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In Amsterdam on June 29th, these first impressions energized me: Is it my imagination, or do nearly all of the people here look like movie stars? Isn’t anyone here over 60 years old? Are there more bicycles than people? Why does our hotel have comfy beds built into a room-width box that requires me to walk up two stadium steps? Then, I can either scoot into my bed from the foot-end, or walk on the wooden box it’s embedded in, and fling myself into it. Everyone here must be as fit as a gymnast, but I love the laughs this challenge gives us.
I didn’t study the traffic laws, but I gathered the bicycles have the right of way over pedestrians, cars, and other vehicles. They seemed to rule the road and outnumber the cars. Every cup of tea came with a delicious waffle cookie called stroopwafel. Our meal and snack servers offered an elegant box of a variety of teas from which to choose, including my favorite, Earl Grey.
Seeing Rembrandt’s house and the Rijksmuseum created a day I’ll never forget. Paintings I’d considered dark and boring, in art history books, caused my jaw to drop when I saw the originals. Some of Rembrandt’s paintings appeared to have lights shining from the people’s faces. Scientists have detected materials such as ground egg shells and sand within the paint. These give texture and a sense of three dimensions to his work.
I don’t know Rembrandt’s spiritual beliefs. Whatever he may have believed, I know God gave him amazing gifts. I want to use mine. I refuse to yield to the temptation to think my gifts are too small to be put to use. One of my favorite Bible teachers told us last week God delights in small gifts. The Bible says not to despise the day of small beginnings. Amsterdam, by American standards, is a small city in a small country. Its gifts are incomparable, though, like each of us. I pray we won’t waste the gifts God has put into us. What would He have me give away today? An encouraging word or an act of kindness? Fervent prayer for a friend in need? Use me, dear Lord. Shine Your love through me.
The Treasure
2/23/2021 9:25:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
(Don’t) Follow Your Heart?
2/11/2021 12:05:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
What’s that smell?
1/27/2021 10:40:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
This Moment
1/14/2021 8:35:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Do your curls, girls!
1/6/2021 10:17:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Forgotten Holiday Promise
12/10/2020 7:40:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
The Flea and the Cosmos
11/19/2020 10:46:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Who’s Driving Me?
11/12/2020 10:13:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Safe and Sound
6/24/2020 1:40:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Patience
2/27/2020 2:07:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Holiday Loneliness?
12/30/2019 9:10:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Haunted? What a Shame.
10/30/2019 1:10:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
What Are We Celebrating?
7/3/2019 3:40:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Where’s The Remote?
6/24/2019 8:08:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Post-Hurricane Prayer
1/17/2019 8:45:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Does God Celebrate?
12/12/2018 1:35:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
What For?
10/5/2018 9:54:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Birthright?
9/1/2018 6:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Exclamation Points
8/20/2018 2:20:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Shaking?
7/26/2018 4:45:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Radiance, Not Wrinkles
11/21/2017 1:00:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Walkin' and Talkin'
9/22/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Touches
9/8/2017 10:15:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
The Worry List
7/17/2017 5:28:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Unanswered prayer?
5/21/2017 7:30:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Who's Your First Love?
4/9/2017 6:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Worse Than Sickness
12/6/2016 7:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
The Highest Price
11/28/2016 2:16:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
No Perfect Christmas
11/21/2016 2:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Sacrificing Thanks
11/14/2016 2:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
The Director
11/7/2016 3:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Watching Dead People
10/31/2016 2:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Against The Goad
10/24/2016 5:45:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Eating His Words
10/17/2016 2:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Glory
10/9/2016 3:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
What Does The Future Hold?
10/4/2016 3:00:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
More Sweetness
9/27/2016 8:59:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Delicious Cycle Revisited
9/20/2016 7:09:58 AM by: Cathy Everitt
A Delicious Cycle
9/13/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Winning and Losing
9/6/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
When I lose, I win
8/30/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Sunrise
8/23/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Impressions of Amsterdam
8/16/2016 7:07:48 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Sing 'Til I'm Satisfied
8/8/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
Ever-Increasing
7/26/2016 12:12:19 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Corrie
7/11/2016 1:28:43 PM by: Cathy Everitt
Favorites?
6/28/2016 10:27:00 AM by: Cathy Everitt
I love reminders from these guys...
6/14/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Cathy Everitt
How Can I Help?
6/7/2016 1:43:00 PM by: Cathy Everitt
A Perfect Flower
5/31/2016 by: Cathy Everitt
