Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Psalm 112:5
Churches in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram have a beautiful phrase to express the way they give to God—"Buhfai Tham.'" It means "one handful of rice at a time." Here's how it works: Families in the church set aside a portion of rice at every meal for God. When they collect enough rice, they donate it to their local church. The church turns around and sells the rice to generate income.
In 1914 they used the sale of rice to raise $1.50 (in U.S. money). But lately these Christians have been collecting $1.5 million as they support 1,800 missionaries, in addition to local ministry. People have also started giving in more creative ways, as vegetables, firewood, and other resources flow into the church's outreach for the kingdom.
One church leader said: “There are many ways of serving the Lord. Some people do great things. Some people are great preachers. Some people contribute lots and lots of money. But when we talk about this 'Handful of Rice,' it is very humble. The service is done in the corner of the kitchen where nobody sees, but God knows and he blesses it.”
Another church member said, "It is not our richness or our poverty that make us serve the Lord, but our willingness. So we Mizo people say, 'As long as we have something to eat every day, we have something to give to God every day.'"
The Holy Scriptures teach of the wellbeing that comes to believers when they are generous in their giving. The Psalmist said that “Good” will come to the generous person. King David in Psalm 37 writes that generous givers not only bring benefits to themselves, but there is a blessing passed on to their children. The author of Proverbs 11, recognizes that a liberally giving person brings a double blessing, not only is the recipient blessed, but the giver gains financially as well. The Apostle Paul also recognized the direct connection between one’s big-hearted generosity and their receiving. In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul wrote: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Conversely the Bible spells out the negative results and missed blessing when a person holds to tightly to the gifts God has given them.
According to John Lee, in his article On Generosity, (Stone Tower Press, 2022), age makes a big difference in giving. 84% of millennials give less than $50 to charity per year even though charitable giving ranks high on their priorities.
Today, the average church attender gives 2.5% of his or her income annually. During the Great Depression, that number was 3.3%. 37% - over one third of those who consider themselves evangelical Christians - don't give at all to their churches. Only 2.7% of evangelical Christians practice tithing.
Are you feeling like something is missing in your life? Are you missing the joy of your salvation? Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34) Billy Graham said, "If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life."
This world is in great turmoil and upheaval. When you learn to store your treasures in heaven, they are safe and secure and they will be enjoyed forever. When you look to the Lord and not the market reports you will find that you will have a lot fewer arguments, and considerable less anxiety. This will bring about a longer, healthier, and happier life. For one year, try the tithe -10% giving - and see the benefits that it brings to body and soul and the kingdom of God.
Pastor David
Voice of the Shepherd
May 2026
Voice of the Shepherd
April 2026
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
John 15:1-2
A farmer was discussing how to maximize the yield on his farm. His goal was to make the most of what he had, using the best seed and fertilizer to get the greatest return on his investment. He wanted to maximize his yield with what he had.
This same principle can be applied to every believer and the gifts each of us is given. A major part of the teaching of Jesus has to do with “the harvest.” In the parable found in John 15, God is the “gardener” and the pruning He does is all about His desire to increase the harvest.
In the parable of the fig tree (Luke 13:6-8) the gardener throws manure on the tree and “digs” around it - all in an effort for the tree to produce fruit. We are also quite familiar with the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25 and Luke 19. In each of these parables Jesus is teaching us that God is interested in the return He is getting from His investment. Everything we have – health, talents, wealth, and family are given to us by our Heavenly Father.
There are areas of our lives where we have not allowed God access, when we have withheld from God our time, money, devotion, service, and even family. Hosea the prophet gives us these words: “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes….” As we endeavor to maximize our yield in 2026, I would like you to ask God to show you the unproductive areas in your life - places where you have not allowed Him to work, where you have not been fruitful for the kingdom of God. Ask God to “break up” that unplowed ground so it might be fruitful. Pray that you let go of those things you hold to tightly – whatever it may be – your talents, yourself, your money. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights….” (James 1:17)
The writer of Hebrews understood God’s attention to the crop information and gives us this firm warning, he writes: Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. (Hebrews 6:7-8) The writer is not concerned about soil, but rather the fruitfulness of the heart. Are you bearing a crop that is useful to God?
We have just crossed the threshold of a new year - as you look back at 2025, ask yourself:
“How have I been fruitful for the kingdom of God?”
“Is God pleased with my 2025 crop report?”
“What needs to change?”
As we begin 2026, consider what pruning needs to be done by God to make you more fruitful? Do not be afraid of the work involved, look forward to the great joy of the harvest and press on in the Lord!!!!
Pastor David
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
God desires that we might have life and have it abundantly. In John 15 we learned He prunes “every branch” not just a few chosen and special ones but each and every one to make them more fruitful. The pruning is to cut away what is unnecessary or unwanted, so more fruit comes forth. This is important - but God also fertilizes the crop of faith He has planted. God has given us His Holy Word that builds us up in the faith and makes us grow strong. Just as the seed will not produce much harvest without added fertilizer, so also a believer living apart from the Word of God yields little or no fruit.
The Apostle Paul, desiring believers to reach their full potential, encouraged them to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Not only do we receive this nourishment as we hear the Word of God as we gather for worship each week, but we are also enriched as we take time to read God’s Word at home. There are promises in God’s Word that by faith give us hope in discouraging and desperate times. The power of the Word of God fights against despair. The promises of God give us great hope as we put our faith in the Word of God. We have great hope because God’s Word is always true, since “it is impossible for God to lie.” Some promises speak to our current situations, while others hold out hope for the future, but each will come to pass, for God’s Word is eternal. Jesus has said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
There are One Year Bibles available free to any who wants them. You can also download on your phone the Bible app “YouVersion” which includes the One Year Bible. As you read the Word of God, reflect on how God is speaking to you - what really strikes home and brings conviction. This is a great investment because in a period of 5 minutes per day you can read the whole of the New Testament. As you engage in the Word of God your soul will be enriched and your faith strengthened.
If you have a little more time, read through both the Old and New Testament in 15 minutes a day. If you have a hard time understanding, don’t be afraid to write down your questions and send me a text or stop by and visit. Faith comes to us as we read the Word of God. Faith is believing and trusting the promises of God. The writer of Proverbs said, “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
As you read the word of God, and believe His promises, your spiritual life will be enriched and the fruitfulness of your life will be maximized, and so God is honored in the bountiful harvest. The late missionary martyr, Jim Elliot, reminds us of the responsibility we have to the Word of God and its power. He writes: “Those whimpering Stateside young people will wake up on the Day of Judgment condemned to worse fates than these demon-fearing Indians, because, having a Bible, they were bored with it - while these never heard of such a thing as writing.”
Pastor David
Voice of the Shepherd
February 2026
The Voice of the Shepherd
January 2026
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
John 15:1-2
A farmer was discussing how to maximize the yield on his farm. His goal was to make the most of what he had, using the best seed and fertilizer to get the greatest return on his investment. He wanted to maximize his yield with what he had.
This same principle can be applied to every believer and the gifts each of us is given. A major part of the teaching of Jesus has to do with “the harvest.” In the parable found in John 15, God is the “gardener” and the pruning He does is all about His desire to increase the harvest.
In the parable of the fig tree (Luke 13:6-8) the gardener throws manure on the tree and “digs” around it - all in an effort for the tree to produce fruit. We are also quite familiar with the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25 and Luke 19. In each of these parables Jesus is teaching us that God is interested in the return He is getting from His investment. Everything we have – health, talents, wealth, and family are given to us by our Heavenly Father.
There are areas of our lives where we have not allowed God access, when we have withheld from God our time, money, devotion, service, and even family. Hosea the prophet gives us these words: “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes….” As we endeavor to maximize our yield in 2026, I would like you to ask God to show you the unproductive areas in your life - places where you have not allowed Him to work, where you have not been fruitful for the kingdom of God. Ask God to “break up” that unplowed ground so it might be fruitful. Pray that you let go of those things you hold to tightly – whatever it may be – your talents, yourself, your money. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights….” (James 1:17)
The writer of Hebrews understood God’s attention to the crop information and gives us this firm warning, he writes: Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. (Hebrews 6:7-8) The writer is not concerned about soil, but rather the fruitfulness of the heart. Are you bearing a crop that is useful to God?
We have just crossed the threshold of a new year - as you look back at 2025, ask yourself:
“How have I been fruitful for the kingdom of God?”
“Is God pleased with my 2025 crop report?”
“What needs to change?”
As we begin 2026, consider what pruning needs to be done by God to make you more fruitful? Do not be afraid of the work involved, look forward to the great joy of the harvest and press on in the Lord!!!!
Pastor David
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:13-14
I was reading through Luke’s Gospel again, it was the Christmas story. Having heard it every year for over half a century and preaching on it for nearly 25 years, I am very familiar with it. This day however, I was struck anew with what the angels said, Yes, I knew they were praising God, but it was the next portion, “on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” What amazed me was the thought that God still loves people. His favor still rests on people. People who reject Him, ignore Him, people who snub Him. It is not that we deserve His love, because we certainly don’t. It is because God is a God of love and He still loves His creation even when we don’t deserve it.
Consider Noah, the world at Noah’s time was corrupt and evil (worse than now) and because of one righteous man, when God destroyed the whole world and everything living in it, He spared Noah and his family. It was His great love for man that rescued mankind rather than just starting over anew.
In the evil days of the immoral Roman empire, when darkness reigned, and the religious leaders were more interested in themselves than truth, God still loved people, His great longing was not that man might be destroyed, but that he might be saved from death. At great cost, God sent His one and only son into the world that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. His great longing was that man may dwell with Him forever - God loves all mankind.
At a time when He could have tossed in the towel, when He could have said, 'That’s it, I have had it!," He once more reached out His hand to save a dying world. The Apostle Paul writes, Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. When we deserved death, He gave His son that we might have life.
Christmas is just around the corner, and amid all the hustle and bustle, remember "God’s favor" still rests on man. He still loves you. This is a reminder for each one of us. Perhaps you have gone through a tough year, and because of the painful trials, you are feeling God doesn’t love you. Maybe this year you have drifted away or even turned your back on God, ignoring His commands and word of truth. You may feel that your sins are so great that you are beyond the reach of the love of God. The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are still loved. He writes, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?..... I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. You may feel far away, but God’s love is a light shining in the darkness of your life.
As Christmas lights light up the season, may it remind you that you are indeed loved by Jesus, the “Light of the World” As you search and purchase the gifts for the ones you love, remember the great gift you have been given, the sacrifice God made on your behalf, God gave His son because of LOVE, love for you and for me.
Pastor David
The Voice of the Shepherd
December 2025
The Voice
of the Shepherd
October 2025
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
The Bible declares; “God is love.” Jesus declared, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends". It was God’s love for the world that sinned and had rebelled against Him that caused God to send His only Son to die on the cross for our sins. It is this sacrificial love that is the hallmark of Christianity. The followers of Christ were different from the people of the world in their day. They were known by the way they showed loved among themselves and for others. They were called to be like their Savior.
The Apostle John is adamant that the love of Christ should be seen in every believer. If a person were to claim to know God, then it should be evident in how they lived their life. If love was not seen, then their faith was only an illusion and they are blowing smoke. John writes: Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. A little later in the same letter he pointed to the love of Christ as our example that we are to imitate - Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Love was not to be an option, but rather true love is the “measuring stick” of our faith and the evidence of God’s existence and presence in our lives. That love is seen by how we treat others. As John clearly said “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us… (1John 4:12)
The love we believers have, however, is not something we contrive by our own effort, but rather it is a gift from God. God took the first step in bringing sinful man back to Himself. He lavishes His love on people who don’t deserve it. John writes, We love because he first loved us. (1Jn 4:19) The love of God is so great and powerful that it enables us to love others far beyond our own abilities and even our own personal desires. The Apostle Paul took the Old Testament command “Love your neighbor as yourself.” and expanded it, He said, "Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." ( Romans 13:10)
The love of God is tangible. It touches people and lives, it calls us to step out beyond our own comfort zone and help those who are in need. Our giving and sharing are the testimony that God and His love lives in us. The Apostle John said, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (1John 4:16-17) To deny or ignore the cries of the needy and to show no care for the lost and dying is to deny the love of God.
As you grow in love, you will find Jesus’ love is more powerful than the hatred of the world. As Christ pours out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit we are enabled to love even our enemies. Jesus said, "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you……. Do to others as you want them to do to you." (Luke 6:27-28)
Our love for God and our charity toward others shows God lives in us. The antithesis is true as well. John says that anyone who hates his brother is still in the darkness. If you hate your brother you are guilty of murder and you know that no murderer has eternal life in Him.
Today, whom is God calling you to love?
Pastor David
updated April 2026