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.
Why A Snake?
2/16/26 I was looking as Facebook post memories and the one below popped up….. 2/16/23 CBB Perhaps why satan is portrayed as a snake in the garden????? Interestingly, as Dr. Curt Thompson talks about brain development, he describes the initial neurological development in humans as "reptilian"….it is the basic. elemental "lower" brain stem that controls autonomic reflexes- breathing, heartbeat, etc. and establishes our ability to survive physically. The tempter in the garden is described as a reptile. He appeals to the basic "lower" instincts to survive, to control one's own safety and...
”I don’t feel worthy.”
2/15/26. CBB Today in church, Wendy Askew, who does children’s ministry at Christ Methodist Church-Montgomery, shared about a time she was talking to children about the feast in heaven. She was having them imagine being in heaven at the feast, what they would be eating, who would be there. how they would feel, what it would be like to be at the table with Jesus.One little boy said he didn’t feel worthy to be there. She told of feeling the little boy’s pain and telling him that none of us are worthy. We all have done things that made us feel sinful, but that’s why Jesus came and died on the...
Forgive Myself?
I’ve told more than a few students at Titus 2..,. There’s lots of places where we are told to come to God in repentance, knowing he loves us unconditionally and ask for and receive God’s forgiveness. Likewise, we are to love and forgive others. But I can’t find any scripture that says I have the authority or ability to forgive myself. I need to humble myself before God, receive his mercy and forgiveness and be a conduit to extend his mercy and forgiveness to others. Forgive others as God has forgiven us. It is in truly knowing God and understanding the fullness of Christ’s sacrifice that we...
Exodus as Transition Metaphor
2/15/2020. CBB May I just say this metaphor offered by my friend, Deborah Ann Holstine, is RICH!!!! It is a beautiful biblical exercise in visioning one’s own transition from victimization and bondage in sin to victorious living in Christ! We use Bridges’ diagram on “managing transitions” to help women understand how to walk out their life recovery goals. This IS the Twelve steps and managing transitions as viewed through the long lens of the story of the people called ‘children of Abraham” ….. the chosen of God. And it includes all of us! “Consider telling the story of your life up till now...
Silence In Heaven
2/15/22 CBB The lame beggar and others by the pool waited and listened for the sound of angels stirring the water, hoping to be the first to respond and to receive the blessing of healing. Such is the way in the world. Always some waiting and listening for a sign and competing for God's favor…. But a time is coming when the angels in heaven will be silent….. themselves listening and waiting…… Mark Creech in an op-ed in The Christian Post this week writes: "Starting in Revelation 6-7, and the start of chapter 8, the Lamb of God, Christ, opens the seven seals of the scroll given to him, which...
No More Sitting Ducks
2/15/21 CBB ……. speculation is often the same after the fact. Any number of excuses might be applicable. But none of them are a good reason. “We still don’t know why he did it.” Because he’s shown a pattern of sadistic animal torture and killing?Because he’s a wounded, mentally ill child?Because he’s never gotten the help he needed,?Because in our culture some people are deemed “throwaways”?Because our culture tolerates and celebrates “diversity” that includes thuggery and terrorism?Because we’ve banned all teaching and celebration of godly virtues and lifestyles?Because evil is real and...
Change Demands Change
2/15/2024. CBB "The cross you died on positionally must be the cross you live on personally every day. The truest test of whether you are surrendered to the Lord comes in times of personal defeat. Our pride says, " Rise up and fight! " But the Spirit says," Surrender and live." Job was assailed with great calamities and never rebelled against God. Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong, Job 1: 21-22. In the midst of his trials, a prayer of surrender was uttered on his lips. You too can do this by beginning each day with a prayer of surrender." Lord, I surrender my life to You. I choose to...
Necessary Hard Conversations
2/8/2020. CBB THIS WOULD BE REAL SOCIAL JUSTICE PEOPLE….IF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHAMED, MOLESTED, AND ASSAULTED INNOCENT CHILDREN WITH THEIR PORNOGRAPHIC CONDUCT AND SEXUAL MOLESTATION OR ASSAULT HAD TO FACE A PANEL OF ADULTS AND THE VICTIMIZED CHILD AND HEAR WHAT THEIR CONDUCT IS DOING TO THE CHILD AND TO SOCIETY!! IF SHERIFFS WON'T ARREST THEM AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS WON'T PROSECUTE THEM, SHAME THE HELL OUT, OF THEM AND MARK THEM WITH A SCARLET LETTER UNTIL THEY STOP THIS ATROCITY AGAINST CHILDREN! I CAN NAME A FEW NAMES AND START RECRUITING FOR THE CIVILIAN SOCIAL JUSTICE PANELS, PEOPLE! I saw...
What Interests God
CBB 2/8/2020 You may never know…..sometimes when a needed item appears at "just the right time" by some mysterious means from an unexpected source, it builds faith and demonstrates that God does care about the smallest, seemingly most insignificant things. But anything needed by God's people is of interest to God and God is pleased to meet that need through his people in ways that just defy "circumstance"….Instead of "it just so happened", it's more a matter of "as God would have it." I have seen that several times in just the last couple of days. It doesn't even surprise me anymore when it...
On Repentance- Henry Cloud
CBB 2/8/22 Wisdom from Dr Henry Cloud ("Boundaries") "Repentance means someone has had a change of mind about their behavior and shows it by changing direction. They turn around and do things differently. Their turnaround may have missteps in it, but you can usually see whether someone has changed or not. If someone is really sticking to the plan and fails and then repents and gets back into the plan, be patient. If repentance has no change of direction, go back to setting limits. You can be patient with some things while they are being resolved without giving the other person freedom to...