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.
For Those Who Have Lost Beloved Pets
For all of us who have lost beloved pets, this is a treasure! As the author noted, "We don't know who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter department who understands." "Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her tha...t I thought that we could, so she dictated these words: Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? Abbey died...
Peacekeeping versus Peacemaking Part 1
Some mistake "peacekeeping" with "peacemaking". When issues of disagreement are ignored and hurt is left to fester, the typical response is to slap a lid on it and bury the problem, ignoring the injured party's pain. If that is done by the person/entity with greater authority, that person/entity is practicing "peacekeeping" through assertion of power. Such a practice is comparable to the UN sending in an armed peacekeeping force to restore or enforce peace through might. That is altogether different from peacemaking, which requires parties to sit down, communicate, and actually get to the...
Dreams and Ponderables
Some things I have experienced in my faith journey I believe are because I have been given the spiritual gift of teaching. Those experiences are not part of my own gifting, but the Lord has let me experience them so that I may teach people about them more effectively, with first hand knowledge and experience. What I write about today, though, is something that has persisted now for over 20 years and it seems to have become more refined over the years. While it is a "gift", I believe it is representative of the kind of intimacy that God desires to have with each believer. Many days I...
A Second Look at Power from “David and Goliath”
If you have ever faced long odds, been the underdog, or been afraid to move forward in faith, take a few minutes and read this from the Introduction to David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell: “But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 Goliath: “Am I a dog that you should come to me with sticks?” ` At the heart of ancient Palestine is the region known as the...
Perfectionism: The Glittering Demon or the Glittering Diamond?
Seedbed posted a weblog by David Hull this week entitled “Perfectionism: The Glittering Demon”. Hull works within the Inspire Movement in the U.K. and the U.S. assisting local churches to develop and implement the vision and practice of robust Wesleyan-style discipleship. Briefly, his perspective is that the culture’s focus leaves us striving to fulfill the “shoulds” of life, even within the church as much as within the culture’s sick consumer driven lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. “It is a misshapen and grotesque love-child that is born out of the marriage of a...
How I Discovered I Was Not A Leader
From the time I was in high school until I was nearly 40 I tended to rise to leadership in whatever endeavor I pursued. Highest GPA in high school, winner of a number of awards for academic and athletic pursuits, Little Sister of the Year in my sorority, president of League of Women Voters, president of Montgomery Ballet, president of Presidents’ Club, event organizer chairman, etc. But once my interests shifted from career, politics and civic activities to spiritual formation, religious activities, and personally satisfying relationships at 38, suddenly anything I put my hand to in...
“All your heart, all your soul, all your mind, all your strength….”
In Isaiah 1:18 the Lord invites us to “Come, let us reason together”. . 1.) “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 2.) “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 3.) “But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” So, it appears we are to reason together regarding the issues of sin and salvation (1), obedience (2) and rebellion (3), and the consequences of each (2&3). While it can be difficult to get two...
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...