting.
The aforementioned scripture came to me as a vision while I was sleeping. It was an experience I had never had before and will never forget. I was at death's door and talking to God! I was torn between wanting to let go of this life to go be with Jesus and feeling that there was so much more I could still do to produce fruit for His kingdom. Suddenly a vision appeared, seemingly right above my head. It was an open Bible. As I looked at it, I began to focus on the words. I could make them out, and I read them with excitement! I looked closer and could read the book of the Bible, along with the chapter and verse. I climbed out of the sleeper and opened my Bible to II Chronicles, 15:7. "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded." It's my belief that God was directing me to go back and finish the work He had called me to do.
In the coming years I found myself at death's door many times. The life that I was living was one that would not have been envied by anyone. Like Job, I wanted it to end, but I knew what God had shown me in that vision, I knew my work was not done, and I knew I had to be strong in order to complete it. I stood on that word from God in II Chronicles, and refused to curse God and die. Through my faith in God, which sometimes seemed to be smaller than a grain of mustard seed, His grace has delivered me to new heights. "Onward....Through the Fog" is finished and a new project is underway. The revelation I received today is simple. The Word that carried me through the coldest, loneliest, darkest time of my life came to me in Winter Haven, and has became my haven for the winter of my life. Was this a divine message or a coincidence?
Winter Haven
I had driven hard to get there,
And I had some trouble too.
I had to make a quick repair
So that I could make it through.
I arrived on time and gave God praise,
Then I laid down for a while
Contented I'd gone through that phase
And I had passed another trial.
A vision came to me that night
Like I'd never seen before.
The Word of God was clear and bright
Telling me what lay in store.
As I read the lines He gave to me
My heart raced within my chest.
Cause if I'd serve Him faithfully
My life would become fully blessed.
I've gone down a lot of highways
Since that Winter Haven night.
I've given God all of my ways
Now I'm walking in the Light.
He said I'd have to remain strong
Work with my hands for my Lord.
I must show the world right and wrong
So I'll receive my just reward.
Cpoyright Jack Hoover
Thank you Marsha! I know in my heart that Winter Haven was no coincidence. That vision became my Winter Haven. God is so awesome!
Thank you Marsha! I know in my heart that Winter Haven was no coincidence. That vision became my Winter Haven. God is so awesome!