January 2017 is the first chapter of the year.  Make this a year of honest truth.  Look for principles to guide the year rather that cultural pressures.  Vanity won’t satisfy.   Jan 1st fresh snow falls and while traveling home I did a search on my phone for all the 20:17 passages marked within God’s word.  I found 5 snow-storm white vows.

1. Reaffirm love and loyalty (1 Sam 20:17)
2. Stand well positioned and firm (2 Chron 20:17)
3. Listen (2 Sam 2:17)
4. Learn (Luke 20:17)
5. Rejoice (Luke 20:17, Psalm 118)

This is a year to be full of faith!  Set your course and know it is well with your soul.

A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle. George William Curtis

Live well guided throughout the year by your principles not patriotism to a nation or false political hopes.  Hope is found in someone rejected by his nation and yet he stands as a reliant hope tested by time.  He is Ancient of Days, a God who existed before days were, a faithful Savior to all humankind.

As James Martin, SJ tweeted on Jan 1st

Reaffirm love.  Make yourselves ready men of David.  Live connected to others structurally supported by faithful relationships.

1 Sam 20:17 And  Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

Vow to see God fight the battle as your position yourself close to him.  Firm in him.

2 Chronicles 20:17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.

Listen to the humble.

2 Sam 20:17 He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”
“I am,” he answered.
She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.”
“Iʼm listening,” he said.

Learn the meaning of a thing.   Understand and gain skill.  Research, read, and study well there are no retakes in life or even this day.  We only live this hour once without a reset and it is not to be repeated.  So rejoice in the day and study for success.

Luke 20:17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’ ?

To learn the meaning look at Psalm 118.

Psalm 118:22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
25 Lord, save us!
Lord, grant us success!

I pray this year be both faithful and peaceful like the unexpected comfort I feel from soft snow fall on mountains, lands, and rivers.

What would your 5 principles be from the above passages?  Do they differ?

Live well, have a good week, and even better have a great 2017! With heart, Charity.