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.
The reason I’m here….
....at this lakeside home was renewed again this evening with the setting of the sun. It was a spectacular sunset, with a beautiful view right out the middle window of our sunroom, across the lake. We had spent all day working in the yard and pulling aquatic trash out of the lake that has over grown with grasses and weeds since the lake hasn't been drawn down for two years. After the refreshment of late afternoon showers and a Chinese takeout dinner, we were both achy and moaning about the amount of work that is required to keep up the yard. Then the sunset caught our eyes and we remembered...
Doggie update…
Ginger and JJ returned home with their family when all were reunited. A week later they were back again when the family was reported and fined for having pets in their apartment. So.... they came back again to our house but soon found an accomodating home with a family who'd recently lost their family pet, a dachsund. I am glad to have played a foster mom and adoption counselor role!
Doggie tales….
Our two little chihuahua guests have settled in and seem to be thriving. A local veterinarian has agreed to take care of spaying and neutering them for free. We'll get them current on their shots. A non-profit pet adoption service has agreed to assist in finding them homes. And I'm told by the service volunteer that chihuahuas are in demand because they fit so nicely on an owner's lap! So.... our experience as foster parents to two little displaced doggies is proving to be positive. I feel sad for the two little girls who've had to give them up. They're the ages of our two oldest...
Displaced Doggies….
Domestic violence is hard on everyone, including the pets of children. Tonight I have two small canines camping in my sunroom in a crate because two adults couldn't live together in a civil manner. Now the mom and children are in safe shelter, Dad's who knows where, and these little canines are wondering what in the world is next. Come to think of it, I'm wondering what in the world is next, too.Every day brings surprises......some pleasant, some annoying, some just sad. That's life.
Busy as a bee…..
Next week marks the mid point of this term in graduate school. I'm putting in hours at a local day center for homeless persons. It's sort of a social work triage center. The case workers there have to be prepared for almost anything on any given day- mental health issues, employment needs, access to medical treatment, veteran's and disability benefits referrals and assistance, substance use, abuse, and dependence, clothing, food, emergency and transitional housing, etc. - you name it, they've probably seen it. It's rather exciting and challenges one's resourcefulness. I'm awed by the contact...
The beginning of the end….
I'm into the second week of the next to the last term of my graduate work. This term includes an onsite practicum. It took me over two weeks of effort at first one agency, then another, to secure a practicum contract. Last Thursday, with the first week's classes already behind me, I was still struggling to identify an appropriate, qualified site. On Thursday I called a retired doctorate counselor friend, whining to her about my struggle. She listened while I bemoaned the closing of one door after another in this process. She said that she herself would supervise me if it were in her power. I...
Addictions: Habits of the heart and mind…..
For several years I have taught about 1 John 2:16 where John says "all that is in the world - lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life....". As I have contemplated the various temptations that plague humanity, it does seem that every one can be categorized into one of these three.1 John 2:16 says that "all that is in the world is:- lust of the flesh: physical pleasure, indulgence of physical appetites- lust of the eyes :covetousness, desire to have possessions or the power that they offer- pride of life: desire to be prized by self, God, or others above anyone or anything...
Entering the home stretch….
For two and a half years I've been involved in taking one online class per semester from Columbia College's eChristianEducation program in pursuit of certification as a Christian educator with the United Methodist Church. I am half way through the final semester and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've begun work on my final paper which is due the second week of May. Four more conference calls and two more units of online work and I'll be submitting my application for certification designation to the UMC Global Board of Ministry!Also, for a year now I've been taking two on-site...
Making allowance for each other’s faults….
I am a subscriber to the daily Purpose Driven Life devotionals and it just so happens that Pastor Jon Walker is today addressing the same thing that was on my heart yesterday as I wrote about "Extra Grace Required" people! So I'm sharing his devotional with you.2008/02/26Making Allowance For Each Other’s Faults-by Jon Walker http://www.gracecreates.com/ Purpose Driven Life Ministries“Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2b NLT)The more we understand, the more patient we become.When we see the hurt beneath the anger, or the...
On being an EGR….gracefully
Rev. Rick Warren has added yet another regularly used acronym to my vocabulary....."EGR", thanks to his use of it in his wildly successful Purpose Driven Life book. An "EGR" is an "Extra Grace Required" person in one's life whose manner constantly works on your patience and forebearance with the same result and annoyance as fingernails scraping on a chalkboard. You know the person(s) in your own life who is your EGR. In fact, Rick Warren suggests that every circle within which we move has an EGR and, if you don't know who that EGR is among your acquaintances and friends.....it's probably...