Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:5-7 (NIV)

Joel 2 is what is on my mind and heart over this past week.  All that leads up to it, but especially verse 11:

The Lord thunders     at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number,
    and mighty is the army that obeys his command.The day of the Lord is great;
    it is dreadful.    Who can endure it?

Do you wonder at these times?  We see  droves of people fleeing the Southern Hemisphere because of war, poverty and persecution.  We see rampant disregard for a God's law.  We see selfishness abounding.  The thing is, God planned that we would be  women, living in the United States "for such a time as this."  He has called us and equipped us to be in this battle alongside our sisters and brothers in Christ around the world.  Though we did not choose war, in choosing Jesus, we joined God's army. It is time for us to repent, and turn again to our God.  It is time for us to open our ears and hear His commands.  It is time for us to obey them.   It is time for us to learn to use the Sword, which according to Ephesians 6 is the Word of God.

The Commander's orders come in verses 12-17

:12 Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart,  with fasting and weeping and mourning.”  Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. and he relents from sending calamity.  14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.  15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.  16 Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast.  Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.  17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar.  Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.  Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

We must do this, not only for our sake, but for the sake of our God and King.  The unbelievers look at what is happening in our community, in our nation in the world and say, "Where is their God?"