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.
Moral Development- Micro and Macro Applications
Moral Development Theory and Practice in Discipling Individuals and as Revealed in the Broad View of Biblical History Cathy Byrd 3-18-17 In the character formation and spiritual formation work that we do at Titus 2, there is a process that we use that is designed to take those coming to us from the worldview of the culture in which they have been formed and in which they have lived and to transform their minds and hearts into a worldview that reflects the biblical Christian worldview. Not everyone is “all in” and others will...
Train, Discipline in Love or Dismiss?
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Recovery work with broken people is hard some days. There are occasionally rules violations of such egregious nature that our guidelines allow (though do not mandate) immediate dismissal. Such was the case yesterday with a very young, very immature, but very capable and bright young lady. It was a second violation in the same general set of rules. Thankfully, it did not involve substance abuse, but...
Thoughts on the UMC and Sexuality
Random Thoughts on The UMC and Sexuality 3/8/17 “While persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexual are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church. UMC 2016 Book of...
Thoughts on Persevering (Even When You Feel Like a Failure)
“It's been said that true freedom in Christ is when we have nothing to hide, nothing to lose, and nothing to prove. We have nothing to hide because Jesus has already covered our sin. We have nothing to lose because we are already committed to denying ourselves and picking up our cross in our pursuit of Christ. And we have nothing to prove because Christ has already taken care of it—all our sin and selfish ambitions, vain desires and self-glorifying dreams.” In Transforming Failure by J.R. Briggs...
Kindness as a Sacrificial Act
A decade or so ago I had a problematic relationship with someone in the workplace. After numerous conflicts that I seldom saw coming that always originated with this individual's opinion that I had done or said something which didn't suit what this person thought I should have done or said, I was exasperated and put this situation before the Lord. I prayed about how to handle this perpetually conflict-ridden relationship. One day in prayer I felt the Lord distinctly say, "Sacrifice." I was puzzled about exactly how to act on that instruction. I began with not just praying ABOUT my...
On Being A ‘Spiritual Midwife”
Seeing this picture on a friend's Facebook page reminded me that there was a morning last year when I was in prayer and I clearly felt the Lord speak to my heart the word, "Enough." That was all. It has not been that unusual for me to hear a single word from the Lord in my heart and mind in response to prayer. When the word from God is so brief, though, it is not always easy to know exactly what it means. That morning I was not sure what it was that was "enough." I was praying for direction in a particular matter and asking the Lord if I was to simply cease my efforts in regard to...
Mentoring Types
https://ed4hhs.com/blog/9-mentors-you-need Below are definitions of nine different types of mentors you should have in your life. Make it your goal to have these different types of people as part of your mentoring team to help you succeed. In addition, strive to fill one or more of these roles in someone else’s life. The rewards are tremendous! 1. The Challenger - Challengers ask the tough questions that help you analyze your situation realistically. 2. The Cheerleader - A Cheerleader is someone who will be genuinely happy for you when you succeed and who will cheer you...
Thoughts on Immigration Discussion
"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were once foreigners." (Leviticus 19:33-34) One pastor cited this Leviticus quote regarding how we are to treat immigrants. My thoughts are this: “Resides among you in your land," implies peaceful co-existence and a certain amount of adaptation to the adopted country. Repeatedly in Scripture foreigners who chose to live among God's people were expected to follow the same rules- i.e. observing Passover, observing...
Accountability and Spiritual Growth
Accountability is a key issue in community as lived and practiced at Titus 2. Those who cannot accept being held accountable and will not hold others accountable do not succeed in Titus 2. This article by Ashley Nelson has been adapted to the needs of our students, instead of as written for women in ministry, so that these points can be discussed with our students. I hope it helps others. 3 WAYS ACCOUNTABILITY ADVANCES THE KINGDOM OF GOD 2/1/17 (adapted for Titus 2 students from original article by Ashley Nelson at womensministry.net) We are not meant to walk the road...
Searching The Word
When I was a child, about six years old, we had a neighbor, Mrs. Ludlam, who babysat for my parents. My brothers and I would spend nights there from time to time with her. She was very attentive to us. She and I would sit on her sofa and play a "game". I would make a "wish", open the large Bible she had and we would search for the words, "And it came to pass"....Mrs. Ludlam helped birth in me a desire to search the Word. It was a silly game with a child and not very soun...d, doctrinally. But it helped foster an expectation that God hears our requests and that God is engaged with and...