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.
Nothing is too small for God’s interest…….
I have written several times about shoes. This past week I had to face the fact that a favorite pair of slide-on sandals needed to be relegated to "junk-shoe-kick-about" status or thrown in the trash. They had been a daily and Sunday all purpose shoe. So I reluctantly put them by the washing machine in the laundry area to use when I need something on to take out the trash or walk to the mailbox. And I set out for the mall to look for a replacement pair, realizing that I would probably have to accept something less in terms of preference and something more in terms of price. I expected to...
Wonderful Counselor…..
I have always loved the section in the Hallelujah chorus that quotes Isaiah 9:6b "And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." The way in which it is sung suggests that "wonderful" and "counselor" are two different names, but as one reads the punctuation of the text in the New American Standard Version, there is no comma and so it is read "Wonderful Counselor". I had framed a small prayer and put it on my desk when I began in counseling a couple of years ago. It beseeches the Counselor to be present in the words that one...
Watching God work……
I have often been surprised by the way in which God works things out. There are times when His way is so unexpected. That has been the case recently as I have watched Him work out discord between two people. I knew that I was not in any way to be an instrument of reconciliation in the situation and had some time ago given it over entirely to God, knowing that if reconciliation were to happen, it would absolutely have to be by His hand and according to His timing. It is such a privilege to see God work in the situation, and within some of the most unexpected circumstances, little of which...
Foundations class……
Saddleback Church has published a DVD curriculum called Foundations. It's 11 DVDs with 4 sessions per DVD on various basic Christian doctrines. I am enjoying facilitating a class that is using the curriculum. Most everyone is a new Christian and they are really in need of these basics of the faith. Such a simple concept. Such a rich resource. I wish I could interest more people in it.
Living like there are unlimited tomorrows….
At 56 years old, I'm living my life and making plans as if I have plenty of time to realize the goals I'm setting. Just a few days ago I was talking to my husband about something in our home that we'd had a while.....25 years to be exact. As soon as I realized that and considered how quickly those 25 years seemed to have passed, I thought about where I might be 25 years from now......at 81 years of age. I teach a Sunday School class where many of the members are over 80. They are active, cheerful, vital people.This week our ladies at Bethel Village will be hosting a lady, Vicki Dees, also in...
Universe expanding…..
I've read before that our universe is in the process of expanding, everything moving outward from the center and enlarging all the time. Now I have a close, first hand experience of that myself.Just over a week ago our son and his family moved from thirteen hours away to just across the street. It is a dream come true! And all of a sudden our lives are very much enlarged with the prospect of more expansion all the time! I find myself noticing things more.....the fruit juice pops on the end cap at the store that suddenly will be eaten at my house. I never would have noticed those before or...
A renewal….
For the last six weeks our church has been working through a spiritual growth campaign that our staff designed and implemented.....RENEW: Connect, Grow, Serve. This weekend is the grand finale, which we called cityREACH. Today about 400 of our church members fanned out across Bay County and participated in a variety of service projects. I was team leader for a group of 20+ family volunteers at Bethel Village, the women's addiction recovery program where I work. Our volunteers filled Easter eggs with candy, assembled and wrapped Easter baskets, picked up pinecones, raked straw, and planted...
A grandmother’s dream come true….
This week we have learned that our son, daughter in law, and their three children, who had told us a few weeks ago that they were moving to our community, are actually moving across the street from us! They've had an eye on that house for a couple of years, actually, given the current housing market. Now it's going to be real!We are imagining what life will be like with family dropping in, Sunday lunches together, spending time by the lake with the kids, and so many other fun times to come. I could never have imagined that this would have been possible in years past. Having a son who works...
Taking a breath….
The last time I posted I was just beginning the second semester of seminary classes in my candidacy for deacon. Reading for the class, which has 5 required texts, has occupied much of my free time. Now I find myself at mid-term, having turned in my mid-term exam and taking a few days of respite from the reading. It's spring break in Alabama and we have grandchildren visiting. The last month has been especially challenging, personally and professionally. We are moving closer to the groundbreaking of the new, larger Bethel Village program house. I have been contemplating what the new and...
One down, ten to go…..
I completed my first semester of seminary courses required for deacon candidacy two months ago. The second semester began today with a course on the history of Methodism. It'll go until early May. Then summer semester will begin. I can only manage one course at the time due to all the reading required. The duties of my two jobs prohibit me biting off more than that. There are moments when I think, "What am I doing this for?" Then I think, "Not what, but whom.....for Christ." I do feel that I am called to, and indeed, am in ministry already. This additional work is equipping me for......what?...