Message from our ‘new’ Minister- Rev. Jonathan Humphrey
Hello from the Humphrey family, Jonathan, Kate, Calum and Robbie!
It’s good to have the opportunity to introduce ourselves and say how excited we are about moving up to join you. We are looking forward to getting to know you all and see God’s plans unfolding. We are so grateful to the Manse Committee for the enormous amount of work they have put in to get the manse ready for the week of 24th March when we start our move. It’s also great news that Inverness Presbytery have now finalised the 27th of March for my induction and ordination – praise God! As I write we are very busy getting our house in Penicuik ready for renting and doing a clear out of cupboards, attic and things stored for 20 years or more. A lot of sifting through photographs, clothes, the toys our boys played with at different ages etc. has brought back many memories of the journey we have been on and God’s hand in everything. As we get ready for our journey north I’m reminded that when we put our trust in Jesus as our Saviour and Lord he calls us all to journey in three directions: “upward”, “inward” and “outward”.
The “upward” journey is about learning to go deeper in worship, both personally – Him and me, and corporately – Him and us. Its about bringing all of ourselves, nothing hidden before Him, by the power of His Spirit (John 4: 23-24). David Watson in his book You are my God, talks about his experience of the Holy Spirit moving him from merely singing, to an experiential understanding of worship where he found a new reality of God’s presence. The “inward” journey involves healing of hurts, gaining freedom from the hang-ups we have, or negative emotions that can so limit our lives. In the freedom and healing that Jesus brings we discover who we really are in Him, the purposes to which He has called us, and how to live and love with His power at work within us (Romans 8). Lastly we are called to an “outward” journey; sharing our faith with others and serving with our unique God-given blend of gifts and talents that builds up the body and enables our community to experience the reality of Jesus’ love. Our “community” is wherever God places us, an ever-extending family where we honour, love and serve each other and where Jesus is Lord and centre stage (Acts 2: 42-47).
I am looking forward to sharing more on these themes in the weeks and months ahead and also hearing more about your own journeys of “in”, “out” and “up”. But it’s also important to remember that God himself makes a journey towards us. At a particular point in history God became a human being – as Jesus’ friend John put it: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son. Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” (John 1: 9-13 – Message Translation).
Jesus still moves into our neighbourhood today by His Spirit, to establish His Kingdom – His rule and reign in the midst of us (Luke 17:21). This is good news! We don’t have to do it all ourselves and we don’t journey alone. We can live in the security of His love and say yes to His call on our lives, fully confident that He has a place and a purpose for us in His family.