Hey Ladies,
This is Curtis. I wanted to take an opportunity to let you know about a new resource for men at Living Proof. We have created an audio daily devotional called Drive Thru the Bible. It consists of fifteen 7-10 minute messages you can listen to on the way to work, dropping the kids off at school, or running your daily errands. This 2-CD set on the life of Elijah was designed with men in mind, but would make a nice resource for anyone who might have trouble finding daily time in God’s Word or who just wanted an extra helping during the day.
Since it can be difficult giving a loved one a spiritual gift they weren’t asking for, here are a few helpful hints.
How to Give a Bible Resource to Your Husband
1) Picture how you would want to receive a gift and do the opposite.
2) Don’t hold him accountable if he hasn’t asked you to hold him accountable.
-To a man this is like calling an offsides penalty in the middle of a baseball game. He won’t want to play by your rules if he hasn’t agreed to play your game. *If you did not understand the sports reference above, just see rule 1 again.
3) Try not to create a universal standard for godliness.
-His approach to God will probably look different because men are not wired the same as women. You can find a calculator and an alarm clock in the electronics department, but they won’t output the same information. I’m the only one in our family who has done all of Beth’s Bible studies (I’m on the last week of Esther right now), but sometimes I have to split one day into two because I can’t focus for that long. So, don’t expect your husband to join you in a 45 minute in-depth Bible study session right away. Jesus may be more than happy with 8 minutes with your husband.
4) Tape the gift to a Sears, Lowes, or Home Depot gift card.
-It may also help to tell him that for every day he does his daily devotional the amount increases by $5. I understand this is a bribe, but how do you think I’m training my son to go to the bathroom on the potty?
5) Do not nag! REPEAT: Do not nag!
-If you want to see if he’s using it, look in these 3 places:
a) Where you gave it to him.
b) Wherever he keeps the cash he’s been saving, but doesn’t want you to know
about (but you already know about and help yourself to while he’s at work). *Amanda would like to add that she didn’t know it was his birthday cash!
c) Check his car. He might surprise you.
6) Don’t give up.
-“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
*You can find Drive Thru the Bible: Elijah in the “new products” section of our LPM online store. You’ll see it if you click here and scroll down a little.
Tags: Curtis
Wow! Thanks so much, I can’t wait to buy this for my husband. And I REALLY appreciate the tips on how to give him such a gift!! Thank you!!!
Oh my goodness, Curtis, you are hilarious! I love your list. Such good advice too. Thanks!
I’m looking forward to checking out Drive Thru the Bible. Thanks for the heads up and the laughs.
Anna in MO
Good Stuff! So what you are saying is that just because women talk more about Jesus, it doesn’t mean we are “more spiritual”…I owe my husband an apology…Thanks.
Curtis,
God USED you, thank you for being availble to be used!
I too had reached a point of TOTAL frustration with my husband of 30 years, “God when are you going to MAKE him be the spiritual leader in our little family” answer came…. well Jeanne I have never made you be again you did not want to be…. OUCH!
God spoke to me through you…. In God’s timing….I will rest in Him, until my husband wants to be the Spiritual Man I dream of (ha, actually when God gets ahold of him he will be FAR more than I could dream of!)
God bless you
Jeanne
Colorado
Curtis– While you are down right funny in that list, you are down right—right!! A reminder I really needed!
Thanks.
I haven’t been on LPL’s blog in a long time and decided it was time to get back to it. I used to check it every day. My husband will be excited about these CD’s when he gets home and I show him. In the meantime I think I will get busy and look for that stash of cash!!!
Love, Joanne in NH
Humbly, I share that I wanted my husband to read the bible, lead spiritually and so on..all for my benefit -not his (my husband’s). This morning, as I got really honest with my Father, I prayed a different prayer. Curtis, thank you for your insight. I think you said things my husband is thinking but doesn’t say -maybe because how I act. I pray not to be a stumbling block to my husband’s progress. I know he loves God. How that relationship looks is NOT up to me. Bless you and please keep the insights coming.
Hi Curtis, thanks for the suggestions. I enjoyed the humor. My husband seems to be totally against anything "religious" but I will give it a try when I feel the time is right. Thanks again!