Random Thoughts....

It has been awhile since I have blogged....life has been busy.

I am singing at a wedding this weekend, singing at church for the services and at Velocity Sunday night. I am excited!

I have a lot of music to memorize over the next few days.

I had my first Spanish test yesterday for this semester...I hope I did well.

I am in a new Bible Study on Tuesdays by Beth Moore. It is GREAT! I am learning a lot.

Beth Moore is coming to Detroit in February....cant wait to see her. Nichole Nordeman is coming to the Ridge in February too....cant wait to see her either.

Communion is tonight. I love to be in the auditorium with the WHOLE church. I love for student ministries to be in there. Jordan is playing drums tonight...that will be so great!

God is changing me and freeing me....I am so grateful.

The Holy Spirit is the great reminder and convictor. I love that about him.

Today is a good day....this has been a full week for me...and will be very busy the rest of the week....Monday was so FULL OF STRESS....I havent felt like that in awhile....but it started to lift halway through the day...and I was so thankful. Meeting with Lisa was so good for me and God is using that in my life in big ways.

Stacey is awesome. :)

God is soooooooooooooooo GOOD and Faithful. I will walk with him at all times and nothing will take my eyes off him. Help me Lord. I trust you.

My second blog of the night....

My friend....
I have been blessed in my life to have some pretty great friends. Like everyone in this world....we have people that come and make their dent on our life and then head off into the sunset. Some stay forever if we are lucky. Just depends. The friend I want to highlight in this blog is Kurt. He has been a very close friend of mine for about 7 years. He is someone that I immediately found myself drawn to. We laughed and laughed. Most people were annoyed by us...but we just seemed to click. We are so much alike and yet have many differences. He is the type of person that all we have to do is see something and we think the same thing. We have helped each other through so much. We have had some AWFUL fights...but the thing I loved most about that crappy times is we always talked it out. We still do. We rarely ever leave with issues. Like the scripture says....dont let the sun go down on your anger...we have for the most part....never let the sun go down while angry. No matter how long it took we talked it out. Kurt is so funny and so smart. His love for God is inspiring. His walk with Christ is inspiring. Just this last New Years...we were at a party....and I was listening to him talk...and I was reminded of how smart he is about life and more importanly...God. I used his Bible the night before he left to look up a scripture...and it has highlights and underlines all in it....he has a real relationship with God. He is a great teacher and I love how he loves students. I am a part of youth ministry today because God used him to inspire me. And for that I am forever grateful. I loved serving with him in Rustproof....he was a great leader (still is)! I miss those times. I miss him. See, a little over 2 years ago....he followed God's call to move to Oregon to be a Junior High Pastor....or Middle School Director...whatever you want to call it. I am so proud of him. I miss him...but I know that he is right where he needs to be. They are lucky to have him. He has so many gifts....and strives to live surrendered to Christ. He does not hesitate to be real about his "issues" and knows he has to stay close to the Lord to be able to live this Christian life. He presses in and perseveres. We still have our hard times....like any relationship....and it is hard to be so far from each other. I pray that God uses me in his life half as much as God has used him in my life. I truly pray that we are close forever.

Kurt....thank you for your friendship. Even what I just wrote is not enough to say all I could about our relationship. Take this as a small piece of my heart for you. You are my brother, friend, cheerleader, encourager, thorn :), mirror, and as you said "fellow pilgrim". I pray for you daily and I love you. I am believing God with you and for you. I know he has great plans for you and I hope you know that I am your number one fan. Keep your eyes to the hills....that is where your help comes from...Psalm 121. Praying God's best for you in 2007 and always.....yea God, yea you!! haha!

Love in Christ always, Kristi Kurtz

Today I went to the movies and saw Freedom Writers. It was the best movie that I have seen in a long time. It inspired me and moved me and has me thinking about all kinds of things. There is so much in the movie...that I wont be writing about it...but I will be writing in my blogs for awhile some of the things that stood out to me and that God is speaking to me about. One of the major ideas in the movie is about influence. It struck me that this one woman influenced her whole class of students. That was probably like 30 kids. I am sure there may have been more in her career but for the movies sake...it was about 30. When I look at my life and the lives of my friends....I see that we all influence at least 30 people. What kind of influence are we having on those people? Am I making my life count with these 30 or more people around me? I want my life to mean something. Not so they can make a movie out of it....but so that I can be something great to the people in my life. I think of them as gifts. Each one. I think of the students that allow me into their lives a gift. I think of my closest friends as gifts. I hope that they know that. I want to live more of my life showing that. I have my short-comings....and again those closest to me know that....but I know I was made for relationships. I was called by God for them....I know we all are....but today I know it is my life's calling to be in relationships. Lots of relationships. Some closer than others for whatever intention God has....but relationships none the less. This movie made me want to be a better person. To really live my life sold out to God's call. I sensed God speak to me about being a teacher this summer and I am pursuing that. Am I nervous? Sure thing!! But seeing this movie today reinforced my desire to teach. I am a teacher. It is a blessing that God has given me. And I am thankful for it. I want to grow in it....and I believe today in a couple short hours at the Emagine in Canton....I grew a little bit more.