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.
God Created and Ordained Families
Psalm 68"May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;may his foes flee before him.2 May you blow them away like smoke—as wax melts before the fire,may the wicked perish before God.3 But may the righteous be gladand rejoice before God;may they be happy and joyful.4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,extol him who rides on the clouds;rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,is God in his holy dwelling.6 God sets the lonely in families,he leads out the prisoners with singing;but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.7 When you, God,...
God Seats Rulers
There are many who believe and trust that God intended each person who sits in highest political authority in our nation to be president simply by virtue of the fact that he is! It could not have happened otherwise. That is indeed indicative of God’s sovereignty over humankind. The question becomes, “why godless and evil leaders are allowed or chosen by God? Throughout the Bible there are references to good leaders and to not-so-good leaders…all of whom God placed in authority FOR A REASON. Sometimes as a good example, sometimes as a horrible warning. God's purpose for placing any individual...
Haunting Memories
Voluntarily Face What Haunts You "If you have a memory that is older than about eighteen months, and it haunts you and comes up involuntarily, it produces a stress reaction. What does that mean as far as your nervous system is concerned? As far as your body is concerned, that danger has not gone away. And what is happening is an unconscious alarm system that is looking for pitfalls and holes. It is warning you that the map you are using is incomplete in a manner that might enable you to fall into the same hole. One of the things people can do that is very useful is, if you have memories that...
God’s Revelation of Himself
A social media poster observed; “God could at any point reveal himself if he exists, but we will be quick to explain why he won't or can't. Why is that? Who designed this God myth? Was it God?my My reply:But he does. It’s not a case of seeing is believing. As Christ said, “if you believe you will see the glory of God.” I have heard His voice and His laughter, felt His Presence, been comforted in grief and strengthened when afraid by His Spirit. I have observed His redemptive work in situations for which there was no other explanation but the hand of God, seen answers to prayer, including...
A Day In The Spirit
CBB. 1/30/26 was truly a day in the Spirit…….starting with an 8 a.m. class discussion with recovery students about dreams, one that was even a visual preview that appeared exactly aligned with the lesson I was about to teach! As I had gotten in the car Gridsy morning, thinking I’d teach the same class as Thursday night’s class at the Mission’s women’s class on internal and external recovery assets, a brief reference to the Holy Trinity observed on social media the previous night came to mind and I thought about something I had written on understanding the Trinity through a metaphor a few...
Infant’s Sleeping Smile
I’ve stood by your cradle and watched you Dream your silent dreams. Empty they are of a language But filled with humor, it seems. So recently from His hand you’ve come The two of you still share A private thought between you That makes a smile your prayer. 5/24/73. CBB
Four Tools In Pursuit of Wisdom and Truth
Seeking direction by using 4 tools for theological reflection in pursuit of wisdom , truth, and unity: Scripture- the "North Star" or polar true north, a means of beginning to orient oneself to pursuit of truth for a Christ follower Reason- a God-given spirit and soul endowment God invites us to use in engaging with Him, this can be viewed as an illuminating Source when engaging with Scripture and provides balance. The "South Pole" of the four points…firmly a straight vertical line under Scripture when God is present in it and worth little when God is not… Tradition- the accumulated,...
Surprising Factors in Longevity
From my social media posts 1/28/2023: After my serendipitously free iced decaf latte experience yesterday I visited with an elderly lady, Ms. Bernie Shotts, I see once a week to help with a few tasks that have gotten beyond her. I helped her pay some bills, took her to the bank and to the pharmacy. When we finished at the pharmacy she asked, “are you in a hurry?” “No,” I said. “Is there somewhere else you’d like to go?” “Can we just go for a ride?” she asked. “Sure. Where would you like to go- downtown, out in the country, or to the beach?” “To the beach,” she said. So we headed out Hwy 98,...
Incomprehensible vs. Incomparable Love
Following is part of a sermon on Advent themes-hope, peace, joy, and love- that I wrote 12/6/19… as I have been pondering on how diversely, narrowly and even incomprehensibly some define "love." "Consider Love. What do we know about the love of God? 1 John 4, verses 8 and 16 tell us that “God IS love”. Ephesians 3:18 tells us that we must have the power that comes FROM God to even begin to understand “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”1 John 4:10 reminds us that love originated with God and because He loved us, we desire to and are able to love Him in return. In 2...
Jonah and the Sign of Jonah Revisited…..
1/28/26. CBB Our Sunday School class at Christ Methodist Church Montgomery, AL, has been digging into Jonah. This morning as I read, I was struck by how Jonah knew God’s sovereignty over all circumstances AND he knew God’s goodness, compassion, mercy, patience, and lovingkindness. He was thankful for those things for himself. He also seemed fine with God showing mercy and compassion on the sailors. In spite of them having worshipped other gods, they came to know the true God through Jonah’s witness. He was willing to witness to them about God and to sacrifice his life so they could live....