"One of the advantages of country school for me was as much what I overheard as what I actually studied. From kindergarten on I overheard all of the lessons of all the other classes. In the earlier years much of what I heard was over my head. As I matured my ability to understand what I heard increased.

"One subject which defied my understanding was the outlining of sentences in English. I rebelled against even learning it for several weeks, flunked the test, declared the subject, 'stupid'. It took a special 'after school' session with the teacher (not my idea - but hers!) when it finally sank in. Once what I heard sank in, outlining became one of my favorite things to do.

"In our first English test in high school a couple of years later, it all paid off.

"Listening again and again to the Word of the Lord can have the same growing experience for those with ears to hear - both individuals and churches. There may be those themes and subjects which our rebellious nature doesn’t want to hear. There may even be subjects which fly in the face of tradition or 'the way we always did it'. At those times we may need to let the Spirit speak to us through the Word, and open ourselves to hearing what the Spirit says so that we may 'eat from the tree of life', instead of the bushes of the world, and speak with the voice we are given. It takes practice, but it is worth it. How well are you able to listen to what the Spirit has to say?

"Whatever you're doing for Jesus today,be sure to keep at it, don't stop or delay;

if you are discouraged, don't give up our place, for God will sustain you by His matchless grace.