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
very cool! Thanks curtis for the tips on what NOT to do – very helpful to me as I continue to leave my man’s Walk in His capable hands. Love this idea, btw. Devotions in the car! FAB!
So good to hear from you Curtis.
I needed this laugh today.
What a great resource!
Thanks for thinking our guys out there.
One of the weird males that reads this blog fairly regularly. Curtis, CDs? How Blah? Can you get it on iTunes for us so we can listen on our iPods?
Thanks man.
So, I know now why I am just now getting my second verse to memorize.
I need to hide Galations 6:9 in my heart.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.”
With God’s help, I am not giving up on my marriage!
Curtis,
I loved your post. You are right on, brother.
I’ll check out Drive Thru the Bible for all the men in my life.
Thank you so much for the gifting ideas. I loved rule #1. It is so true in my case.
Blessings,
Mary
Point #1?
Should be required material in all premarital counseling.
That is so cool and funny 🙂 You are so right about don’t nag. That is in the book of Proverbs 5! times!
I think it sounds great & so does my husband! We already ordered.
Curtis
Thank you. I have been wanting to get soemthing for my college age son. My husband….I may have to go through your rules again, and jot them down.
I appreceiate what you’ve done.
Becky/Brentwood
The timing of your message is so perfect! I needed to hear a man’s perspective. I was having a moment last week where I was really frustrated by what I felt was a lack of spiritual leadership from my husband. After an extensive time in the Word on Saturday, I forgave him and relinquished my expectations of him and came to a point too where I realized the Holy Spirit needs to do the convicting, not me. Out of the blue on Sunday, he asked me to pray for him regarding his future, so I was encouraged. Then yesterday he told me about some special funds that might be coming in but that he doesn’t want to tithe on them. My mouth wants to preach, but my heart knows I need to zip my lips and let the Lord do the work! Oh, that can be so hard! I would love to hear more from you in the future on topics like this.
Sounds like a great resource…would be really cool if you could download them as mp3s!
Thanks so much for using humor for these points! I laughed so hard!! I thought my hubby would be most proud that I got the sports reference, but I don’t think he was impressed with me knowing that as I was!! 🙂
Thank you for all the wonderful tips about guys in general. So glad to know some of it & good reminders on the others. After 10 years of marriage, there is still SO much to learn of course! I love the idea about the gift card!!!! Excited about getting Drive Thru the Bible for my husband (& myself too). Thanks Curtis!
So helpful, Curtis! For some reason, hearing it from a male convicted me more than when my girlfriends tell me what you just said (and I never listen). It made me realize it's really true…he (& my girlfriends) aren't just trying to frustrate me.
The Journey Continues ~
Thank you for the resource information and the HONEST approach & perspective for us Siesta's!
My man is a solution guy and I forget that he doesn't have the same make-up 🙂 as I do!
Such a Treat having you visit with us on the LPM Blog.
With "Heaven Bound" blessings,
Kim Safina
http://www.kimsafinathejourneycontinues.blogspot.com
thanx for taking the time to do this…We appreciate the product and the insight!
Hi Curtis!! Thanks a million for the “how to give a spiritual gift to someone who didn’t ask for it” advice….I LOVE that! My beloved husband is a real piece of work, …not my work, thank goodness and I am grateful to get some advice from someone who is like “wired” to my precious man!
“Drive Through the Bible” sounds great!
Jackie
Lake Charles
You mean he’s got money hidden around here somewhere???
Thanks for the heads up! 🙂
that was hilarius! keep in mind i don’t have spell check here. is that how you spell hilarius? anyway, ya’ll are too cute!
how much longer amanda? i am preg too with our fourth, but not due til august 3rd — oh the hot summer! anyway, not to take away from the post, but we were thinking elijah for a boys name and calling him eli. my mom thinks that is weird. what do all of you think?
thanks! kimberly
You are a crack up! Thanks for all the husband tips.
Siesta in FL
That, Curtis, is FABULOUS! And, I loved the way you talked to us a like a man and helped us understand the do’s and don’ts.
So thankful for you!! Praying for your sweet family!
Blessings,
Fran
TN
Curtis:
Thanks so much for the resource! As I lead many different Bible studies [mostly your M-I-L’s] I always have the women asking if they can take home the DVD’s to share with their man. Usually I hear good things from that – but then the men ask – “why can’t WE have a Bible study like Beth Moore does – in depth – for men?” But with the jobs and careers that men have – providing for their families they are not as available as we are. We also needed the “insight reminder” about how we are wired so differently. Thanks for that.
Just a warning – being the “favored son-in-law” right now – you might be elected to begin the 1st men’s version [Beth Moore Bible Study]. My 1st suggestion would be entitled:
JOSHUA – Foolish and Courageous =
Learning to Be a Warrior.
You gotta get a man’s attention with exciting stuff – it doesn’t get much better than Joshua 9-10!!
Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
Loved your advise! I do not have a husband, but I do have a brother, and a father who could use a little inspiration. I do have a friend at my church who is very hard to buy for. Whenever I have tried to buy a devotional for men, it always has a lot of things in it about being a father or a husband. He is neither! I will check this item out to see if it will work for any of the above mentioned. Loved hearing from you!
Lisa
Okay I’m confused! I think in my case you’re saying don’t buy it, cause it wouldn’t make my husband happy! Oh, and the Home Depot thing would only be more nagging about the bathroom he hasn’t finished remodeling and he started 2 years ago. Wait! Actually 3. It’s almost my 34th birthday and that was my 31st birthday gift or was supposed to be. Oh, and Josh hides stuff he doesn’t want me to know about at work. Makes it real difficult to sneak while he’s at work. And I don’t have a key to his office. Man, he is way too smart.
Thanks, Curtis! It’s nice to hear a man’s point of view! I will be giving this to my husband with no strings attached…
1) Picture how you would want to receive a gift and do the opposite.
Literally LOL-ing, Curtis!! You know us women so well 🙂
Thank you Curtis. I will definitely look into getting this for my husband who won’t read anything I try to get him to. What you said – about not holding him accountable to something he hasn’t agreed to be accountable for is so profound, and something I really needed to hear. Thanks.
I want to know if Curtis has his own blog, ’cause he’s pretty dadgummed funny!
Thanks Curtis. This is perfect for my man too. Doesn’t like to sit and read, but drives A LOT. I also appreciate your hints. They are extremely helpful. Keep it coming. We need you!
Oh, so that’s where I went wrong all those times! Now I get it. Hmm … it only took 17 years of marriage. Going to order it on payday. Can’t wait. Thanks for both the resource and the tips.
BTW, after reading all of the comments here, it looks like you’ve got room to disciple our hearts, minds, and mouths with more Godly info on how to relate to our husbands!
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
Wow, very refreshing to read a male-written post here! Thank you Curtis for jumping in. Still love you Beth, Melissa and Amanda!! Now I can tell hubby this is not necessarily a girls-only website 😉
Curtis, this is so on target. It’s taken me 25 years to learn those tips (my roots are blonde)! May I add that these tips also apply to teenage girls? 🙂
Curtis, what good timing..this is exactly what we needed. God has His way of answering prayers through others, thanks for being that messenger today.
My husband will appreciate this handy CD, he spends a lot of time traveling on service calls and this can feed him spiritually through lonely times and keep his mind on the Lord. Thank you!
Curtis,
I was thinking you have a wicked sense of humor, and then I realized you probably need that to survive in the Moore clan. God has equipped you well…
I will check this out for my hubby.
Blessings,
Adrienne
Curtis,
Thank you so much! Your insight is priceless! I have done each and everyone of the things that you said not to do! It took me a long time to figure out that my husband isn’t me praise the Lord! Keep it coming brother!
Crissy T.
Nashville, TN
Curtis: You’re awesome! Praying for y’all!
Curtis, You are hillarious and so right on! Number one is my favorite. What a great idea. Most of us spend quite a bit of time in the car. Thanks for creating something for our men.
Oh, my hubby is having a fun time quizzing me on my scripture memorization. It’s like a game for us. And he’s memorizing by helping me 🙂
I am not kidding you, during my quite time this morning Curtis came to my mind along with the thought “I hope that at some point in his LPM position he can offer some information about how to understand our husbands better” I am a regular LPM blogger and when I checked the blog this morning (often an extension of my quite time, I love reading every one’s posts) I was speechless…maybe another lesson God is trying to teach me regarding my husband :o)
Thank you for your insight, keep it coming! My husband is going through such a difficult time right now with the financial burdens facing our family. I really want to help him be the man God wants Him to be, but I don’t know how.
Just ordered this for my husband. I’m excited to have something for men. Thanks!
My husband is an unbeliever. I am excited about Jennifer’s idea to put scripture on the mirror. I think starting small with him will be the answer! Thanks!
Thanks for the insight and chuckles, Curtis. We need to hear your husbandly advice more often! Can’t wait to get this for my wonderful husband!
LOL..YOu have me practically in tears!!! So true..so true!!
Why we women sometimes think our Men do things the same as us..well that is beyond me..but yet I do it all the time!! Thanks for the humorous, gentle reminder. I did get the sports reference..and that would make my husband proud!
Great gift idea..I will put it on my list.
Thank you Curtis!!! My husband is going to get this! Thanks for the tips…it is great getting a man’s perspective sometimes.
You know it is such a blessing to have a man’s view. I was married 30 years and lost my husband 8 yrs. ago I had no clue at that time that men thought and saw things different. My sister one time commented after I tried to explain that men see things so different then us ladies and it is not bad just you are different. Anyway they had divoriced and she said that had she known things might have been different. So we need to know and thank you for posting and sharing. Do it more so the ladies will know it is OK that thier men totally see different.My niece is getting married in a few months and I’m getting them Love and Respect so they will know
Thanks again and Love you all there at LPM
Curtis, I was so glad to see this on here, the resources seem so limited for men, and honestly not so sure too many of them go looking either. I have ordered this and will listen to it, and give to my husband to listen to also!!! Thank you so much! Keep up the good work and welcome, welcome 🙂
My Father is a King!
What timing! At our Wednesday night church service last evening, after talking about how excited we are to do the Esther study starting Feb. 1, we talked about how we wish there was a comparable study for men; one that would be as exciting for men as the Beth Moore studies are for us — and this morning I see that you have joined LPM! I agree with Beth – “What is God up to?” I can’t wait to see!
Curtis – what a great word for us!! It was a shot of testosterone(SP?) for sure – it is really good for us to hear the guys point of view on letting our husbands be in their own relationship w/God. I laughed, but took it to heart! Then I woke up today & read Prov. 14:1 " A wise woman builds her house, but a fool tears it down w/her own hands" what COMFIRMATION!! I am excited about the resources your are bringing to LPM -thanks
Thanks for the tips. I’ve been amazed at what God does, without my help, in my husband. It never happens the way I thought it should/would happen, and it never looks like what I thought it would look like.
It’s so amazing to me how the husband and wife relationship is like a dance choreographed by God. If I will just take my proper place, He works out the steps.
Great Valentine’s Day idea.
Awesome resource! It’s super hard NOT to want to be our husband’s Holy Spirit….we just want to help you guys! Question: Can you give any ideas on a great Bible for a new believer husband?