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.
When “affirmation” becomes a dirty word….
The word "affirmation" has been presented in some contexts in a way that makes it appear downright negative, implying unhealthy neediness and codependency and a lack of personal self-worth......The need for affirmation is a legitimate human psychological need. If one's need is a compelling urgency to have the approval of or identification with others, at the risk of compromising one's own values, integrity, and personal agency, that is not affirmation. It is idolatry.Proverb...s 25:11 The Message (MSG) The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise...
Unwanted Gifts
Today, the day after Christmas, is the second biggest shopping day of the year....and the one in which many gifts are being returned to stores. This blog post reflects thoughts that came after reading Jennifer Rothschild's devotional today, "How to Accept A Gift You Never Wanted". One TV network has had a special segment this morning on how to effectively return gifts to stores, sell them on eBay, or "re-gift" with grace. So soon after the euphoric delight of Christmas and reality hits! You don't always get what you want. Jennifer Rothschild, who was the Hope for the Heart speaker at Lynn...
Christmas Gift
So many things remind me of my Daddy. Last night, Christmas Eve, I watched some of the music program from West Point. It was beautiful. Couldn't help but think about how proud Daddy was of his time spent there as an instructor to cadets. He had a cousin who worked there for years, too. The general in charge asked him to stay on there as an instructor, but his Dad had died and he wanted to be home with his family. He was always about family......Fond memories of being in his Mother's home as a child at Christmas time....all the cousins, aunts/uncles, presents, cakes and other food, laughter,...
Happy Thanksgiving Day…..make some memories!
I saw a comic strip the other day that showed a Thanksgiving Day family dining table scene from an earlier era, circa 1950 ....15-20 people gathered happily around a large table laden with various dishes and everyone smiling and talking. The next scene was a current day Thanksgiving Day scene. Dad, Mom, son and daughter were all seated on a sofa, each looking at their electronic devices...no conversation.....no dining table. No fellowship or fun. Hmmmmm.....What will the conversations be about at your table tomorrow? Bill and I had an interesting drive to Birmingham today. I drove. We left...
Many Are Called……
I have been thinking about the number of youth in our church who have expressed a desire to explore vocations in ministry. I have also reflected on how many are already in seminary or serving as licensed local pastors who have been "raised up" in our church. This linked article and my thoughts about the ways in which our church leaders are called and formed may be of interest if you have an interest in these matters. Cathy There’s More Than One Way…..CBByrd 11-25-14 http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/seminaries/called_to_ordination_in_the_hi.php This link to an article, reprinted recently in...
Convictions, College Campuses, and Grandchildren
Mike Adams is an educator, columnist, and activist for free speech on university campuses. I have read his columns from time to time on Townhall and was mostly interested in them because of his transformation from atheist to Christian. Reading his current column about Cru (formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ) is informative. Adams notes that Cru failed to stand up for free speech when its campus ministry was adversely affected by university decisions. He further states that Cru's leadership failed to stand in unity with him and other Christians in seeking freedom of speech when...
Monday Morning Musing …….on Grandmother
Monday Morning Musing I left home at 5:15am to pick up a young lady for work. On Monday morning she cleans the kitchen and bathrooms in a facility that gets a lot of weekend use. She cleans them again on Wednesday. It is an easy and appreciated transition back into employment for someone who hasn’t been employed in years due to despair and addiction. And she is quite dedicated to cleaning well, “as unto the Lord”. As I drove through the darkness and rain to pick her up, my thoughts were about my grandmother. As children we laughed at her going to bed shortly after dark, “with the...
Four Musicians
Four Musicians In the past week I have been privileged to hear the unique musical styles of four musicians. Last Monday evening at Celebrate Recovery, Kyle Paxton shared his testimony of faith in Christ and how he came to possess a beautiful hammered dulcimer. He showed artwork that represented his imaginings of heaven, played the dulcimer, and encouraged us with his witness to Christ’s presence and faithfulness in his life. I purchased a CD of his music and have been enjoying it this week. At times it sounds like piano. Other times it sounds like guitar, brass bells, carillon,...
Post Acute Withdawal Syndrome and use of medications in recovery
The article below on Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome makes some interesting points. One observation by counselors at Titus 2 is that many who come to long term recovery from detox feel badly for quite a while. For many it may even take two to three months to feel “clear” in their heads, experience improving memory and focus, and start to feel better. Often, too, however, they begin to feel physical symptoms that have been masked by their drug use like dental pain, joint pain, back pain, headaches, and more. This can cause distress, even depression, for those in recovery as they struggle to...
Treating Depression as a Co-occurring issue in Addiction
Allow me to editorialize about the reported new policy of a local recovery program of not allowing even commonly prescribed SSRIs for depression to be used by their clients in recovery.....This is, in my opinion, unfortunate and unnecessary and will lead to more people being unable to access needed recovery help. Is this a move to improve "success rates" to one's reported goal of 80% in order to secure more corporate and community financial support or is it a religious dog...ma that denies the power of God to use medical science as one of many means of grace and healing? What is the...