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.
Lamenting Prayers
I heard Tera Beth Leach preaching on laments by God’s people and I remembered my own recently written response to Covid from early last year to now. In a lamenting prayer I wondered what lessons we were to learn from this pandemic, violence, and division as a nation, as a community, as people of God… I'm not sure the world or any nation or any institutions of man, even the church, can learn the lesson God intends for us in this. I think we have to learn one by one what response we will make to it all.... in the end that's all any of us can control-our own response to the circumstances around...
On Suffering
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Something shared in social media by a friend and worth remembering; . “In Gethsemane, the holiest of all petitioners prayed three times that a certain cup might pass from Him. It did not.” C.S.Lewis Not my will, but Yours. Amen. My observation: I realized that the Apostle Paul, who also asked three times to have a “thorn in the flesh” removed, found his prayer answered with the promise of the...
Reflection on Psalm 51 and the Heart of Transformative Change
Psalm 51: 7, 10 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow…….. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” This Scripture is the memory verse for Step 7 in the Twelve Step study that we use with women at Titus 2. Today I was considering these verses as a young lady and I discussed this Step and I had these thoughts about it: This series of requests for cleansing by the Psalmist depicts a familiar pattern in Scripture…..a progressive movement. The first phrase, “Purge me with hyssop” suggests...
The Nazarene – Designer Original
For those fasting and praying today, consider this; Nazarites were to be OT examples of holiness in the world. They were to live by a strict set of rules and be an example to the world of righteous living. Some performed that role better than others. When they were filled with the Holy Spirit of God , they were used by God to accomplish great things. But the Holy Spirit in the OT did not dwell forever in an individual and one did not necessarily know when the Spirit was present or was no longer with him until the consequences of bad decisions made it clear they had been left behind because...
Poetry: The Last Ride Together by Robert Browning
Robert Browning poem introduced to me by a student at Titus 2…… so wistful and beautiful and leaves one hoping that their ride truly would go on into eternity…….. sigh. Thinking of Bill today. The Last Ride Together I. I said---Then, dearest, since 'tis so, Since now at length my fate I know, Since nothing all my love avails, Since all, my life seemed meant for, fails, Since this was written and needs must be--- My whole heart rises up to bless Your name in pride and thankfulness! Take back the hope you gave,---I claim ---Only a memory of the same, ---And this beside, if you will not blame,...
Not The Mark of The Beast
I hear people talk about the enemy’s plan as being represented by the Covid vaccination and its genetically engineered technology. The enemy, no matter how he comes at us, is no different now than he has ever been. And his favorite tool is fear….. Nevertheless, I trust the Creator’s steadfast and loving redemptive sovereign healing power. I take medications and vaccines, as needed and recommended by my own medical providers. At a point I was in dire distress in a hospital years ago, I told my nurse I would take a new medication prescribed for a serious illness but that I trusted God to do...
Pattern and Designer Original
Nazarites were to be OT examples of holiness in the world. They were to live by a strict set of rules and be an example to the world of righteous living. Some performed that role better than others. When they were filled with the Holy Spirit of God , they were used by God to accomplish great things. But the Holy Spirit in the OT did not dwell forever in an individual and one did not necessarily know when the Spirit was present or was no longer with him until the consequences of bad decisions made it clear they had been left behind because of unrighteous living. God’s Spirit sought out...
Light of the World
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. “Psalm119:105- A lamp (like a small lantern) is carried in one’s hand and gives illumination to the immediate next step on the path to assure sure footing and to avoid an immediate obstacle - like a hole or a limb or a snake in the path. A light unto my path is a larger illumination - like the moon’s shining light that gives illumination to be able to see the path’s direction a little further ahead. Both the lamp (like the personal intimate inner light of the Holy Spirit and the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, who lights the path...
Sourcing Paul’s Knowledge of Fruit and Trees
As I have pondered the God-breathed words of the NT, red-letters and black letters, I have realized the beautiful harmony of ALL of the Bible…… how Jesus Christ’s knowledge, understanding of and obedience to the OT “Law and Prophets” could only have been accomplished by him BEING the Living Word of God whose Holy Spirit is imbued in every word of the OT. Therefore, Jesus Christ’s life and everafterlife witness to the truth of the OT gives life and breath to the His Own Holy Spirit Presence in the NT, as well, bringing all to fulfillment. When we can see the beauty, majesty, glory...
Fig trees, Vineyards, Curses, and Parables…..
Just pondering this morning... "The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored" Proverbs 27:18 I have used this article on The Mystery of the Bad Fig Tree by Erin Gieschen as a conversation starter in classes about Jesus’ emotions, particularly his anger, as part of our program’s Emotional Literacy class. But today, as I read this key scripture in Proverbs 27:18, I was curious about whether or not the writer of the article on the mystery of the bad fig tree had included this OT reference to guarding a fig...