We added a little feature that you may or may not have noticed. If you are contributing to the conversation (aka: commenting on a post), you’ll notice that at the bottom, near the “submit” button, you now have the option to be notified via e-mail when someone else replies to your comment.

This is a nice and handy way to stay on top of the conversations that you’re a part of.

Now if you’re like me, you’ve already subscribed to the RSS feed of the site so you know when a new conversation starts. But did you realize you can subscribe to the RSS feed of all the comments on this site? And, to really super-size your RSS feeds, you can subscribe directly to the conversation only!

For example, if you wanted to follow the conversation about Messiah or Moral Teacher?, you can plug the conversation feed (comments and all) into your RSS reader. Or the feed for this conversation, for example.

If all this RSS stuff is confusing you, no worries. Just leave a comment on the conversation you want to participate in and subscribe via e-mail. That’s why I started writing this post anyway!

How does it work?

RSS is always used in two parts – a feed that sends a notification when an update has been made and an RSS Reader, sometimes called an Aggregator, that displays and stores the notes.

The reader sits on your desktop so you can see at a glance which sites have been updated. The links in the reader will take you directly to the latest material.

How do I set-up RSS?

1. Download and install a reader. There are several free RSS readers available, we like Sage (for Firefox) and the Google Reader (for Internet Explorer). To install a reader, just click on the link and follow the instructions on the page. Readers usually install in less than 5 minutes.

2. Subscribe to a feed. Once you have the reader installed, all you need to do is tell the program which sites you want to receive updates from. To do this, just subscribe to the feed for that site.

How do I subscribe to a feed?

1. Look for the orange RSS feed icon (usually located toward the bottom of the page). Most sites have a feed icon, some may use an orange XML icon like this or this .

2. Right click on the icon. A list of available feeds will appear. Click on the feed for your reader. The feed should appear in your RSS reader.

How do I use RSS?

To access the information in the RSS feeds, simply open up your feed reader. (Many users keep the reader open on their desktop so they can see updates at a glance.) The reader will have two windows. On the left is a list of all of your feeds and on the right is a preview of the new information. You can choose to read the update directly in the RSS reader or click the link to read the update on the site.

I feel emotionally abused by my husband who can be very loving, fun and attentive one day and because of “something I’ve done” he can suddenly shut down, not talk to me or touch me the next day. This happens more and more often and it is like being on a yo-yo. I have felt God’s strength and have good self-esteem, but am overwhelmed by the sadness.

Advice: It sounds to me as if your husband uses his silent, cold approach to you as a control mechanism; and it may be that the sense of power he feels when he makes you feel bad encourages him to use this cute little method to build his ego.

I have several suggestions; talk with the Lord concerning both of them and ask Him for wisdom in discernment. The next time your husband pulls the silent, cold act, take notice of what you may have said that might have induced it – and in the future, take notice. This might help you to know what little thing to avoid (if anything).

You could cut down on the feed to his ego that may be increasing this treatment. Again seek the Lord’s help and wisdom. And the next time the silent freeze comes on, don’t feed it by looking or sounding hurt or by pleading with him to tell you what’s wrong. I’ve found a certain satisfaction in returning good for evil, and such satisfaction might make you feel better. Just be pleasant, more or less mind your own business, perhaps do some little thoughtful thing for him. Find your strength and comfort in the Lord. The Scripture that has helped me most during rough times is Philippians 4:6-7. It works!

Console yourself by the thought that what he’s doing may have nothing to do with what you’ve done. It may just mean that something happened at work that day and he’s getting his power trip on you instead of the boss, or whatever.

My prayers are with you. Please feel free to write again. I care! Dr. Muriel

Related:
Campus for Christ wants you to use Facebook to feed into your communities.

In tackling life’s challenges, whether it be looking for a job, studying, buying a car, you can go it alone or enjoy the help of others.

Networking is a major time management tool helping us to learn from others, get introductions more easily, and save precious resources of time and money in the process. I have accumulated five “Neat Networking” suggestions that might help.

1. Make the list. There is power in writing things down rather than trying to remember everyone you know. I use a software contacts program to help.Who do you include? Everyone. Everyone you know, everyone you have met. Don’t just copy the white pages from your local telephone directory. “Contact” means you have had “contact”. Add everyone to the database. Leave no one out.

   Include name, address, and contacting information. The average person can easily come up with an initial list of over 1,000 contacts. Sounds unlikely? Start with your family, then your neighbors, and co workers. How about the co workers from your last job(s)? Your high school and college graduating classes and the teachers you had. You belong to a club on campus or in the community, a professional association, a church? The bank teller, your dentist, your bookie, they all go on the list.

2. Categorize the list. This is when a contacts software program is really useful. Identify those who are friends, those who are acquaintances, customers, suppliers, politicians, professionals, or those who enjoy golf or tennis.The more categories you can place people in, the quicker you can access the right contacts. Through my database, there is not a problem I cannot get answered for myself and those whom I want to help.
3. Feed the list. Once you create the list you have to continue to feed it. Update, correct, and add more and more people as you meet them. We probably meet dozens of new people every week. My database has grown to over 4,000 now. I spend about an hour every Friday to feed my list. It’s a chore. It’s not convenient but it’s worth it.
4. To have a friend, be a friend. Here’s how you make all this data work for you. Networking is not a selfish technique. If you want this tool to work, you have to be like a good congressman. You do things for people. You help them first.I’m always clipping articles I come across and sending them to people I know. I send a lot of birthday cards. I call the majority of the people in my database at least once a year to talk about them, how they are doing, what they may need that I can provide for them. Then when it comes around “election time”, when I need something, I feel no hesitation to ask for a return favor.
5. Use it. Whenever I start anything, a new marketing program, a career move, buying a house or a car, I think of my network first and talk to those in my database who may be able to give me some answers. I have saved tons of time and money and advanced my success in so many ways by tapping into my network database first.

Be sure to get your free copy of “The Top Five Time Management Mistakes”. To gets yours, email your request for “mistakes” to: ctsem@msn.com

Would you like to receive free Timely Time Management Tips on a regular basis to increase your personal productivity and get more out of every day? Sign up now for our free “Time Management List”. Just go to:
http://www.topica.com/lists/timemanagement and select “subscribe.” We welcome you aboard! Article courtesy of Mediapeak.

Also available as a podcast at: http://thelife.com/blogs/experience/kindle/2008/04/18/refocus-2/

** Refocus by taking our online interactive Bible study on the book of 1 Peter: http://thelife.com/study/1peter.html

In October 1988, an Eskimo hunter discovered three Gray whales trapped beneath the ice near Barrow, Alaska. Normally the whales would have died, but the story became an international media sensation. Over 150 reporters from many countries all over the world gave daily updates of the elaborate rescue effort, which involved both the US and Russian governments working together to free the trapped mammals. The rescue effort and media reporting cost between $5 and $6 million dollars.

Now, I have nothing against whales. The rescue effort was both noble and inspiring. Yet I can’t help but wonder how often we consider how God feels about our zeal for relatively unimportant things? If we are concerned for the whales, should we not be so much more concerned for our fellow man? See for example Luke 12:6-7:

“What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

People are most valuable because we are made in God’s image, and have a unique opportunity to have fellowship with our Lord. God loves us all equally and there is no partiality in Him. We to are called not just to love one another, but work for the care of all God’s children.

Jesus instructs the disciples on serving in John 21:15-19: “Feed my lambs.” “Take care of my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” and finally “Follow me!” As a Christian community, we should be ready to use our gifts and talents whenever the need arises. The smallest act of kindness can have eternal consequences, often more than we’ll ever know. For truly each one of us is truly among God’s most valuable possessions.

Question: How are all human beings valuable in God’s eyes?

About the Author: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalformen/authors/darren-hewer/

“What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7

In October 1988, an Eskimo hunter discovered three Gray whales trapped beneath the ice near  Barrow, Alaska. Normally the whales would have died, but the story became an international media sensation. Over 150 reporters from many countries all over the world gave daily updates of the elaborate rescue effort, which involved both the US and Russian governments working together to free the trapped mammals. The rescue effort and media reporting cost between $5 and $6 million dollars. Hollywood even made a movie about it this year.

Now, I have nothing against whales. The rescue effort was both noble and inspiring. Yet I can’t help but wonder how often we consider how God feels about our zeal for relatively unimportant things? If we are concerned for the whales, should we not be so much more concerned for our fellow man? See for example Luke 12:6-7: “What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

People are most valuable because we are made in God’s image, and have a unique opportunity to have fellowship with our Lord. God loves us all equally and there is no partiality in Him. We to are called not just to love one another, but work for the care of all God’s children.

Jesus instructs the disciples on serving in John 21:15-19: “Feed my lambs.” “Take care of my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” and finally “Follow me!” As a Christian community, we should be ready to use our gifts and talents whenever the need arises. The smallest act of kindness can have eternal consequences, often more than we’ll ever know. For truly each one of us are truly among God’s most valuable possessions.

Question: Are you treating your neighbors with the value that Christ sees in them? How can you treat others with more value today?

In October 1988, an Eskimo hunter discovered three Gray whales trapped beneath the ice near  Barrow, Alaska. Normally the whales would have died, but the story became an international media sensation. Over 150 reporters from many countries all over the world gave daily updates of the elaborate rescue effort, which involved both the US and Russian governments working together to free the trapped mammals. The rescue effort and media reporting cost between $5 and $6 million dollars.

Now, I have nothing against whales. The rescue effort was both noble and inspiring. Yet I can’t help but wonder how often we consider how God feels about our zeal for relatively unimportant things? If we are concerned for the whales, should we not be so much more concerned for our fellow man? See for example Luke 12:6-7:
“What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

People are most valuable because we are made in God’s image, and have a unique opportunity to have fellowship with our Lord. God loves us all equally and there is no partiality in Him. We to are called not just to love one another, but work for the care of all God’s children.

Jesus instructs the disciples on serving in John 21:15-19: “Feed my lambs.” “Take care of my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” and finally “Follow me!” As a Christian community, we should be ready to use our gifts and talents whenever the need arises. The smallest act of kindness can have eternal consequences, often more than we’ll ever know. For truly each one of us are truly among God’s most valuable possessions.

Question: How are all human beings valuable in God’s eyes?

About the Author: Darren Hewer

Feeling lonely and unloved? Talk to someone who cares.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EST.

Do you notice how your spirit is affected by the things you feed into it? We feed our spirit by the things we dwell on in our minds. When doubt, discouragement, depression or fear drags our spirits to the depths… we need to look at what paths our thoughts have been running down.

God knows us so well. He knows the tendency we will have to sometimes settle into the depths of despair. He gives us five verses in Psalm 103:1-5 to address this very thing. Turn your thoughts to God’s Word and choose to lift your eyes off yourself and raise them to Heaven.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
Sometimes it takes everything in us to turn our eyes to Heaven and to offer the sacrifice of praise from a heavy heart. Yet the benefits will amaze you.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”

When our eyes move from our own state of affairs we can look at all God offers us. Listen to the refreshing, life-giving things God asks us not to forget:

Who FORGIVES all your sins
Thank you, Lord, that I am forgiven. Fill me with the wonder of a clean heart. Help me to declare my forgiveness when I am tempted to wallow in the pit of despair over my past, my failures and my weaknesses. I am forgiven!

And HEALS all your diseases
Lord, I bring my aching body to You and ask You to touch me with Your hand of healing. Give me wisdom and understanding of what to do physically. I also bring the diseases of my heart to you. Lord, remove all bitterness and pride and show me the things that erode my spirit.

Who REDEEMS your life from the pit
Lord, I am amazed at the fact that You reach into the pit that I even sometimes dig myself… and You lift me up. You bring beauty out of ashes as I trust in You. You buy back all the broken pieces and give me new life! Thank you!

And CROWNS you with love and compassion
Lord, Your care and tenderness to me is a constant surprise even though I know You love me. Thank you for the attention You give to the details of my life as I offer it to You.

Who SATISFIES your desires with good things
Thank you that Your plans for me are to find my fulfillment in You as I offer myself to You. You made me and You know how to grow me into all I ever wanted to be.

So that your youth is RENEWED like the eagle’s
Lord, when I see how You forgive me, heal me, redeem my life, crown me with Your love and satisfy me, I am truly renewed in my Spirit.

Prayer & reflection
Lord thank you for this wonderful view of Your desires for me. I WILL praise you with everything that is within me.

“Praise the Lord O my soul, all my inmost being, praise His holy name.” Amen

Questions: Why is it so difficult to continuously feed our soul with thoughts about who God is and what He wants to do for us? What steps do you take when you find yourself going down the path of discouragement and depression?

About the Author Gail Rodgers