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.
Iron sharpening iron….
Today I overheard a snippet of conversation between two gentlemen involved in our small group ministry. They were referring to that scripture from Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (NIV) I had been approaching them to ask one a question when I heard this and I said to them, "You know what happens when iron sharpens iron?" They looked at me and I continued quickly, "Sparks fly" (and I might have added that heat usually builds up, too). That has been my experience when two strong wills ("iron wills") make contact.I have often heard that scripture cited in a...
Joy and peace….
Have you noticed how often in Scripture the two words "joy" and "peace" are located side by side? Paul, in particular, is prone to place them adjacent to one another as an invocation or benediction in his epistles. As I was awaking this morning I was pondering the relationship between the two.Joi de vivre, joy of life. I think that is the essence of the abundant living that God had in mind to demonstrate for us when He stepped from His heavenly throne to dwell on earth in the person of Christ. When I think of His joy (Nehemiah 8:10b- "The joy of the Lord is my strength) I have tended to...
Bad hair days……
As I've thought more about Queen Vashti's refusal to come before King Ahasuerus, I've wondered if maybe she was just having a 'bad hair day'. Yesterday was one of those for me. I had needed to wash and set my hair night before last but didn't feel well and was just too tired to do so. (I am one of those relics that still actually prefers hair rollers to blow drying and curling ironing.) So yesterday I felt such self loathing due to the state of my hair, I impetuously called the salon and asked for a lunchtime appointment, which was available. I felt very self indulgent for doing that. Then I...
For such a time as this…
Our Wednesday morning group is studying the book of Esther. If you recall, Ahasuerus (AKA Xerxes) was having a rowdy night with the boys and commanded Queen Vashti to appear before them. She declined. (Any number of reasons can be inferred- among them 1.) she knew that to do so might entail being subjected to lewd and lascivious behavior given their then current state of inebriation or ,2.) she was pregnant perhaps with Artaxerxes, the son who would succeed his father and just didn't feel like it.) Anyway, having been rejected in so public a manner in front of his 'boys', Ahas now had a...
Feeling useful…..
I've been a member at my present church for about 8 years. I started teaching an adult Sunday School class about 6 years ago. One of the things I taught was the Willowcreek Network spiritual gifts class (three times). Now, finally, our church seems committed to a broadscale spiritual gifts curriculum and focus. I feel a little like a pioneer here. Several other people have come alongside me in this effort and we are all feeling like this is exactly what is needed at our church to really spur the growth of discipleship. Recently I had been bemoaning the slow growth of our small group ministry...
It IS all about me, sort of….
This is my first dive into the blogosphere as a URL blogger. I have been told by several people that I need this as an outlet for my opinions (because they're tired of hearing them, I think!) So, here goes....With regard to my blog name, discipler of self, it all began in a pastor's office in 1997, as my husband and I were considering a change of churches. I was sitting in front of the senior pastor of the prospective church and telling him what I hoped to find in his congregation......sound preaching from the Bible, personal spiritual growth, and someone to mentor me in my Christian walk....