by Phyllis Ducey
pfdoriginalartworks


Christmas is now come and gone. We have a little over 360 days until it returns. Whew! Just enough time to prepare for next year's round! But first time to start thinking about my new year’s goals. Do you do them? “They” say that if you write down your goals, you are 90% likely to accomplish them.

I actually have found that true though I do not write them down each year. For the past 25 plus years my number one goal is to become closer to God. The years I have actually written that down, I have achieved it. I am not a big goal setter so I do not have huge lists. They stay focused around God, marriage and family for the most part. It seems, as I get older, one year blurs into another with very little to distinguish one from the other so my memory of each year’s goals are also a blur.

I don’t know if you are a TV watcher or maybe I should say are you an “end of the world predictor watcher”? I’m not but I am aware that there are numerous shows and movies focused on the end of the world being eminent. Is it possible? Yes, it has been possible for the last 1, 960 or so years. Biblically is it likely? I have no idea. Does it matter? Only to the extent that if you knew it was coming in 2012 (as the media seems to want to exploit) then would it change how you live your life next year?

I have been thinking about that lately and as I consider this year what my goals will be I plan to make them as if it is the last year prior to the start of the end of the world. I do not truly think that 2012 will be the end, however, I want to make this year count.

My first goals will be to draw closer to God.
If there was only a year left, I would want to make sure everyone I loved, everyone I knew and everyone possible would come to understand that Christ died for their sins and that they could have eternal life through Him. I was not given the gift of evangelism and I have tried my hardest to share with those in my family who think I am well intentioned but foolish in my beliefs. There is only one way to be effective that is through prayer. I don’t change hearts that is God’s job. Which leads me to this year’s primary goal for me: to become a woman of diligent prayer.

I pray. I pray frequently during the day but I want to pray with mighty diligence.

Mighty (per Dictionary.com)
great in amount, extent, degree, or importance; exceptional

Diligence (per Dictionary.com)
constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.

Can you imagine what type of year it could be if we each mightily and diligently prayed for everyone we know, for the rulers of the world, for the countries we live in, for those who suffer for Christ's sake? What a powerfully spiritual year this could be!




Personal note:
As I noted last week (A Wonder), I have completed my year's commitment to weekly posts. I now will post once a month on the second Monday of the month. It really has been a joy to me.

Have a blessed New Year filled with Christ's love and peace!
Your sister in Christ,
Phyllis

Below are some shops that are new to our CAST Team... please check out their great talent and give them a heart!














Vintage cross by hummingbirdministry



















Earrings by pearlatplay

















Print - Light of the World by tiffysart

When we started the CAST blog this year I thought we needed a little direction so I came up these goals for the blog team. We have to stretch a little to get that last one in, but I hope we are achieving most of them.

CAST BLOG OBJECTIVES:

1. To glorify God.

2. To be a refreshing, joyful place on the internet.

3. To be a central location where anyone can go to find out what is going on with the CAST team.

4. To draw in new members and to be a way for old members to discover how to interact more as a team.

5. To promote CAST shops, members and items.

6. To help each other in business.

7. To publish one new post every day in order to increase traffic and Search Engine Optimization.