"A time of harvest" - from Hampton Roads, Virginia

Hello Dear Readers,

Again, it is an awesome time to introduce to you a man we have grown to love from Hampton Roads Virginia, Brother Ray Boetcher. Brother Ray helped sponsor our "first annual Flame of Fire National Conference" in Virginia Beach, Virginia and was one of our main speakers. He is the president of the Christian Business Network of Hampton Roads and also the Publisher of the Church Guide of Hampton Roads.

This man has a heart for the church, the Body of believers to become one as Jesus said. He is also a prophetic voice for His region and the "Church Guide" is a trumpet that is to blow a "word in due season"for that region and our nation.

Please open your heart to what God has placed in His heart, and now to speak or write to all of us Christians from the Lord. He has such a love for the lost as well and has "boot-camp"training sessions in reaching the lost in your city. I know God will speak to your heart.

Shalom!

Dear Flames of Fire Ministries,

I say "Flames" because as Pastor Henry points out we are all part of this ministry. We are all part of the Lord's Fire, so let's heat things up in 2009. I wanted to add confirmation to much of what is being prophesied on this blog for 2009.

Each month when I publish The Church Guide (a monthly Christian newspaper) it includes a commentary from the publisher (me) providing a message that our God wants me to share with my readers. Here is my commentary that I published for January:

The Lord has shown me that 2009 is going to be a time of harvest for ALL of His children. Like Barbara Lisiewski pointed out in an earlier blog ... 2009 is going to be a time of "breakthrough" a time of strength in the Lord.

These past few years we toiled to make the ground fertile. We have labored to break the boulders and stones that hinder our plowing. We have removed the roots which reach deep into generations of sin. We have been broken so that now our foundation is solid. In trying to live more and more like Jesus, we have made our lives fertile ground. This past year was a time to build, a time to plant. Expect to move now from a season of sowing into a season of abundant harvest.

2009 is golden, it's going to be rich in the beauty of our Lord as His love for you will be overflowing. It’s harvest time.

The year will begin like a soft breeze, as the Lord begins to caress you with His love. And as the days and weeks go by, His winds bring more and more favor and fruits of the Spirit -- more love, joy, peace, gentleness, faith.

Come spring, the fruits of your harvest will begin to manifest all about you, flowing into all aspects of your life. But be forewarned, it is on the eve of the harvest when you need to be totally rooted in the Lord and assuredly under His covering. Keep your sight on Jesus, keep in His Word, keep Him in your midst.

Because it is at harvest time, that the evil one will come to rob, kill and destroy your joy. He will try to steal your harvest and plunder the first of your fruits. He will bring forth a legion of hellish attacks against you in an attempt to pillage your territory (your life), and try to strip you of all that God has in store for you.

Yes, the enemy will try to remove you from your ground. But it is your ground and you have authority and dominion over it. The fruits are your fruits. This is your harvest time. Do not let the lies and assaults overcome you.

Stand firm in the Lord. Keep your sights on Him. Prepare for the battle, arm yourself in the Word. Our Lord will protect you when the enemy makes any attempt to take away your harvest.

Note the scripture below from 2 Samuel 23: 9-13 (Amp): 9 Next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines assembled there for battle, and the men of Israel had departed.

10 [Eleazar] arose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword. The Lord wrought a great deliverance and victory that day; the men returned after him only to take the spoil. 11 Next to [Eleazar] was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered at Lehi on a piece of ground full of lentils; and the [Israelites] fled from the Philistines.

12 But he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it and slew the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great victory.13And three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time to David in the cave of Adullam, and a troop of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

As is shown in verse 11 and 13, it was harvest time. The grounds were full of lentils. The Philistines attempted to plunder the Israelites harvest. Most of the Israelites including the army ran away from their harvest. They were in fear. But Eleazar stood up to the threat. This was his land, his fruits, his harvest. And with the help of the Lord he stood his ground and defeated an army of Philistines.

My brothers and sisters, 2009 is harvest time. Don’t live by sight of this world, see the vision of what God has in store for you. Breakthrough is coming! Expect the evil one to assault you just as you are about to receive your harvest. He's going to try to keep you in your shell. He's going to try to take your vision off of the Lord and your harvest. Its all a lie.

You already have your victory. Stand your ground, keep your eye on Jesus and the harvest He has promised you. How sweet the taste of all that awaits you throughout this new year, this season of harvest.

Live in the joy of the Lord,

Ray Boetcher

Publisher

TheChurchGuide.com