So often we get busy and it’s easy to make other priorities more than doing God’s work. Perhaps you made be part of a visitation program at your church and it’s the day that you go and realize that the lawn needs mowing before the rain comes in, or that you need to clean out the garage so your car will fit better. Get your priorities straight and when God gives you a task, don’t be afraid to get started. His resources are never ending. In Haggai chapter 1, we find where God had given the Jews instruction to finish the Temple in Jerusalem after they had returned from captivity. They were more concerned about building their own homes so after 15 years the Temple still wasn’t completed. Finishing God’s work wasn’t a priority for them. Haggai instructed them to get their priorities straight. In chapter 2 verse 23, we find where he was an encouragement to them to complete the Temple. God will help you complete each task by giving you encouragement from others along the way that can help motivate you to finishing the task at hand. Like them, we so often place a higher priority on our own personal comfort rather than God’s work. But God is pleased and gives us strength, guidance and direction when we give Him first place in our lives. Jesus first, others second and yourself last (JOY).

In loving memory of Jennifer Austin, the beautiful flowers on the Communion Table of New Center Church on Sun., Sept. 10 are in memory of Jenny’s birth date, Sept. 6, 1985 to March 27, 2003, placed by her mother, Teresa Lackey.

Happy anniversary wishes to: Matt and Staci Taylor on Sept. 15, Patrick and Lisa Crowder on Sept. 16, Stan and Beth Finley on Sept. 18, Kody and Ashley Vest on Sept. 18, Mark and Kristen Baim on Sept. 19 and Al and Cindy Shaw on Sept. 19.

Happy birthday wishes to: Elizabeth Tersigni on Sept. 13, Tea Koch on Sept. 14, Vicki Greene, Sawyer Melson, Darian Tucker, Rodney Kent and Peggy Phillips on Sept. 15, Dale McMinemon, Dee Walker, Linda McAbee and Keith Smith on Sept. 16, Rick Austin and Caroline Sutton on Sept. 17, Jim Sprading on Sept. 18, Zach Menley, Chuck Ray, Tammy Robbins and Cam Emerson on Sept. 19 and Addene Matthews on Sept. 26.