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.
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood
One thought that Mr. Rogers said in the movie to the reporter with whom he was interacting in conversation about the reporter's relationship with his alcoholic father who had abandoned him.....as they sat in the restaurant and had a time of silence to be thankful for the people who had made them who they are, even the people who failed to love us well, contributed to who we are. That is true. We learn as much from those who have hurt us as from those who have loved us well, it seems..... what not to do, how to avoid hurting others, how to express love and empathy out of the wounded places in...
Surrendered Listening
Simplicity, Solitude, Silence, Surrender......movements in prayer that place one in a posture to be present to God. I heard a new concept last week - "surrendered listening". I've heard "active listening" for years, you know- focused and attentive, with eye contact and listening with intentionality to hear clearly what someone is saying, even behind the words and through their posture and demeanor. But as I heard the phrase "surrendered listening" - an entirely new idea occurred to me. I think I've actually done some "surrendered listening" at times without realizing it. But now that I have...
A Time for Everything and Every Season…
After asking for prayer for a friend I shared some of our story together. I have been Power of Atty for nearly 2 years for a 93 yo woman widowed 3 times before age 40 who has no family. Her only child was brain damaged and after the second husband's death she was at a loss to provide all the care the son needed alone. Through miraculous circumstances he was placed in a family setting in a children's group home facility 60 years ago and she was told that continued contact would confuse him and would not be in his best interest. She has loved the Lord, served others and been an inspiration to...
Happiness Vs. Joy
Happiness is a temporary, transient state dependent upon the circumstances in which one finds herself. Joy is a growing consistency of positive emotional well-being, that transforms into an eternity-minded state of being, that incorporates the peace, gratitude, and contentment that comes from feeling secure in and loved by the Lord. That's how I've experienced the difference. One can have temporary happiness without true joy, but when one has true joy, happiness will tag along as it's sidekick and positively impact one's outlook on life and countenance and attracts others to itself.
Integrity Lost, Boundaries Blurred
One day after a Color Vibe 5K event with Titus 2 women, I was washing out bright yellow, blue, pink, and green colored corn starch from my hair and skin. And, as one would expect, instead of being a swirling rainbow of individual colors (like the flowing distinct colors of a lava lamp) as it washed off, what the water in the bathtub looked like was a yucky color of dull, dark grey as it flowed down the drain. I looked at that and thought, "Wow. I'm glad that the colors didn't mix like that on my clothing or body and turn that yucky color!" What looked bright, colorful and fun on the surface...
Writing For One’s Own Joy
It happens from time to time, as it did this morning.....someone comes up to me and says, "I read what you post on Facebook" (often with an encouraging additional comment). Mostly they are names I rarely see on a comment or "like"....just silent readers. One said to me, "I don't post, I just lurk." That's okay. I don't write for the number of "likes" or the comments or the followers.....I write for me....I used to write in countless blue ledger-style journals (tucked away in an antique trunk). When I began weblogging in July 2005, I found less and less satisfaction in writing with my ink...
Purpose of Memory
Jordan B Peterson on The Purpose of Memory: "People think that the purpose of memory is to remember the past. That's not the purpose of memory. The purpose of memory is to extract out, from the past, lessons to structure the future. That's the purpose of personal memory. So, you're done with a memory when you've extracted the information that you can use to guide yourself properly in the future. If you have a traumatic memory, for example, that's obsessing you, if you analyze that memory to the point where you figured out how you put yourself at risk. You can determine how you might avoid...
Importance of Doctrine
From a post 11/15/2014.... "And if they ever saw your heart, they'd see too much.....You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His......You're beautiful....... Listening to WOW Christian mix on ipod and reading some of "The 40 Most Influential Christians Who Shaped What We Believe Today" (Daryl Aaron). "The Idea of development of theology or doctrine is not wrong or dangerous; rather it is to be expected. It does NOT involve expanding on Scripture, that is, going beyond it; The Word of God is sufficient, meaning God has given us everything that we need to know (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Rather,...
Contemplative Prayer
Posted after contemplative prayer classes in 2014.... ".....discovering the work of Fr. Thomas Keating as I have learned about Centering Prayer in a women's prayer group. "The Silence that is sheer is-ness" ....just learning to be quiet and be with the Presence. "Holy Spirit of God, Who is present in our inmost being, fill us with your gifts. Lead us into silence, quietness and peace. Heal the wounds of a lifetime. Take away those desires that are earthly created and grant Your gift of wisdom, Your goodness, Your truth... This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, who expresses in infinite...
Room To Grow
Abraham Maslow said that humans NEED peak transcendent experiences with the divine for becoming their fully best selves..... how sad that Western institutions lopped off the top part of his "hierarchy of needs", omitting spiritual transcendence, and leaving only the other 5 aspects of human development as necessary and normative: physical, intellectual, emotional, moral, and social ( all six of which are implied in Luke 2:52:"... and Jesus grew in wisdom ( intellectual and emotional) and stature (physical and moral), in favor with God ( spiritual), and favor with man (social). We do grow...