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.
Descriptions That Indicate Degrees of Faith and Following Jesus
(12/2017 CBB) While all people may rightfully be referred to as “all God’s children”, there are a variety of descriptions in Scripture that make it clear that there are degrees of faith among people and certain descriptions that we show a progressive degree of relationship to God. Pagans, idolaters- Some do not know God- worship idols, “gods” God’s Children- Affirms all are created in His image “God-Fearer", Believer- "Ask", acknowledges belief in God Follower /Doer of the Word- Greater measure of commitment Disciple of Jesus Christ- ...
Sola Scriptura: Lived Out In One Life After Another
I know the feeling of my soul "soaring." It happens when I read something that positively clarifies my vision and hits the mark, expressing to my ears and mind things that I have felt but been unable to articulate. David Watson's book, "Scripture and the Life of God", is such reading. With every paragraph my soul is shouting, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" It rings with Truth and I get a higher and higher view of the way in which God has created me for Himself and revealed Himself to me through His Word! Throughout my life God has introduced new writers and powerful books at key moments that have...
Seeking Answers to Prayer
Transactional prayer= "help me" faith Transcendent prayer= "have me" faith From devotional at seedbed.com "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...
Bringing One’s BEST
Take care what you bring to the Lord in worship and service. Those who serve the Lord are called to submit themselves to the sanctifying work of the Lord. To bring less than one’s best of one’s all to God in worship and service, who Himself has given us His BEST, will be to risk destruction. As seen here in Leviticus 10:1-3. Those who would draw near to God WILL be sanctified. He will not tolerate disobedience and unholiness of heart, soul, and mind in his servants....... “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 25:14-28. Two very telling passages......Jesus,too, calls for a...
Counseling for Marriages or Pre-Marital
When Marriage or Pre-Marital Counseling Is Considered...…. As a new year begins people may consider ways in which they want to see their lives change in the year ahead. Some may be planning to marry this year and seeking pre-marital counseling. Existing marriages may be looking to address areas for improvement. If counseling toward addressing conflict or establishing improved intimacy in marriage for Christian couples is on the radar screen for this year, there are some considerations that may come up in Christian counseling: 10 Critical Questions to Ask in Marriage Counseling by Jeremy...
Constructing a New-Life Soul…..
A graphic look at the operation of grace in our lives. I was reading a Seedbed publication, This Is How We Know. that we used this last spring for a Lenten study. I was reviewing it before I move into Lent next month.... On page 128 I saw this again: "Many of us prefer to stay at the threshold of the Christian life instead of going on to construct a soul in accordance with the new life God has put within. We fail because we are ignorant of the way we are made, we put things down to the devil instead of our own undisciplined natures. Think what we can be when we are roused!" (A quote from...
As Light To Darkness….
January 21, 2020- Today's Seedbed Daily Text from Psalm 119:105 reminded me of how God had used this verse to speak to my heart about not getting too far ahead of his plan..... His Word is a "lamp unto my feet", useful for each next step as I place one foot before the other in walking according to his guidance. Then, it is a "light unto my path", useful to hold up to see a little further along and anticipate and avoid obstacles that might be just ahead. It is not a spotlight to the horizon to give me all the answers I might desire before I decide if I will move forward. Furthermore, It is...
Psychosis and Pot….. Stewpot for Mental Illness
For years I have observed the regular use of marijuana (THC) in teens escalate into paranoia and then into full blown episodes of psychosis, resulting in diagnoses of bipolar disorder and other chronic mental health problems. The casual attitude about the use and abuse of THC, often sanctioned by parents who are also using THC or other drugs, is reducing the executive decision-making capacity, diminishing ambition and drive, and setting teens up for a lifetime of functional mediocrity or even incapacity. Alex Berenson's sobering expose' article and book about the connection between mental...
Reflection on The Singer
Zephaniah 3:14-17 14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. 16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. 17 The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” I have been pondering music lately. All of...
Live into Both- God’s Transcendance and His Immanence
https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2019/december/shibboleth-most-significant-missiological-issue-in-north-am.html?fbclid=IwAR3UhbYe3GbLnOxnn4JodIyDngS03eXjgoGsqcvVYNaDE8gMhLHUVOQ5Szk https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2019/december/shibboleth-most-significant-missiological-issue-in-north-am.html?fbclid=IwAR3UhbYe3GbLnOxnn4JodIyDngS03eXjgoGsqcvVYNaDE8gMhLHUVOQ5Szk Spoken from a missiological view to people who care for such issues, but you can't miss the bottom line.... obedience. "In his manifesto of Kingdom culture (the Sermon on the Mount), Jesus articulated in one...