Sundays here in Gulu are a big day! Most people get ready to attend their church service, where there is usually singing and dancing where the Pentecostals are concerned! As we in TEAMS partner with many churches, we have the pleasure of being able to experience their services whenever we are able to. Being out here in the mission field requires organisation and planning and just like the locals on a Sunday, the routine brings a sense of predictability. This is supposed to be good right? However, the issue we may find in everyday living is predictability sometimes misses the point of purpose.

On my agenda today was to share the word at two services. I gave two different messages, but in actual fact they were both linked very closely. The subjects were about looking after our relationship with God and about the seasons we are in. Our relationship with God is a gift, as Ephesians 2 illustrates. The salvation freely given to us is a gift for us really to treasure. Growing in relationship with God will look different in different periods of our lives. The more we seek him, the more we will be aware of how to cultivate the relationship. This brings the point of seasons. Although I have come to Gulu for the forth time now and there are certain routines I still have to carry out such as getting on a plane, driving up to the north and checking into a well known hotel, the purpose of me carrying out these routines change every year. Just like attending church. You may physically be attending the same service at the same time every week for years, but ask yourself this: How does it grow your relationship with God in this period of your life? Do you look to do the same routine for the same purpose? Or do you seek the new? My encouragement would be to seek purpose in routine, and be aware of where you are going with it.