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We are not here to talk religion, but we will talk about what it means to have a personal, daily walk with God. Our goal is to not waste your time and be under 5 minutes. Come! Join the discussion.

Show Notes

We want to hear from you. podcast@kylemcmurray.com

I’ll Never be Your Beast of Burden

I need a computer with me at all times so I have my laptop in there and I need a mouse. I never check the batteries in that Mouse so I’ll keep a couple of extra batteries just in case. Speaking of batteries, what if my laptop battery isn’t charged all the way, I need a power cord. What if an outlet isn’t close to me so I may need an extension cord. Might as well throw a phone charger in there too.

Just in case if I have a small thought, I may need to put a couple of pens and a notebook in there. Okay a black, blue and a red pen would help, because it has to be color coded.

Then I began to think, what if I have a meeting? I may need some gum and some Altoids; might as well throw some deodorant in there as well. Then I thought, what if I ran into someone I want to interview for the podcast? Now I need a microphone, some cables and other audio gear to make that happen. If I’m heading to a speaking engagement, I need my notes and everything involved with that.  And of course, we haven’t even mentioned books.

We cram way too many things that we think are essentials into our lives. Medical professionals warn us that lugging around a hefty bag like that can cause long-term damage to our bodies, stressing nerves that can lead to permanent arm numbness.

We also have a warning of similar damage to our spiritual life when we schlep around wrong attitudes that weigh down our hearts and numb our spirits.

How many of you have seen an older person just have a Gruff look on their face all the time? That could be caused by years of carrying around too much baggage.

There is a reason that we are compared to sheep. Sheep are not made to carry weight. So I guess you could say that when you call someone a donkey, you’re really identifying someone carrying around more weight on their attitude than they should be carrying. Rolling Stones – Beast of Burden

What excess baggage are you dragging around these days? A growing Grudge? A shaky self-image? A habit or two that you try to conceal from God, and other people in your life?

The bible is really a cool place to go to find solutions to all this stuff we are talking about. Hebrews 12:1 Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Perhaps it’s time to lighten your load. If we try to carry too much, there’s no way that we can run this race that is set before us.
Well, we’re out of time but make sure to like, comment and subscribe to this podcast. You can even send us an email:  podcast@Kyle McMurray.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:02 — 5.4MB)

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We are not here to talk religion, but we will talk about what it means to have a personal, daily walk with God. Our goal is to not waste your time and be under 5 minutes. Come! Join the discussion.

Show Notes

We want to hear from you. podcast@kylemcmurray.com

We Steer Where We Stare

Have you ever heard someone talk about the scripture “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you”? It’s found in Matthew 6:33 The truth behind this is that whatever we focus on, it will organize the rest of our lives. I learned the principle of this in a very unique way through a phrase from my daughter “We steer where we stare”.

This has been many years ago but when our daughter needed to learn how to drive, we signed her up for an online course. It took her through several modules of classroom style learning and afterwards, she would go driving to practice things in that module. Of course there was safety in those modules teaching street signage and vehicle maintenance but then came the module on Blinker Usage, Highway Driving and Road Debris. I’m not sure why they put those three topics together. We live in a metropolitan area so we were able to map out our route so we would have plenty of opportunity to change lanes on the Highway.

We were approaching a three-way interchange in the highway. You could either go left, go straight, or go right and there were only three lanes. Just as this intersection was fast approaching, the people who are changing lanes at the last minute look like a swarm of bees. Our plan was to go straight so we were in the center lane, should be no problem, right?

I’m sheepishly sitting in the passenger seat watching all of this unfold, and in the distance I see something in the middle of our lane. A piece of road debris. As we’re getting closer, it looks like, yes it is, it’s a half of a bumper! How does someone lose only half of their bumper? Aren’t those things made in one big piece? Before I had time to say anything, or give warning, thoughts are already running through my head of us blowing out of front tire and this half of a bumper flipping up coming through the windshield and destruction all around.My mind instantly went to hospital bills and the worst case scenario.

Meanwhile, cool as a cucumber, she says aloud “ we steer where we stare”, put her blinker on, checks her side mirror, and changes lanes smoothly. She wasn’t even able to identify what the road debris was. She didn’t even look at it.

Let’s just say I kept my eye on it the entire time. I was looking for oh Jesus handles and everything. I may or may not have put my foot on the dash.

The next thing I knew, she’s putting her blinker back on, checking her mirror, and changed Back into the  center lane where we should be.

She understood that if she looked at the road debris she would automatically have a tendency to steer the vehicle toward it whether she wanted to or not.

We’ve hit on this subject before, but what are you looking at today? Are you looking at discouragement? Are you looking at reasons why you can’t conquer this certain task? Have you already played out scenarios where it’s not the best outcome? If we have those things in mind, it’s true, we steer where we stare. or as Jesus once said, seek first the kingdom of God, and all of these other things that concern you, will be added to you.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 4:30 — 5.0MB)

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We are not here to talk religion, but we will talk about what it means to have a personal, daily walk with God. Our goal is to not waste your time and be under 5 minutes. Come! Join the discussion.

Show Notes

We want to hear from you. podcast@kylemcmurray.com

What Leader do You Follow?

How do you feel about Church? Now I’m not looking for all the religious reactions here but what is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase “the gathering of the saints”? For some, it’s not a pretty picture. A lot of people maybe even some of you have been hurt, offended, and quite frankly wounded by people who are supposed to be good christian church people.

I’ve let you know before that I’m involved with a very healthy church. It’s not always been that way. I have been involved with a couple of churches that were, let’s just say unhealthy, not careful with their words, or how they said things, if they communicated at all. They would take scripture out of context and use it to beat someone over the head in order to convince them into doing what is right, or at least get them to do what they wanted them to do. Church is a weird place sometimes. Its ran by humans. Well, the unhealthy ones are.

You see, there are a lot of information out there about leadership and it’s great stuff. We have a plethora of information on how to be a leader. But what about being a follower? I’ve done some research, and I find very little on how to be a follower.

How many of you know of a leader that doesn’t have any accountability?  I know that you can think of at least one. That’s a dangerous person. A leader with no accountability, a leader that doesn’t have to answer to anyone, is a dangerous person. I’ve seen pastors that only have to answer to God, or their version of Him.  Dare I say this, but that’s disturbing.

Who are you following? John Maxwell says that we are a culmination of the top five things that influence us. We follow, whether we realize it or not; And the things in which we follow, form us.

The first instructions that any of the disciples had, the followers of Jesus, we’re two words. Follow me. Were made to be followers. They asked questions, they were teachable and hungry to learn.

Look, if you’ve been hurt by a church, or a church leader, I understand. It’s painful. I’ve gone through it myself.

That is why LFL is here to help correct those things.

Open us up for healing

Sometimes God gets the blame for things that sinful and selfish people inflict on those who come to church.

If that is you,

I’m sorry

God doesn’t want His son or His daughter to be treated that way.

If you’re a parent, you don’t want your child to be treated that way. Of course you don’t. Now God says Revenge belongs to him. So let’s not go down that road. But, if your child is ever hurt, all you want to do is let them know that their loved and get them to a place where they can receive help. That’s our goal. We want to help you get to a place of healing and where you can start to rebuild trusting the Lord.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:15 — 5.8MB)

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We are not here to talk religion, but we will talk about what it means to have a personal, daily walk with God. Our goal is to not waste your time and be under 5 minutes. Come! Join the discussion.

Show Notes

We want to hear from you. podcast@kylemcmurray.com

Have you ever seen someone that’s athletic? Like right before they compete they have this look in their eye like they’re going to eat someone. They’re determined, they psych themselves up and full of hype. They know how to keep their focus. They don’t let anything distract them away from the goal.

I go to the gym frequently, okay, maybe not as often as I should but I see these guys scream at the top of their lungs and gritting their teeth when they’re trying their hardest to lift weights. If we only approached our day like that. If we only kept our mind that focused, that in tune with what’s ahead of us today, or even in the next moment.

If I could only keep that kind of focus on Living the Freedom Life. If I could keep focused on “Doing what is right”, or being patient, being kind, or being able to patiently teach when the person in front of me just doesn’t want to think for themselves. I need that kind of focus. So what do I do, I try hard to be a better Christian.  You see, religion tell us that I have to try harder and do better for me to be a good christian. Following the real Jesus, is much different that that. Remember, we are not here to talk religion but we are here to talk about a genuine relationship with God and what does that look like on a daily basis.

How I act, my behavior doesn’t define “who I am”, it is an expression of what is going on inside. My last name is McMurray. There is nothing I can do to enhance or hinder being a McMurray. Trust me, over the years, I have tested those boundaries many times.

But there are times when I need Stadium speakers to play my theme song in the background while I get my focus on.

You see the only thing that is happening in that time, is that I am realizing who I am and what my potential is in that moment. This goes far beyond a pep talk. This isn’t for the weak.

Any movie that has ever had a theme song playing in the background, you know that you are watching a powerful moment in the story.

So that sounds great, but how do I get there? How do I get to that place?

Psa 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

When I was saved, a DJ didn’t automatically have my theme song cue’d up and ready to play in the stadium. That verse says that HE put a new song in my mouth. It took a while to get to know the author of that new song. It took me getting to know what that new song was all about. The victory didn’t just show up one morning on my doorstep. It was put in me on that day. As a result, (Eph 4:8)

You have the same potential. He can put a new song in your mouth. It will be Him because He can and will change you. That new song will be a hymn of praise towards God and many will see the evidence in your life. Then they will have respect for Him and put their trust in Him.

Get to know your new song, your new theme song. You know, the song that is being played right before your comeback scene, the scene where you are a conqueror and you are Living the Freedom Life.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:45 — 6.2MB)

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We are not here to talk religion, but we will talk about what it means to have a personal, daily walk with God. Our goal is to not waste your time and be under 5 minutes. Come! Join the discussion.

Show Notes

We want to hear from you. podcast@kylemcmurray.com

Most people ask the same question, What’s the deal with Christians? They talk about living this extraordinarily blessed and victorious life but in the meantime, life happens. Dallas Willard asks it this way, “If I am then why aren’t I?” If I am redeemed, if I am victorious, If I am blessed if I am a member of heaven, then why aren’t I experiencing that? Why aren’t I walking in victory, why aren’t I more of a conqueror? Some examples in scripture are John 1:12 says I am God’s child. John 15 says I am Christ friend. I have been justified says Romans 5:1.  Ephesians 1:1 says that I am a saint. V. 5 says That I have been adopted as God’s child. Ephesians 2:18 says that I have access to God through the Holy Spirit. That I’ve been redeemed and forgiven and that I am complete in Christ according to Colossians 2:10. Colossians 3:3 says that I am hidden with Christ in God. Philippians 1:6 says that I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected. I don’t feel like I’m God’s child, or that I’m Christ’s friend or that I’ve been justified or I am complete, or I assured that all things work together for good for those that love Him. I don’t feel like that everyday. I don’t want to open up the pity party here but there are some real things going on in some of your lives right now That you need to feel that you are indeed some of these things that God says about you. I get it.

Hebrews 4:16 tells me that I can find grace and mercy in time of need. And right now for some of you this is the time of need. Lord we need to find your mercy because this is our time of need. We need to find grace. We need to be assured that in your word that 1 John 5:18 is true about us where it says I am born of God, the evil one cannot touch me.  We need to feel and experience those things to be true in our lives today. John 15:16 says that I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.

If I am then why aren’t I? You see the issue with this question, that it implies that I need to see some things in order for it to be true. See the actual problem is our definition of truth. Scripture, God’s word, the Bible, it is God-breathed. There are some things that you’ve experienced, where you don’t feel like God’s word is true.

Have you ever seen the picture where this little kitten is looking into the mirror? The image in the mirror is a great, majestic lion. You see, that little kitten sees itself as a beast of a lion. God is trying to tell us through Scripture that you are a beast of a lion in The Heavenly realms. That is how He created you. That doesn’t change our situation, or does it? The way I approach situations will completely change when I walk into that situation as a lion. How many of you know that it will be a completely different situation if I walk into that as a kitten? You’re made to be a lion. Approach today as though you are. Because that is what faith is.