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.
When People Refuse to Accept “No”
I was in a conversation with a family member of a woman in her late 30's who is seeking recovery for the first time. This person observed that the woman has gone through a series of bad relationships. It has been a pattern for her since her teen years. It is sad to observe how common that pattern is. And, when one finally decides enough is enough, it can take several efforts at recovery to get it right. That process itself can take another 2-5 years or longer. Seven or so years ago a woman sought recovery help. Her brother was a psychologist in a large urban center out of state. An...
In the Shepherd’s Care
Sermon for Carillon - October 8, 2017 The Good Shepherd Hear the words of the Lord in John 10:11-18. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have...
Redeemed…Restored
I have been to court a number of times for a variety of reasons....to receive court ordered clients into recovery, to testify regarding someone's progress in or completion of a program or court supervised case plan or probation, for a custody or parental rights hearing, and other reasons. But recently I had a first. A year ago I had sent a letter to the Governor and Pardons and Parole Board of another state on behalf of someone I have known for quite a while. I was able to testify in the letter to the individual's perseverance in recovery, integrity, accountability, and other factors that I...
Water From a Rock……..Twice
Message October 1, 2017 Carillon Beach Community Chapel “Water from the Rock” Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7 17 Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us...
Family, Secrets, and Guilt
"Audre Lorde description: “Guilt is not a response to anger; it is a response to one’s own actions or lack of action. If it leads to change then it can be useful, since it is then no longer guilt but the beginning of knowledge. Yet all too often, guilt is just another name for impotence, for defensiveness destructive of communication; it becomes a device to protect ignorance and the continuation of things the way they are, the ultimate protection for changelessness.” .......... Confession—raw, authentic confession—opens us up to forgiveness, which is not only alleviating, but redemptive....
“White, Attractive, Feminine, Anti-Feminist”…..Smearing With a Broad Brush
I, like many other white conservative women, have been lumped in with the "alt-right" white supremacy Nazi remnant for our choice to vote Republican. This article by Nicole Hemmer is rich with reasons why I reject the efforts of those who choose to paint with such a broad brush. Nicole Hemmer's, article, linked below, in my opinion, exemplifies the liberal assumption that any acquiescence to being different or having different roles for men and women who choose to live according to a faith-based traditional system that honors and promotes marriage between a man and a woman inherently means...
“Instrumental” and “Terminal” Values……Grasping for Help
My car is back in the shop today for some of its 140,000 mile service after a quick oil change and airbag warranty service yesterday....It's 2006 Honda Element I've had 3 years and it had 53,000 miles when I got it. The service rep said, "You drive a lot of miles!" Uh, yes. And that's only part of the miles involved in ministry, as we also have a Titus 2 car that is used a few times a week for the women to all go to church 2-3X a week and to the grocery store and occasional other needs. Each trip on that vehicle is logged and closely accounted for and all of the students know that it cannot...
Feeling Like Nicodemus………Or Pulling One’s Self Through a Black Hole
Absolutely, one of the most wonderful things about my life is sitting in my office with a student and watching her begin to open up, a tiny little crack forming in the hard shell around her mind and heart, as we talk and I share Scripture, respond to her questions, teach her about the process of spiritual formation and human development, describe the ethical basis and values of our program, show her the humanness and divinity of Christ and the virtues he exemplifies in the Gospels, teach God's ways of working among his people and how change occurs and progresses as one yields to the...
Seeds Landing On Rock
"I believe almost any tree can grow out of a rock, given the right conditions. I've certainly seen enough of them. In my part of the world, I've seen just about every type of tree doing this. Generally the seed must find a little nook to become established, with water and a little soil. The root will break the rock apart, allowing the root to find the soil underneath or behind the rock." Joy Keiffer, author of The Garden Journal .................................................................................. Sometimes I feel like an arborist trying to cultivate fruit trees in rock. Or...
When Your Child Asks About Family Heirlooms
Question from my 42 year old daughter: I'm wondering if you can help me with in the next couple of days. I'm working on the essay I started a couple of years ago about the quilt Granny Boyd made that you gave me. I know you don't know much about the quilt. Can you tell me a bit about Granny Boyd? What are your memories of her? Do you have any memories of seeing her working on quilts? If not, what memories do you have? I recall seeing Granny Boyd quilt regularly. She and her sister, Oma Carroll Threatt, quilted often at Granny's house. ...