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.
Stones of Remembrance
This is a stone from a field on the homesite where my maternal grandfather's family lived in Barbour County, AL. I had discovered the significance of "standing stones" ( also called "Ebenezer"- stone of help) during a study 15 years or mor...e ago by Ray Vander Laan - Crossroads of the World (Part of the Faith Lessons from the Hold Land series) that I led for several years at Lynn Haven UMC. When significant events happened among God's people, they would set up stones or piles of stones as memorials to mark God's work in the circumstances. In 1997 Bill and I were in the midst of a severe...
Doubt to Faith
At age 29, in a rash and impulsive moment, I did something totally out of character, a biggie, as in willful violation of one of the Big Ten, something that my background of being raised in the church said would send me to hell. I was angry, confused, and passive-aggressively acting out. Of course, I didn't realize all of that at the time. It would be quite a few years later before I would understand the motivation for my behavior. When I "came to my senses" the next day and realized I had not immediately been struck dead by a wrathful bolt of God's punishing lightning, in a moment of...
Orphan Hearts
Recently, I was talking to someone in ministry and he referenced marginalized women as being among those who often have "orphan hearts". The thought made me wince with a note of recognition and pain......a heart that feels abandoned and without the nurture needed to feel safe and secure. We were talking about how God draws near to rescue and adopt those with "orphan hearts." The following brief post was on Spiritus Monastery's site and reminded of our conversation: "You are not alone. You are not orphans. You have not been forgotten. That stubborn voice inside of you that comforts you, that...
Bonding Together Under Persecution
In writing about the controversy that has erupted within The Gospel Coalition, leading to the “departure” of Billy Graham’s grandson, Tullian Tchividjian (pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church), Read more: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/...peterenns/2014/05/tullian-tchividjian-the-gospel-coalition-and-a-rather-obvious-theology-problem/#ixzz32ukoG8ms Mike Mayo comments: “I look at these movements as more "empire builders" than gospel advancing. One of the most effective ways to attract more participants/members is to provide a common enemy. A lot of fundamentalist churches I've attended use...
Not Perfect……
Has anyone else noticed how many Facebook posts show up with pictures and platitudes that seem to be excusing people for not being "perfect"? Some are humorous. Some are poignant. Some are combative. There are plenty of various types that almost everyone can find one that they "like".John Wesley believed that people could actually aspire to "perfection in love" in their lifetime. He believe...d that people could be pure in their hearts' motive so that they could be free from intentional sin though admittedly there might be times when it might be possible for them to do or say something...
TED, Teddy Bears, and the American Family
I have become a fan of the these short informational videos by TED and subscribe to the daily TED offerings. This one is about the story of how the teddy bear became an iconic child's toy in America and how the ethos behind the story reflects changing cultural notions about conservation. The section on the toy manufacturers' effort to promote a Billy Possum in the presidential administration after Theodore Roosevelt's is hilarious! I have been reflecting this week on the disastrous cultural status of the American family.....Charles Stanley and Lori Little have partnered with a new Bible...
Pitchers, Practical and Fun
I like pitchers. I must have 18 or more of different sizes and types. These two are favorites that get used daily. The green one is a quart size. I discovered that I can take two Crystal Light 16 oz. serve pouches and mix flavors- raspberry and lemonade or orange and white grape or tea and peach- and get refreshing drinks each day to enjoy! The other one is pint sized and I use it to fill the coffee pot each morning. It sits on a tray that holds all of the coffee fixin's. Both of these were vintage treasures found at an antique/flea market in Dothan, AL on a shopping trip with my bestie,...
Battles Conceived in the Mind, Fought in the Heart
Some weeks seem longer than others and harder due to the amount of physical labor that is part of the week's tasks. Others just seem long and hard as the hours are consumed with what feels like endless mental thrashing as one battles darts and arrows that seem to come from elsewhere but actually probably are forged and aimed from within one's own mind. The heart feels it the same, however, wheth...er the assault arises from within or beyond. Thank God, that the mind and the heart have their defense......the strong Word of God ....that both counters the attack of the mind and defends against...
Musings by a Christian Educator
Have any of you noticed how certain Christian teachers seem to sort of "join one in the journey" for a while, based on where the road is presently leading? When I was a very new Christian, it was Dr. Charles Stanley. Every time I heard him preaching, it felt like he was talking directly to me. God would use object lessons and often times the same specific Scriptures repeated in multiple contexts... over the course of a week or two to reinforce the lessons I was learning. I wrote his ministry a letter one time about that and got a very kind response saying that they hear that often from...
Stewardship of One’s Time Worksheet
A way to think about stewardship of one's time: Comments are welcome on this worksheet exercise for evaluating and setting some goals for tithing one's time to kingdom building activities- either in "works of piety" (personal spiritual formation and cultivating one's relationship with the Lord) or "works of mercy" (service to others-individuals, community, or church). For those who have not yet trusted God to provide if they tithe 10% of finances, offering an option to tithe 10% of their time may be a good place to start moving into a lifestyle of tithing. For those who tithe their financial...