I was watching the opening ceremony for the summer Olympics happening in Paris, France last night. The commentators continued to say, this was an opening ceremony like no other, because each nation was coming in on a boat parade that ended at the Eiffel Tower. To watch the nations ride in on a boat, with names of nations I had never heard of, was quite the sight to see. The various flags waving, the smiles on everyone’s faces, the variety of cultural clothing on display, it was truly a joy to watch.

Then this morning I open my bible to pray Psalm 117 and it says, “Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.” Nations were celebrating the Olympics last night, the highest level of athletes gathering from around the world to compete for the next 16 days and this morning, the Lord is calling all nations to praise the Lord. Perfect timing as usual.

Color, variety, celebration, beauty, architecture, lights, water, it made the opening ceremony such a pleasure to see from my living room, chair, but to have been on that river bank, standing in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, with crowds of people would have been an experience to remember and one those who were there will never forget.

As I pondered all of this I realized, God wants us to be in the midst of what He is doing. We are not meant to read in a book or watch on television what God is doing. We are called to be in the middle of it, smelling the smells, seeing the sights, hearing the sounds, experiencing the atmosphere. There is nothing like being there when it is happening. I believe God is going to move on such a massive level that we will get to be there when it happens. Where is the where? I do not know, but it is going to be happening everywhere, so we can be there. Once you are there, you will testify to what God has done or said, for you saw it, you heard it, you have pictures on your phone to share about it. Friends, the sideline days are over, this is an everyone one gets to play move of God. Let’s go!!!!