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.
Effectual, Fervent Prayer of a Righteous Person…..
"......the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous person availeth much....." As I think about prayer, there are a number of things that challenge me. Keeping a prayer journal or prayer list, written or mental, of all of the prayer needs that cross one’s eyes, ears, and consciousness can be a challenge. I am grateful for the my own church's role in doing that for us, maintaining a weekly list of prayer requests, so that those of us who have asked to be on the list for prayer and those who are on the distribution list to pray for others can keep up with our congregation's members and...
The Art of Being Misunderstood
Margaret Manning of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries writes: "As a Christian, when I read the gospels I find that Jesus mastered the art of being misunderstood. He often asked questions rather than giving answers. Or he answered those who questioned him with parables or enigmatic exhortations that left his followers (and those on the outside) without even the smallest shred of understanding. Consider his remarks in the gospel of John as an example: I am the living bread which comes down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall...
What Experiences Inform One’s Faith and Practice of It?
What experiences in our lives inform one's faith and practice of it? And is it any different for clergy as opposed to laity? https://juicyecumenism.com/2016/03/03/episcopal-priest-underwent-abortion-to-finish-divinity-school-later-tanked-parish/ This is a disturbing report of a parish priest who had an abortion in divinity school in order to continue her career goals. As I read her report of her proudest accomplishments, it is enlightening to see that they include “fostering a loving, creative, responsible and fun community of faithful people.” Faithful to whom? Her or God? It seems...
Anger and Sin
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27 My penchant to rise to anger has given satan a foothold for sin many times (and not just in me, but also in those who found the anger distasteful or frightening) In observing Christ's anger and the bold and even physical way in which he expressed it, it is clear that it was righteously employed in defense of his Father's holy house and his brothers and sisters who were being short-shrifted by rank commercialism while they were trying to honor God....
Covenant- Incidental or Intentional?
What does being in "covenant" with someone mean to you? Answering one another's calls or emails? Being available to assist or provide guidance in times of need? Offering concerns about one another's conduct promptly? Being willing to help seek answers? Helping one another to gain understanding? Expecting the best of one another? Praying with and not simply for one another? Listening to one another? Shared values? When one believes that the other has not acted in harmony with the precepts of the gospel and attempts to ask why with no responses forthcoming, is it reasonable to think one might...
Shake It Off
Today in our Sisters in Christ Bible study on Acts, we were discussing how Paul was often well received at first, then had the Jews turn on him (not unlike the experience of Jesus himself in the synagogue in Nazareth and elsewhere during his ministry.). Several verses were discussed. Acts 13:50-52 (NRSV) But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their re...gion. So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. And the disciples were...
Boldness in Advocacy for Others and One’s Self
I have been an advocate for others for many years in one role or another, sometimes stridently so, some would even say bullyingly so, persistent to the very end when I believe I am on the right side of an issue. When called to speak truth to power (or even truth to "evil", in some cases) sometimes it seems necessary to put to use whatever power one has at hand with the truth and press forward as far and fast as one can. It is part and parcel of the personality God has forged in me to handle the tough-as-nails cases of women from the "streets" with addictive behavior that come to Titus 2, I...
“Come Unto Me” ….Then…. “Go Ye Into All The World” – The Role of the “Church” or “the church”.
Many times when women come into our program and are required to attend church, they are squeamish. One had an absolutely horrible panic attack the first time she walked in with me, she said she was afraid she'd be struck dead by God for daring to set foot in a church. Some feel unworthy because of their past conduct. Others have been spurned by church leaders or other "Christians" and are deeply wounded. As it has been described....they feel relegated to the status of "snot rag in the laundry basket of the church"....not fit for continued washing and use, but only to be thrown...
Poke and Jump……
Who do you trust? "One reason we rely so heavily on ____(a particular resource) is because (this person) is willing to question the status quo—and to acknowledge that he might not have all the answers." (from an article on a medical specialist who is posing new questions about the role of Epstein-Barr virus in a number of chronic maladies). Some people pose questions about why something has to be the way it is and poke around the edges or jump into the middle to see if there's another way to think about the situation. Others simply shrug their shoulders and accept without...
Do no harm……..
Greek philosopher Hippocrates has been considered the "Father of Medicine". His tenets have been embodied in the oath that new physicians recite upon graduation from education to practice of medicine. The Hippocratic school lists this as part of its instruction: "Practice two things in your dealings with disease: either help or do not harm the patient". United Methodist Bishop Reuben Job in his book "Three Simple Rules" reminds us of the simple philosophy of John Wesley, founder of Methodism. "Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God." Never has such guidance been needed more than...