Putting Some "Ease" Into "Freeze!"

This has certainly been quite a winter...

especially for those of us

who have been hit with one

snowstorm after another... 

Today we spent some time

helping an elderly neighbor

who needed to have his propane tank filled...

With all this snow and ice

The big trucks are having difficulty

getting down little dirt roads

and driveways such as ours...

So we sanded his driveway

and cleared a path 

so that the truck could come fill the tank.

In times like these it is so important

to pull together and help each other...

So...

Here are two tips that we

have found will put a little

"ease" in all this "freeze!"

Tip # 1

Because we live in the woods

At least several times a year

we will lose power 

because of downed trees.

In the winter...

I take two empty clean plastic milk jugs,

fill them with water,

and set them in a snowbank to freeze.
 

Whenever we lose power...

I just take one jug and 

place it in the fridge

and the other I put in the freezer...

This helps to keep everything cold...
until the power comes back on!

Tip #2

My husband has to leave very early

each morning for work.

Often times, the windshield of our truck

is covered in ice...

To keep this from happening...

Take a clean empty spray bottle

mix a solution of 3 parts white vinegar

and 1 part water...

Keep it in your car

and spray your vehicle windows each evening.

Do not wipe them...

In the morning...

You won't have any icy build-up!

Hope these two tips come in handy

for some of you this winter...

As I said earlier...

it is so important to help each other

when we can...

Funny how some are led to believe

that when we come to Christ

all of our problems will be gone...

But the Lord never promises this...

"And he said to them all, 
If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself, 
and take up his cross daily, 
and follow me."

Luke 9:23

God does not promise to heal every sickness,

take care of every economic need,

restore every broken relationship,

or ensure that no hardship will ever come our way.

What He does promise us is,

that as His children,

we can triumph through our problems.

Trials in life do not need

to steal our joy and

drive us to despair...

In James 1: 2-3
we read...

 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, 
when you encounter various trials,

 knowing that the testing 
of your faith produces endurance..." 

And just like when we help

our neighbor...

The Lord helps us through
our trials...if we turn to Him.

The problems do not magically "disappear"
Just as the snow did not disappear
simply because we threw down some sand...

But having that "Helping Hand"
certainly makes the traveling
along life's road
a bit easier!