Another HUGE Blessing!!

Most of you already have heard that God has finally blessed RHUMC with a wonderful space that "The Beginning" (formerly known as RHUMC Youth) can call their own! This past Sunday, the Brookshire Family and our Youth Minister, Jared Curtis, unveiled a beautiful new Youth Room! The Katie Brookshire Youth Center is going to be officially dedicated to service for the Lord this coming Sunday! We're all so excited that God has granted us this wonderful place in which we can worship and fellowship!

Katie Brookshire passed away 8 1/2 years ago while attending the South Georgia United Methodist Annual Conference in Macon, Georgia. She was 20 years old, and she had a lot going for her. She was in love with the Lord and was 100% dedicated to Richmond Hill United Methodist Church. Kristin always said that Romans 8:28 was Katie's verse. Romans 8:28 says, "and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love, who have been called according to his purpose." We remember Katie toady as we praise Lord for this wonderful gift.

**Below are some pictures of the Katie Brookshire Youth Center. They are very low quality, as the lighting inside is not at all suited for taking pictures!


























From the Hilltop,
Hunter Odom
hunter2444@coastalnow.net
Romans 8:28

What I Already Have

Most of you know that Jared Curtis, the youth leader at RHUMC got married this past Sunday. To start with, the wedding and the reception were great, but the ceremony was not typical. After Jenn's father poured his heart out to Jared and Jenn, they were united in Christ as a team that I'm sure will be changing people's lives for years to come. As Mr. DeWitt spoke, he said one thing that caught my attention. He reminded Jenn how he had always told her to run as hard as fast to the Lord as she possibly could, and as she ran, to look next to her and see who God intended her to spend the rest of her life with. As we rode home on Sunday night, I had some time to think about the things that he had said.

On the way home, the car was very quiet. We were all tired form a very long day of traveling.....and shopping. As we flipped radio stations, a song came on that I had heard before, but this time, it had a whole new meaning. Scroll to the bottom of the post and click play, then continue reading!

The artist asks God why he still cares about her, even after she has avoided and ignored him and pushed him away form her for so long. She finally realizes that even though she doesn't deserve him, God loves her no matter what. As we rode home from Orlando, I realized how off track I have been in my relationship with Jesus. Over the past 3 or 4 months, my relationship with the Lord has fallen to the very bottom of my list of priorities. I've realized that even though I've completely separated myself from God, he still cares about me. I've always been a firm believer that there is nothing more amazing than being in a relationship with the man that hung on the cross and thought about his beloved children. I realized that I have fallen so far behind, even though I know that being in a relationship with God should ALWAYS be our top priority.

As we rode on, I was humbled by the fact that God still cares, even when I don't. I realized that even though I am so far away from him, he is still just as close to me as he has always been! I somehow still deserve what I already have,being Jesus, even though I don't do anything to deserve him. That night, I made a promise to myself and my Jesus that I was going to get back on track in my relationship with him. Since Monday morning, I have been doing my very best to keep that promise. I've learned many things through this, starting with the fact that Satan will do all in his power to stop a believer's communion with the Lord. He'll throw just about anything at you (his most powerful too is the SNOOZE BUTTON)! The most important thing we can do is to just ignore his temptations to do something else, or go back to sleep.

Throughout his word, the Lord tells us that sacrifices are necessary and that we can never look back when walking with him. In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus tells a man that he must surrender everything in order to follow him. In Genesis 19, Lot and his family flee as the Lord destroys Sodom and Gomorrah, but his wife looks back and her journey is quickly and violently ended. In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus tells us that we must be hot or cold, but never lukewarm! We have to be all for him in order to follow him.

Even through the first 4 days of this transition, the Lord has revealed so many things to me! I've learned that even 15 minutes with him in the morning makes a huge difference all throughout your day! There's nothing more refreshing than waking up with the Lord and his word. Laying under the covers with some soft music playing, being absorbed by his love; it doesn't get much better than this!! The past 4 days have truly changed my life! I wake up knowing that I will be able to spend time with God before facing the challenges of the day, it really helps!

It is my prayer that you all will join me in making a journey back to where the Lord wants you in your relationship with him! He is so worth it! Your life WILL change if you make the commitment to him. The love he has for you cannot be matched by anything or anyone. Only Jesus can make you complete.



It's not about the two.
No, it's all about the One.

It's not about two lives,
But the one walk for Jesus.
Not two aspirations,
But one Spirit filled life.

It's not the two's talents,
But one eternal passion.
Not the two's dreams,
But one perfect plan.

It's not two achievements,
But one humble submission.
Not two objectives,
But one set apart calling.

It's not two separate journeys,
But one small narrow way.
Not two hopeless sinners,
But one blood stained cross.

It's not the two branches,
But one life giving Vine.
Not you and I,
But our one precious Lord.

It's the cry of our hearts
That each one of you would see,
This life's not about us.
No, it's all about Him.







From the Hilltop,
Hunter Odom
hunter2444@coastalnow.net
Romans 8:28