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.
Ancient Paths of Spiritual Life
1/19/2021; The ancient Fathers and Mothers of our faith taught 3 stages of growing in Christ: Purgative- the first stage of recognizing, repenting, and separating from the world and the things that tempt and keep us in bondage to sin. Illuminative- the second stage of studying the Word, being in the midst of believers, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Unitive- the third stage of living consistently in Christ, experiencing close communion with the Lord, and serving out of a heart of gratitude and obedience. “...the bulk of our hearers must be...
Transcendent or Transactional
Journaled 1/18/2020 from Seedbed Daily Text: Transactional prayer= "help me" faith Transcendent prayer= "have me" faith "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. It is tempting to read this text at a transactional level. If I do this then God must do that. If I stay close to God and God’s Word then he will have to do whatever I ask of him. I do my part and God does God’s part. Something within our fallen and broken humanity wants to hold a claim on God. We must learn to read this text, and indeed the whole of the Word of God, at a...
Using Rokeach Value Survey
I use a tool called Rokeach Values Survey as part of our intake assessment at Titus 2.... it is sometimes very revealing and holds a mirror in front of women that they have difficulty looking at... If one says she believes "A" about herself, values things that are consistent with "A", but acts in a way that is consistent with "Z", then a condition of cognitive dissonance is established in her soul..... she is inauthentic, not true to herself and certainly not honest with others.. She says she believes one thing, but her conduct contradicts it. One cannot hold two opposing positions...
Hats and High Tea
Sweet memories.... 1/21:2018 A friend shared on Facebook: "There is a great article in the News Herald about the Titus 2 recovery program for women. This program is faith based and supports women dealing with substance abuse or other issues. Yesterday Messiah Lutheran Church held an English Tea to benefit Titus 2. It was a beautiful day and the ladies were humbled and thankful for the outpouring of love! If you would like to know more about this program please contact me."
Eyes To See The Light
From 12/22/2017: A Christian testified in a meeting about God's work in healing her vision. Interestingly, a Christian teacher who was present added that there had been several instances of healing eyes in her ministry recently. This past weekend in Sunday School a teacher had been talking about God and LIGHT. In noting that light brings clarity and reveals what could not be seen in the darkness, it was observed that when Saul (Paul) saw the LIGHT of CHRIST on the Damascus Rd., he was immediately blinded. As I thought about that experience of Paul whose physical eyes were blinded by the...
Neither Borrower Nor Lender Be
Through the years I've been asked to "loan" money to people knowing full well that they were not likely to repay it. Not large sums.....a power bill here, some gas money there, a Christmas layaway final payment, partial rent payment, etc. I kept their IOUs in my wallet until recently. From time to time I'd see them as I went through my wallet for one thing or another. I bought a new wallet recently. I threw out the old IOUs instead of transferring them. They had served as a regular reminder not to "loan" more than I was willing to give. It keeps one from developing a hard heart or from...
Sister-Friends
A friend used the phrase "sister-friend" in recent correspondence. It reminded me how my middle granddaughter called her big sister her "sister-friend" when she was 3, such a sweet endearing title that has continued to reflect their closeness through the years. In her case, she took her sister into her heart as her friend. In my case, my friend and I have taken each other into our hearts as sisters. I think it is a good description for special relationships, whichever way they arise. 1/23/2016 There are some few rare friends who, even though you may go months without seeing one another,...
Check Our Motives
From: Judy Klug (2016) Check our motives Philippians 1:15-18. "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, and sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.” Meditation: All of us have...
Immersion Reading Like Learning a New Language
JD Walt in today's Seedbed Daily Text devotional likens immersion reading of scripture ( in contrast to extraction reading) to learning a new language. Responding to today's SDT on the Scriptures as "language:" One cannot disconnect the New Testament from the Old Testament or one verse from another. It comes to life in our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit of God in us only as we embrace it in its entirety and begin living obediently to God in it. "The fascinating thing about language is how it is so vastly interconnected and interwoven, producing what we might call a stunningly coherent...
Judgment and Justification
Ecclesiastes 11:9 "Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. ......... YET....know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things!" A serious word of caution that few of us heed. One thing about living a long life, we have the time and hopefully the wisdom, as well, to begin to see the ways in which God has already both judged and redeemed us for the follies of our youth in following "the impulses of our heart and the desires of our eyes" (the lusts...