About the Author
Cathy Boyd Byrd invites others to join her in considering topics of interest to those on the Christian spiritual journey…..discipleship, spirituality, mental health, Christian growth, and Bible study. Cathy enjoys working with others as they transition from emotional emergency and brokenness to spiritual emergence and abundant living! Many of the topics about which Cathy writes are interrelated as experienced in her own life and in the lives of those with whom she works in counseling, teaching, and case management, and in friendships. She believes that sharing our journey of Christian growth and spirituality helps us know God and ourselves better and connects us with others!
Cathy is a Christian Educator and Life Recovery Counselor, and an ordained deacon through Christian Leaders Institute. She serves as Community Outreach MInister at Lynn Haven United Methodist Church. She is a student (disciple) of the Holy Spirit and shares with her students (disciples) the things the Lord teaches her through Bible study and contemplation, incorporating experiences interpreted through the Word, cherished traditions of her faith, and reasoning that comes from seeking the mind of Christ in accountable community. She was widowed in August 2020 after 48 years of marriage to Bill Byrd, is mother of 2 and grandmother of 5. Her journey of faith has been lifelong and continues to be an adventure with the trailblazer and guide, Jesus Christ!
Cathy is the founder and program manager for a Christian women’s residential life recovery program, Titus 2 Partnership, Inc.(www.titus2.life) in Panama City, Florida.
It’s A Small Thing
I had first shared the photo meme below on 1/19/21. Today I saw it and was led to reshare it. CBB. 1/19/26I learned as a sales rep with Procter and Gamble 40+ years ago to grab a buggy and take it in with you as you enter the store you’re calling on. You may need it to pick up damaged product or to put backstock out to face your product’s shelf space. At the least you will have left a favorable impression for your courtesy in bringing in a buggy. I still return my buggies, if I’m close enough to, I take it to the store entrance, but certainly to the cart corral, if I’m farther out. If I can...
Stand
Again and again tells us to simply “stand.” He will act on our behalf. He will fight for us. He will provide refuge for us. Help me to simply stand and wait for truth. CBB 1/19/26Brent’ Brown. 1/19/19 “But so often we run and avoid stillness and standing because we are afraid that if we slow down the truth might catch us. The bad news is that we can’t outrun hurt and struggle. The good news is that we can’t outrun grace either. Blessings to you today and thank you Mary Oliver - your poetry is grace in action.” Screenshot
Later Life Streamlining
From 1/19/22 CBB: Icopied this from another page. It reminded me of many stories shared here . . . And the months it took for my own downsizing a year ago. I know there will be at least 1 more downsize, maybe 2 if I live long enough….then the final "downsize" as I vacate this physical tent "home." “When my mom was cleaning out her house over 23 years ago to sell it I wasn't very sympathetic over her attachments to things. I would go over on weekends to help her and we would go thru things, things for a yard sale, things to donate, things to throw away…..I would usually get upset over how...
Refined As Gold and Silver
As I reflected on gold and silver and the value of grace and truth, I was reminded of this from Zechariah 13: Cleansing From Sin "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. 2 “On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. 3 And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die, because...
Counseling Toward Healing
A beautiful thought that seems to speak to the experience several women have had recently in completing their 4th and 5th Steps of their 12 Step Program….. "Healing is possible when we allow ourselves the gift of wandering in the spaces of our hearts, taking in new ideas and knowing we are safe traveling into hearts once again." Becca Stevens. 1/19/22 1/19/26. CBB addition I have found that exploring the depths of my heart is best done as a cooperative work with the Holy Spirit and wise counselors. It guides us back into trusting God and being better able to live and trust ourselves. It...
Confronting or Projecting Our Own Demons?
From Rich Villodas on Twitter: "Until the Church consistently leads people to the wilderness (i.e. prayer, solitude, silence, reflection, repentance, etc.) to confront our own demons, we will project our demons back out into the world, and fail to see that some demons in the world are reflections of ourselves." We can't begin to address the demons that come at us from outside until we have dealt with the Holy Spirit as we've invited and cooperated with Him within us and submitted to the refining work to be done in our own human spirit. CBB. 1/19/22
David F. Watson: Divine Agency, Bigfoot, and Multiverses
Dr. David F. Watson…..writing about divine agency, the idea that God does things. 10/23/25 on Substack…a keeper “Jonah Goldberg is a media personality who uses his critical thinking skills far more often and effectively than many of his peers. I’ve always appreciated his analysis, even when I haven’t agreed with him. Call me crazy, but I like reasonable people. In the highly competitive world of the attention economy, reason, nuance, and fair play are more often than not trampled by jingoistic rage-baiting. This doesn’t help anyone except the conflict entrepreneurs, but it does keep the...
Prayer In Relation To Time
“15 examples of how prayer is life's greatest time-saver and our most productive course of action: When emergencies arise, we can receive clear, timely direction from the Lord through prayer, which eliminates confusion. As we converse with the Father, He can keep us from making wrong decisions that would have negative long-range repercussions or would cause costly delays. Through intimate communion with the Savior, worry, anxiety and fretting can be eliminated because we grow in assurance of His character. Even if we should start down the wrong path out of ignorance, God can get us back on...
Cropping Out Of Photos
As I prepared for the Celebration of Life service for an elderly friend this past weekend, I came across a small photo of her in a lovely pink dress with a small white hat with netting, a white corsage and holding a bouquet. It appeared to be a wedding photo. But it was clear that the groom who had stood by her side had been trimmed out of the photo…..I wondered which of the three husbands whose deaths left her widowed it might have been. My guess from her youthful look was it was probably the first husband whom she had spoken of as abusive, unfaithful, having used her in numerous ways and...
What Is A Certified Recovery Support specialist (CRSS)?
A good explanation of the work of a CRSS, "certified recovery support specialist……Rev. Cathy Byrd, MS CRSS "Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. This process values hope, empowerment, self-direction and healing. A recovery-focus signals a shift in expectations for those seeking help and for those assisting them. Florida, itself, is undergoing a process of change with regard to addressing mental health and substance use conditions. Communities, providers, families and...