Project #3

You da’ Man
Spreading Great Gossip About Your Guy

Your Project:Say something nice about your husband to someone else. Make sure you tell him what you said, and to whom.

Getting CreativeWho are the important people in your husband’s life? Your kids, his parents, his friends? Be intentional about who you chat with when you brag on him – it’s almost as important as actually doing it.Having a hard time coming up with something? I still brag on my guy for things he did years ago. He loves when I tell the story of how brilliantly he proposed (there were waterfalls and stuffed portabella mushrooms involved…).

Here are some other areas to think about when crafting your brag:

-His parenting skills
-His patience level
-The way he treats your mom
-His culinary ability
-His job
-His loyalty to you

Project #2

Back in the Day
Do Something He Enjoyed Before You Got Married

“Lust is easy. Love is hard. Like is most important.” ~ Carl Reiner

Your Project:
Initiate an activity that your husband used to love. Whether it’s his favorite hobby, sport, or pastime, it’s time for you to get involved – be his buddy today.

Getting Creative

-Many a man’s hobby has gone by the wayside due to matrimony. Is it possible that it’s time you learned to golf or fly fish? Don’t try to beat him, just join him.

-Possibly the only thing your husband would enjoy more than playing chess with you is teaching you how to play chess. Ask for a lesson so he can teach
you something that he is an expert at (or really loves). Just your willingness
to learn will be a huge boost to your guy.

-Pick up a magazine about your guy’s now dormant hobby. Ask him questions
about why he loves it so much. Learn a couple of technical terms so that you are
better able to discuss it.

-Do a little research. Find out what the definitive website is on your husband’s favorite subject. Maybe there’s an event in town, a lecture to attend, or a game to watch.

Project #1
30 Minutes is All it Takes
Create Some Free Time When He Gets Home

“There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.”

~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

Your Project:
Focus on your husbands transitional 30 minutes today. Would he like to be left alone to rest and rejuvenate, or does he want some undivided attention from you? The point is to let your husband know you value what he does out in the world, and that he has a safe loving place to come home and get refreshed at the end of the day.

Getting CreativeThere are plenty of reasons why it might not be easy for you to give your husband some transition time at the end of the day. You need to look at what can work for your relationship. Be creative, like the stories listed below. Brainstorm with your friends until you find a situation that will work for you and your guy.

My friend, Joann, purposely scheduled her daughter’s dance classes twice a week at the same hour that her husband gets home from work. That way, her hubby comes home to an empty house. He gets some quiet, and she gets a more peaceful man.

One husband has his workshop out in the garage. His wife encourages him to go and hang out there for a while before dinner. (Since starting this arrangement, her husband has started helping out with the after-dinner clean up. Nice side benefit.)

Crockpots are The Husband Project’s best friend. Set your crockpot to be finished thirty minutes after your husband gets home from work. Let him know that you don’t need anything until dinner is ready. Don’t know a crockpot from a flower pot? Check out the recipes in The Ultimate Guide to Man Food at www.kathilipp.com

Does your husband already have a great transition routine after getting home? Find some other little thing to bless that time. Maybe it’s making sure the TV is available, his favorite sweats are clean and ready to be changed into, or there’s a cold soda waiting for him in the fridge. It may be so small that he doesn’t even notice. That’s okay – you’ll know what you did.

What if your husband works from home? Maybe the best way to help him relax is to ask what he would like the schedule to be. Does he want dinner before or after he gets some time to recharge? Ask him what would make his night better.

I hope you found this idea helpful! I am so excited that Kathi is letting me
post these ideas on my blog! Kathi is such a great author and I encourage you to get her book: The Husband Project... ASAP! Until then, Come Back tomorrow for another great Project idea from Kathi!!!

-Kristy

Day 40 of 40 Days of Prayer: "Prayer For His Life's Calling"

"I the Lord have made you the vessel of my purpose, I have taken you by the hand, and kept you safe, and I have given you to be an agreement to the people, and a light to the nations:To give eyes to the blind, to make free the prisoners from the prison, to let out those who are shut up in the dark."

Isaiah 42: 6,7 (BBE)

Let's Pray:
I know Lord you have made (_____) a vessel of your purpose, you have taken him by the hand, and kept him safe, and you have given him to be an agreement to the people, and a light to the nations: To give eyes to the blind, to make free the prisoners from the prison, to let out those who are shut up in the dark.
Lord, I ask you to give him a sound mind full of peace in his heart knowing without a doubt that he has been called for a special purpose. Lord, reveal that purpose to him and replace any fear in his heart with faith in you. For you have not given (_____) a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Wives,
We have come to the end of the 40 Days of Prayer challenge. I hope you've discovered how easy it is to take a verse out of the Bible and turn it into a prayer for your husband. Our church does these "40 Days" campaigns every year because they discovered that it takes about six weeks to establish a habit. I strongly encourage you to keep praying for your husband everyday.

If you joined in on the challenge in the middle, I plan to re-publish the entire 40 Prayers over the next 40 days starting tomorrow. So, let others know. You'll be able to go through it again; this time without any blank days in between. : ) Or, if you want you can do your own using verses you choose. Either way, just do it!

This is my third time doing this and like the first two times; God has again done some major pruning in my marriage. Some wounds that have never been totally cleaned and properly dressed; have now been re-addressed and are beginning a much needed time of healing. Each time our marriage takes another step towards deeper intimacy. God has taught me more about my husband and my love has grown so much deeper. I am looking forward to seeing what God does next week!! He is so amazing!

If you want to learn how to love or fall back "in-love" with your husband; start praying for him.

-Kristy

Day 39 of 40 Days of Prayer: "Prayer For God's Power"

"Listen, I have given you power to walk on snakes and scorpions, power that is greater than the enemy has. So nothing will hurt you."

Luke 10:19 (NCV)

Let's Pray:

Lord, Thank you for giving (_____) the power to walk on snakes and scorpions, power that is greater than the enemy has. So nothing will hurt him!! I pray that he will remember that he can do anything today with your help. Help him to know that you can do far more within him than he could dare to ever ask for! Lord, help me to continue to build him up. Help me to notice his strengths and stop hounding him about his weaknesses. Thank you Lord! In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Wives,
Our husbands are being constantly reminded of all their responsibilities of being a husband and a father. They are probably harder on themselves than we think. They instinctively want to be good providers and often think they don't measure up. We can help them a lot by noticing all the good they are doing to provide and minimizing the not-so-good.

I'll say it again-- Remember to PRAISE him about the good and PRAY about the not-so-good!!

-Kristy

Day 38 of 40 Days of Prayer: "Prayer For Doing What is Right, Not What's Easy"

"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another."

Galatians 5:25-26 (NLT)

Let's Pray:

Lord, since (_____) is living by your Spirit, I pray he will follow your Spirit's leading in every part of his life. Let him not become conceited, or provoke anyone, or be jealous of anyone. Give him the courage to stand up and do what is right and not cave in to what everyone else is doing. Lord, help him to know in his heart that when he's following you he IS doing what is right and bless him with peace in his heart.

Lord, I pray that your Spirit will pour your wisdom into him today and guide his every step. I pray you will use your Holy Spirit to unite us as husband and wife, as we teach and lead our children. You tell us that you have given us your spirit and I thank you for that! I pray for your spirit to guide us together today. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Wives,

There is only a couple of days left of this 40 Days of Prayer, but I encourage you to keep praying. I hope that these past 38 days or so have helped you develop a habit of praying daily for your husband and your marriage. Once again, as I have said at the beginning; my marriage has yet again gone through more transformation. As recently as this morning, our marriage has grown stronger and we've been stretched as a couple more than ever before in our relationship. Though the struggles have rendered tears of sadness at times, I can honestly tell you that the tears that started as tears of sadness, ended as tears of joy!!!!

It says in Genesis 50:20 that God is able to take what was meant for evil and use it for good. No matter what situation you may be facing in your marriage today; I promise you that if you ask, God can take it and bring good out of it. He has done it again and again in mine--Thank you, LORD!

-Kristy

Day 37 of 40 Days of Prayer: "Prayer For His Temper"

"People with good sense restrain their anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs."

Proverbs 19:11 (NLT)

Let's Pray:

Lord, I pray (_____) will restrain his anger and earn esteem by overlooking the wrongs of others. I ask you to help him to always think before he speaks to his friends and family. Give him the wisdom to know when to speak and when to be silent. Help him to have self control with his words and remember to consider how they will be received by the person he's talking to.

I ask you to also help me to always think before I speak to (_____). Give me wisdom to know when I should speak and when I should be silent. Help me to only use words with my husband and children that would build them up and not tear them down. Thank you Lord. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Wives,

You have more power to change your relationship with your husband than you think. Your words of encouragement can shape the future of your marriage. I have been known to tear my husband to shreds with my sarcasm. I usually have no idea what I've done. One "Look" is all it takes and I know I should have stayed silent. If you struggle with this, too, pray under your breath throughout the day that God will stop you from speaking anything to anyone that would hurt their feelings.

-Kristy