St.Margaret's Celtic Fellowship

Saint Margaret of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Naomh Maighréad; Scots: Saunt Marget, c. 1045 – 16 November 1093), also known as Margaret of Wessex, was an English princess and a Scottish queen. Margaret was sometimes called The Pearl of Scotland". Born in the Kingdom of Hungary to the expatriate English prince Edward the Exile, Margaret and her family returned to England in 1057. Following the death of Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, her brother Edgar Ætheling was elected as King of England but was never crowned. After she and her family fled north, Margaret married Malcolm III of Scotland by the end of 1070.

In 1250, Pope Innocent IV canonized Margaret as a Saint, acknowlegeing her life of holiness and extraordinary virtue. She was honored for her work for reform of the Church and her personal holiness.

Today is her Feast Day. Let us focus on the example of holiness that Margret lived and pray that we can more holy before our lord.

The Blessing of Forgiveness


“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. ”
—Proverbs 28:13

If you want to know the intricacies of a subject, the best thing to do is find an expert, someone who has far-reaching experience with it.

Although David is rightfully known as one of the greatest saints in Scripture, identified uniquely as the man after God’s own heart, he is also known as one of the greatest sinners in Scripture.
On one hand, we remember him for his heroic exploits and tender heart toward God and others. On the other hand, we remember him for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba as well as his sin of murder in an attempt to cover it up.
Clearly, he had missed the mark. Clearly, he had had fallen short of the law’s demands. As a result, his life became crooked and twisted, and he reaped the results of his sins.
But God also gave David a second chance. In Psalm 32 he wrote, “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!” (verse 1 NLT). David was speaking of what God had done for him.
Then in verses 3 and 4, David described the futility and misery of unconfessed sin: “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat” (NLT).

It’s miserable to live in unconfessed sin. Proverbs 28:13 tells us, “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy” (NLT).

We can’t put sin in a compartment and think that’s the end of it. Sin stinks. Its stench will permeate everything and mess up every aspect of our lives. That is why it needs to be dealt with.

Join us for this special Livecast

A Tap from the Shepherd

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. ”
—Psalm 23:4

Have you ever had a tap from the Lord to move forward? Perhaps you were growing complacent as a Christian or maybe even lazy. So, God spoke to your heart and said, “Get up. Move. Do something.” Or maybe through a set of circumstances God reminded you of the importance of moving forward.
Writing in Psalm 23, David said, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (verse 4 NLT).
In David’s time, shepherds used the rod not only for discipline; they also used it along with the staff to lead the sheep forward. The sheep would get lazy sometimes. After a time of grazing in green pastures and drinking from peaceful streams, the sheep would lie on their sides and fall asleep. So, a shepherd would have to give them a good push with the rod and staff.
But shepherds also used their rods and staffs to number the sheep. They would hold out their rods and staffs and count them as they passed by.

In the same way, we need to remember that God knows who belongs to Him. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can sn**ch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can sn**ch them from the Father’s hand” (John 10:27–29 NLT).

God has numbered us. He knows who we are. We are a part of His family. And that brings comfort to us. He is there to number us. He is there to guide us. And when necessary, He is there to lovingly discipline us as well.

"Train up a child in the way he should go." Pr 22:6

The Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (v. 6). Observe the word "child." You must begin early when: (1) Their will is flexible. A twig is much simpler to bend than a trunk. In the early years, your child's will is like soft clay; malleable and flexible. You see, it's when they're young that you are to "set their ways," because when they grow older, their "ways are set." The Hebrew phrase "train up" refers to training a vine to grow in a certain shape or direction. If you wait, it will be too late! (2) There is still hope. "Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction" (Pr 19:18 NKJV). When a parent says, "My kids are hopeless," too often you find out those parents didn't train their children while there was still hope. Listen to the urgency in Solomon's voice: "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly"
(Pr 13:24 NKJV). The Hebrew word for "promptly" refers to dawn, or early in the day. So, start early! Maybe you have a little darling running around in your house right now that you think is an angel. But someday those legs will grow longer, those wings will become shorter, and sometimes a little "angel" even sprouts horns! While your child is young and more apt and ready to listen to your advice and counsel, teach and train him or her how to live God's way. If you do, you will never regret It.

While your child is young, teach and train him or her how to live.

Our Father Knows Best

“He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.””
—Matthew 26:39

From the moment of His birth, Jesus lived in the shadow of the cross. When Joseph and Mary dedicated Him in the temple, the prophet Simeon said to Mary, “A sword will pierce your very soul” (Luke 2:35 NLT).

Simeon predicted what Jesus would go through and what Mary would experience as she watched her son hang on the cross.

Jesus knew this was coming. And He began to aggressively address it at a place called Caesarea Philippi. He was very specific about it.

Matthew’s Gospel says, “From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead” (Matthew 16:21 NLT).

Jesus knew, worst of all, that He would experience separation from the heavenly Father as He bore all the sins of the world on the cross.

So, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39 NLT).

That is a way of saying, “Lord, if I am about to pray anything that is outside of Your will, I am asking You to overrule it. I know that Your plan is better than mine.” Jesus died fulfilling the plan and purpose of God.

Every Christian will come to their own Gethsemane, a time when they grapple with the hard issues of life. It is during those times that we must say, “Lord, I want Your will to be done, not mine.” Our heavenly Father knows best.

St. Dismas

Dismas (1st c.) is the name of the "Good Thief," one of the two criminals who were crucified alongside Jesus Christ on Good Friday. All we know about Dismas is what is mentioned of him in historical documents and the Gospels: "Now one of the criminals hanging there (Gestas, the other criminal) reviled Jesus, saying, 'Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.' The other (Dismas) however, rebuking him, said in reply, 'Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.'" Then Dismas, as an expression of his faith in Christ as the Messiah, said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus replied to Dismas, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:39-42). Gestas, died in his sin.

The feast day of St. Dismas is March 25.

Don’t Ignore Open Doors


“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name”
—Revelation 3:8

In the Bible, a door is a symbol of opportunity and a key is a symbol of authority. The apostle Paul referred to this in 2 Corinthians 2: “When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me” (verse 12 NLT).

God opens doors. For example, maybe you’re having a conversation with someone, and suddenly they bring up something that is an open door to share the gospel. You want to be sure to go through that door.

Jesus has the key, and He opens the doors.
I’m glad that He has the keys, by the way. If I had the keys, they would be lost by now. But Jesus doesn’t lose the keys. He wants to open doors. God opened a door for Bishop Ed Morrow and Bishop Ronnie Harbin, who was at the epicenter of the Celtic Church of The Way, and they walked through it and have been blessed with overseeing an international community.

There are some things that only God can do, and there are some things that only we can do. God will open a door, but we must walk through it. In the church, we want our doors open. We don’t want to put up a wall where God has put a bridge. We want to be stepping stones, not stumbling blocks, to people coming to Christ. It should never be difficult for people to come to Him.
Someone might show up at church who lives a certain lifestyle or dresses in a way that makes some Christians uncomfortable. But they need to hear the gospel. And our job is to call them to Christ.
We don’t say, “Clean up your life and come to Christ.” Rather, we say, “Come to Christ, and He will clean up your life.”
The church should be a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.

Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. In 2023, Ash Wednesday will be February 22nd. Ash Wednesday focuses the Christian’s heart on repentance and prayer.

More than flowers and candy, Valentines Day recognizes a Bishop who stood for the truest love.

The Story of St. Valentine

During the third century, Valentine was born in Rome. He became a priest and then a bishop. During that time, the emperor of Rome, Claudius II, wanted to end Christianity. So he outlawed Christianity and killed Christians.

Claudius waged war on many nations to make the kingdom of Rome larger. But he had a tough time recruiting soldiers. Why? He believed this was because men didn’t want to leave their wives. So he outlawed marriage!

Valentine continued to preach about God. Whenever a Christian couple wanted to be married, he performed the marriage ceremony. Because of this, soldiers arrested and jailed Valentine.

Emperor Claudius liked Valentine and invited him to the palace many times to talk. Valentine knew that Claudius needed to ask Jesus into his heart and be saved. So Valentine talked to Claudius about Jesus often.

This made the emperor furious. He ordered Valentine to not mention Jesus again. Valentine knew Claudius would have him killed if he didn’t stop talking about Jesus. But he also knew Claudius needed to hear about Jesus. So he made the decision to share the Gospel with the emperor.

The emperor became so furious that he ordered Valentine to renounce his faith. Because Valentine wouldn’t do that, Claudius gave orders to beat him with clubs. When Valentine still wouldn’t renounce Jesus, Claudius ordered him stoned to death and beheaded. Valentine’s burial occurred on February 14, which is now known as Valentine’s Day.

The story of St. Valentine offers these key lessons for people to learn:

1) It’s important to share the Gospel.
2) Marriage is important to God.
3) Don’t let anything, even death, stop you from declaring Jesus is Lord.

Where Revival Starts

“Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”
—Jonah 1:17

Tarshish is about as far away from Nineveh as you can get. Yet that’s where Jonah went when God told him to go to the city of Nineveh and preach. He boarded a boat going in the opposite direction.

As a result, God sent a storm that was so bad, it even alarmed the seasoned sailors. They tried to figure out why this storm had come and realized the culprit was a passenger named Jonah. They brought him up on deck and asked him what was going on.

Jonah told them he was an Israelite and served the Lord God of Israel. This was the miracle-working God, the same God who parted the Red Sea, drowned the entire Egyptian army, and sent supernatural food from Heaven. So they said to Jonah, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?” (Jonah 1:11 NJKV).

Jonah told them that if they threw him overboard, the storm would stop. They kept trying to row to land with no success, so eventually they threw him overboard. Then a great fish swallowed Jonah.
Now, was this God’s way of getting even? Was He saying, “All right, Jonah. You messed up. It’s payback time”? That is how some people see God. But God doesn’t deal with people that way, especially His own children.

This wasn’t about getting even. This was about disciplining one of His own kids. Because God loves us, He will discipline us when we go astray. God’s discipline is preparation for a future task. His discipline tells us that He has something more for us to do. And if you are one of God’s kids, He will discipline you.

God was preparing Jonah for his greatest work yet, and He revived and recommissioned Jonah.

In the same way, revival starts with you. It starts with me. And nothing can happen through us until it has first happened to us.

How to Find Yourself


“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ”
—Galatians 2:20

What does it mean to take up the cross? Sometimes people think it means that whatever is bothering them or plaguing them is their cross to bear.

But that isn’t what Jesus meant when He said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23 NKJV).
The cross symbolizes the same thing to every person. It speaks of dying to ourselves and putting God’s will before our own. Taking up the cross is exchanging our plans for His plans. It’s when we stop trying to seek life and instead seek God.
So many people today are trying to find purpose in life. What is life about? What is the meaning of it?

The meaning of life, the purpose of life, is to know God. And the best life to live is the Christian life. To live it the most effectively, we must take up our cross and follow Jesus Christ.

The Scottish theologian Samuel Rutherford said of the cross, “Christ’s cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bore; it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, to carry me forward to my harbor.”
It’s through death to ourselves that we find life. It’s through exchanging our plans for God’s that we find the best. We find life as it was meant to be lived.

The apostle Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV).
When we lay aside our personal desires and ambitions, God will reveal the desires and plans that He has for us.

What Is Epiphany? The Meaning of Epiphany, How To Celebrate and When To Mark the 12th Day of Christmas

Epiphany is a meaningful time for many Christians. One of the very first holidays (also called feast days) of the year, Epiphany comes on the heels of Christmas celebrations and is a time of joy and faith.

Epiphany, also called Theophany, is a celebration of God manifesting as the baby Jesus and revealing Himself to the world. The holiday also marks the day the Magi, or the three kings, visited the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Jesus' baptism is also celebrated during Epiphany. The holiday is also sometimes known as Three Kings Day.

Please join me in wishing Bishop Ashley Beckham a very happy and blessed Birthday. He and his wife Rene have a beautiful family and we are happy to have them as part of our Church family.

The Race We Must Finish

“These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.”
—1 Corinthians 10:11

Of the two to three million Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, only two of the original adults made it to the Promised Land. What caused them to finish well while so many others got lost in the wilderness?

Idolatry was one of the pitfalls of the Israelites who got lost in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. At the root of their problems was a lack of relationship with God, a lack of intimacy with Him. Interestingly, their first idol was Moses. When he was away receiving the commandments of God, they turned to worship a golden calf. They remade God in their image, rationalizing their blatant idol worship by saying it was a feast to the Lord.
People do the same thing today. They give God a makeover, looking to conform Him to our perverse society instead of the other way around. But once we lose that set of absolutes in our lives, all kinds of problems will develop.

Most people today who have fallen away from the Lord and into various problems and sins would be able to trace this to a point in their lives when they began to let go of the Lord. They were no longer walking as closely with Him as they should have been.

The same thing happened to the Israelites. Because God was not on the throne of their hearts and lives, they needed something or someone to take His place.

Then they tested God and complained. They exploited His goodness, pushed Him to the limit, and griped about His provision. As a result, they never made it to what God had prepared for them. They had so much potential and possibility, yet it never came to fruition in their lives.

The Christian life is not a sprint; it’s a long-distance run. We are in it for the long haul. So we need to pace ourselves and persevere.

The Only Gift That Keeps on Giving


“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
—Mark 10:45

At this time of year, a lot of people get excited about what will be waiting for them under the Christmas tree, thinking that these things will somehow bring them fulfillment.

But how many of us remember what we received last Christmas? A few months after the coming Christmas, we probably will also have forgotten about the gifts we will open on Christmas day. Christmas is really not about gifts under a tree; it’s about a relationship with God. Jesus came to give us life in all its fullness.

Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). Jesus came to this earth to bring us a meaningful life, a life with purpose. Medical science may add years to our lives, but Christ adds life to our years. He gives us a life that’s worth living.

Jesus also came to give His life as a ransom for many. He was born to die so that we might live. Jesus came with a rescue mission. He came to die on a cross. He said of himself, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NLT).

Jesus was born in a manger so that we could come into a relationship with God through Him. And He offers us the gift of eternal life. The Bible calls this the unspeakable gift.

What drew me to Christ in my life was the hope of finding the meaning of life, my purpose in this life. I wanted to know why I was on Earth. And I found that in Him. Truly, what Christ gives us is the only gift that keeps on giving. We only need to receive it.

5 Advent Candles of the Celtic Church & Their Meaning

Growing up we never did the advent stuff at church. Then I entered the Celtic Church and got to learn about the Advent Candles.

Six Advent Candles & Their Meaning – I share about what the six different candles that are lit during Advent and what each mean.

Advent can mean the arrival of a person, thing or event. But in the Celtic Church it means the coming of Christ or the second coming of Christ.

There are six candles lit in the advent candle set. Each one represents something different. Traditionally these are lit one per week on Sunday during Advent. Traditionally in the Celtic Church, the youngest member lights the candle each week.

There are four blue or purple candles, one pink or rose candle and one white candle.

There are six candles lit in the advent candle set. Each one represents something. Advent candles are a part of Christian traditions that serve as a reminder that Jesus came as Light into our dark world. Each one represents something different:

These candles are usually placed in a circle around a wreath.

1. Candle of Faith (Bethlehem Candle)

The second candle represents faith and is called “Bethlehem’s Candle.” Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which is also the birthplace of King David. This candle reminds of the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem

The experience or journey of Joseph and Mary in the city of Bethlehem. The Baby Jesus in the Manager. This one is purple or blue.

Usually lit the First Sunday of Advent.

Luke 2:12

2. Candle of Hope (Prophet Candle / God’s People Candle)

The first candle symbolizes hope and is called the “Prophet’s Candle.” The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival.

Prophets knew if the hope of the coming Messiah. Hope is like a light shining in a dark place. Our hope is only found in Jesus Christ. This is God’s forgiveness for man. This one is a purple / blue candle.

It was anticipation of the coming of the Messiah as foretold by Isaiah.

Usually lit the first Sunday of Advent.

Isaiah 7:14

3. Candle of Love

Love comes first in the fruit of the Spirit because love is the primary fruit of the Spirit. It is the most important fruit of the Spirit and encompasses all the rest. Love comes third in the six candles around the outside of the Advent Wreath, because love grows stronger the closer we get to Christ, and in Advent we are working our way towards the most important aspect of Christmas, which is God’s love for us in Christ.

This candle is blue/purple and is lit the 2nd Sunday of Advent.

Matthew 1:18-21


4. Candle of Joy (Shepherd’s Candle)

The fourth candle symbolizes joy and is called the “Shepherd’s Candle.” The angels announced to the shepherds in the field, “good news of great joy to all people.” This candle is pink because, in Christian history, the color rose signifies joy.

This is lit the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Luke 2:8-11

5. Candle of Peace (Angel’s Candle)

The fifth candle represents peace and is called the “Angel’s Candle.” The angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace–He came to bring people peace with God and with each other again.

This candle represents peace and justice that the angels and Christ brings to the world. It also can represent purity. This candle is usually purple or blue.

“Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”
Usually Lit the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Luke 2:8-11

6. Candle of Light & Purity (Christ Candle)

The sixth candle is white and it represents light and purity and is called “Christ’s candle” as it represents Christ coming into the world. It is placed in the middle as a reminder of the preeminent place of Christ.

This candle represents the life of Christ and His purity.

This candle is usually lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It is usually found in the middle because Christ is the center of all things. A white candle is always used because of His Purity and He washes us whiter than snow.

Our Advent Wreath is extra special to us. It was created by Bishop Ronnie Harbin and is a one of a kind. As we light the five candles leading up to the Christ candle, each Sunday steps up as a spiral staircase leading closer and closer to Christ. It’s represents our personal journeys to our relationship with Jesus.

The Ultimate Friend


“Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.”
—2 Corinthians 5:14

When I go Christmas shopping for my wife, I don’t do it out of a sense of obligation. I enjoy it. I don’t do it because I’m afraid of how she will respond if I don’t get her a gift. I’m not motivated by fear; I’m motivated by love.

When you love someone, you naturally want to do things that you know will please them. The same is true of our relationship with Christ. True friends of Jesus obey Him because they want to, because they love Him.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life” (2 Corinthians 5:14 NLT).

When we love the Lord, it is our delight, our privilege, to do what He commands.
People are bound to disappoint us, to let us down. But we have a friend to whom we can tell our secrets because He will never betray our confidence. We have a friend who will also share His secrets with us. We have the ultimate friend in Jesus Christ.
Not only does Jesus want to be our Savior and Lord, but He also wants to be our friend.

If you are not the friend of God, then you are His enemy. The Bible says that if you love the ways of the world, then you’re God’s enemy. In fact, Jesus said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me” (Matthew 12:30 NLT).
Maybe you’ve never known how it’s like to have a living, daily, continuous relationship—even friendship—with Jesus Christ. Maybe you hadn’t realized that such a thing was even possible.

Jesus is a friend who will stand by you no matter what. And He’s willing to come into your life, forgive your sins, and extend His friendship to you. But you must respond.