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.
Be Not Foolish in Appetites
Well, one thing hasn’t changed since my 40’s. That was the point at which I became aware of my sensitivity to caffeine and had to begin limiting caffeine intake to one cup in the morning or deal with overstimulation and potential sleeplessness. I’ve gained greater awareness of where caffeine hides and have cut caffeine way down, especially as the morning ends, intentional caffeine consumption has to end also. Yesterday I threw caution to the wind and had a cup at 5:30 pm at a Bible study. It was as delicious as the engagement among the participants! But, alas, it came at a cost. I could not...
Pets and Dreams
CBB 8/6/2021 This was our little Daisy beagle. She was adopted by our daughter’s family in 2014 and was about 3 years old, having been rescued in Mississippi by a beagle rescue organization. They brought her to live with us shortly after when they realized she was too much for their son’s allergies When Bill died a year ago today after 11 days’ hospitalization, I realized I could not keep all of our 3 dogs and 3 cats. Thankfully, our grandaughter’s in-laws in Baltimore are dog-loving people. They kindly took her into their family where she is thriving. She’s now 11. Last night I dreamed that...
Counsel For Grieving Family
Excellent thoughts for those counseling individuals grieving a loved one without confidence of the deceased’s eternal condition- From Biblical Counseling Coalition: “Wise Words for Vulnerable Times………I’ve been reading the rich, pastoral letters of John Newton. I recently came across one where he offers his own thoughts on the question of how we relate to the passing of a loved one where there is uncertainty as to their final spiritual destination. In his role as a parish pastor, Newton officiated the memorials of everyone in his town, whether they were confirmed members of his church or not....
Titus 2 July 2025 Activities
Titus 2 July 2025 activities:- 7/31/2025 -An unhomed AL woman in her 50’s undergoing cancer treatment came to a local mission for a services. Titus 2 provided transportation and assistance to purchase wound care supplies, socks, other needed personal items. It was confirmed that she does have transportation for her next medical evaluation out of town. Telecounseling appointments completed for 2 new clients. Class sessions at 3 programs in July-5 hours First July monthly visit to Panama City delayed a week due to coinciding with July 4th holiday. Trips set for 7/10-11, 7/24-25 July Meals on...
Titus 2 Partnership Report – June 2025
June 2025 Report of Titus 2 Ministry Activities: - Consulted on domestic abuse case involving residents adjacent to a family that is adversely affecting an older couple with disabilities. Identified and provided appropriate resources and provided encouragement and prayer and ongoing support to work through current situation.- Biweekly classes of 4 sessions at multiple recovery programs in Bay Co.- Consulted with family members dealing with an adult child’s addictive behaviors- T2P is assisting with cost of vision exam and glasses for a woman in longterm shelter working through health issues...
Reprise: Counting Our Days (Stewardship of One’s Time)
For 34 years Bill and I made special arrangements, at significant cost and entailing a lot of time to be with our AU Tigers and other fan-friends tailgating in sunshine and rain on Saturdays week after week…..My Daddy used to say that we spent our Saturdays with 80,000 of our “very best friends…. “ We were devoted followers of our teams. A few weeks ago a pastor asked how many of us make even a modestly comparable effort to be in church on Sunday. Do we slip in after services begin, start glancing at our watches or phones if it runs 5 minutes over the allocated hour (although we will sit...
Pondering Retirement And Being In Christ
I’ve had the opportunity recently to think more about a Christian’s responsibility in retirement. The scripture below-from Numbers 8:23-26- is the only direct reference to retirement in Scripture. Jesus, however, spoke indirectly about priorities without regard to age or stage of life. In the principles of Chrisian living I see both direct and subtle, and sometimes even obtuse and challenging references to use of time and all other resources, living simply, value of and participation in community, attentiveness to needs of others including across generations, thriving by allowing the fruit...
Joni Byrd: On Forgiveness
After pondering overnight on our conversation, I felt like I need to add a key component of how our enemy gains access to our spirit, mind, heart and physical body. One of the entryways he has is through the path of unforgiveness that we harbor. Much of the work of resistance that we are able to do alongside and led by God is the very difficult labor of identifying and addressing unforgiveness in our hearts and walking through the obedience of forgiving those by whom we have been wronged. If we fail to recognize the power of forgiveness, and our need to cooperate and choose it, and live...
Called to Small Sacrifices
There are occasions when small personal sacrifices are required by God to teach us what God’s agape love truly is….. Love has been described as “Investing materially in one’s neighbor…” That may include separation from some of one’s resources, effort, treasures, and especially one’s time and listening. These last two may be the most valuable and necessary to communicate agape love and the hardest to sacrifice. Is any sacrifice we are called to make truly small in the eye’s of God or the eyes of the person for whom it is made?
Evangelism V. Discipleship
Part of text conversations I had with a friend Me: (Sharing a reflection from another friend today.) “If your sins hang over your head, this message is for you. Micah 7:18-19, emphasizes God‘s complete and total forgiveness. It reads, "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of Your heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on you; He will subdue and tread your iniquities under foot. He will cast ALL your sins into the depths of the sea.” The...