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.
Healing Tradition of the Church
The Church has a tradition rich in healing power.....Jesus exercised it in a very specialized way, "laomai". It is one way in which therapeuo (healing) is accomplished. And healing is a part of salvation (restoration). Saddleback Church is planning its second annual conference on "Mental Health and the Church." Last year's conference sessions are available on You Tube. Some of us at Lynn Haven UMC are ministering to sick and hurting people in a variety of ways and have... the opportunity to do even more through the power of Christ! In intercessory prayer, in counseling, in lay pastoring, in...
Using What’s Close At Hand
At DIG this week we talked about activities in which we engage to find COMFORT, UNDERSTANDING, or RELIEF in our lives. Here’s the list we made. Add others that you think of! Companion animals Prescription medications People who listen and help us gain perspective Relationship with God Sense of fulfillment, productivity Accomplishing small goals Completion of tasks that leads to feeling empowered Sleep Chocolate or other comfort foods- flavorful teas Being in the Word Soothing bath, hot tub Music Movies Reading Taking a drive in country, especially in pleasant weather...
Courageous Patience
Today’s Sunday School lesson on Knowing and Following the Will of God was on the topic of “Wait.” This, without a doubt, was the hardest lesson of the 12 part series. James 5:7-11 “Courageous patience” 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the coming of the Lord. Consider the farmer who waits patiently for the coming of rain in the fall and spring, looking forward to the precious fruit of the earth. 8 You also must wait patiently, strengthening your resolve, because the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Don’t complain about each other, brothers and sisters, so...
ENTJ -Personality or Purpose
I was never a big fan of Personality Theories. They seemed just a little too cute, concise, and predictive in a world that seemed to be anything but cute, concise, or predictable. Over the years in various educational and corporate settings, I have undergone testing using several personality typing schemas. The most common and widely referenced personality typing system is probably Myers-Briggs. Recently I have had several counseling professional friends reference my ENTJ personality, recognizing it from their own study and work with MB typing and empathizing with me in my sense that I...
Firsts, Lasts, and Always
Today marks a landmark in our family. Our oldest grandchild, dear sweet Catie Byrd, is settling into her college dorm room at Mercer University, five hours away. She and her parents left yesterday with their and her cars loaded down with all the accoutrements necessary for her living away from home. I know that the most important things she will need for this new chapter in her life are not in the boxes and bags in the cars, however. Those things are within her…….faith in God and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, quality education, creativity, passion to serve others, confidence...
Wish Lists
Over the years, working with women and families in conditions of poverty has been enlightening. I hesitate to say “dire poverty”, because “poverty” is a relative term…...Consider the poverty of people in Third World communities who lack clean drinking water or indoor plumbing, who daily are at risk of such life threatening conditions as cholera or ebola, who lack the opportunity to get even basic education, or who subsist in refugee camps on cots or floor mats and eat the same grain-based mush day after day. Those conditions define “dire poverty” in my mind. I cannot even imagine how I...
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions….A Testimony of Faith
Testimony of Cathy Byrd- August 2015 Decisions, Decisions, Decisions…… This summer our church has been blessed to hear the personal faith stories of pastors and members through sermons and videotaped testimonies. Each believer has a precious and personal perspective on his or her relationship with the Lord. And it is an evolving story with a red thread of salvation and purpose. What a joy it is to hear the grace and truth expressed in each person’s story as that thread is woven into the bigger tapestry of God’s story unfolding for all humanity. My own story and journey of faith has been...
What Gifts?
This morning as we talked about stewardship of our time, talents, treasures, and truth, we detoured into a brief discussion of spiritual gifts….Someone asked what about the “gifts” of disabled/handicapped individuals …..Downs, autistic, cerebral palsy, etc…..What is their function in the Body of Christ? It was not a mean spirited question, simply a part of the conversation. We talked about gifts of mercy, compassion, and understanding. Many times we take things, including the blessing of physical or mental competence and independence, for granted until we are called to a higher level of...
Now and Later…..
There was a series of television commercials that featured sports figures and others who had just completed a win or accomplishment in which they were asked, “What’s next for you?” The answer was, “We’re going to Disney World!” Last week, with receipt of the approval letter from DCF, and after months of work toward the certification as a Faith-Based Exempt Substance Abuse Service Provider with the Florida Department of Children and Families completed, Titus 2 program manager Cathy Byrd took a few days off and traveled with three grandchildren to Disney World! It was a welcome...
When The Lord Shares His Thoughts
A friend and I were talking recently about sudden “insights” that come out of seemingly nowhere, but which she and I both acknowledged knowing are from the mind of God. It can be somewhat disconcerting to suddenly know something that you have no reason to have known or even considered. It just pops in apparently out of the blue. You may try to shake it, but that only seems to make it more persistent. And pretty soon the circumstances are likely to begin to point to the things that God has spoken into your heart and mind. It brings the reality of God involving us in his purposes very...