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.
September NR Conference Take Away
Dear Friend, Sept 27, 2023 After two days now of reflecting on New Room, here's my story...... not one for publication for sure, but the truth as I feel God has shown me. This comes not just from my experience of Sister Pink Shirt, but also from a couple of others with whom I prayed in the prayer room. Maybe praying at NR just isn't my role ........ I think God allowing this head cold was a protective measure to postpone my reflection on NR for a few days. From awaking yesterday in my own bed and all day today God has been editing every clip in my mind and casting aside first...
When Values and Virtues Clash
Many have assumed that since the Dobbs case challenge and decision to return regulation of abortion to states that the issue is resolved. It is not. There are efforts to "enshrine the right to abortion", with no limitations, into the US legal code through federal legislation. “Enshrining” abortion in the legal code of our nation……. One might as well raise up Asherah poles and order worship of Moloch and Baal across the land……. There will be serious consequences for our nation. Such an abomination leaves the US with no moral authority to critique any nation’s persecution, genocide, or abuse...
God Will Bring Forth Justice
Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; In 1997, someone handed me a small piece of paper with the first part of this verse: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." I gripped it and clung to it in hope that the trial I was experiencing would eventually pass and I would have survived it. Only today, as I sat in the Seedbed.com New Room Conference in Houston did the rest of that verse register with me: "In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;". If that...
Jordan Peterson: Perspective On Suffering
Mining nuggets on suffering well from this by Jordan B. Peterson: "When you’re in hell, anything that lifts you out even a little bit, which stops it from becoming completely catastrophic, is a lifejacket that stops you from drowning. This realism about the causes and the consequences of suffering extends to the remedy. There is no all-encompassing, immediate miraculous fix. It takes time to transcend the hell that one can be dragged down to. It takes longer if the reaction to whatever the situation was or is has made it worse. It is worse if you’ve allowed yourself to be pulled down,...
Is My Life A Good Example or A Horrible Warning?
"Everybody acts out a myth, but very few people know what their myth is. And you should know what your myth is, because it might be a tragedy. And maybe you don't want it to be.” Jordan Peterson This reminds me of something I have said often to students: "God will use you. You will either be a good example or a horrible warning. It is your choice." You may choose whatever myth or narrative you like, but others will respond to you on the basis of how you live it out. If you are a horrible warning to others of what NOT to do, if your life is a tragedy.....you can change it.
AI v. Human
"What’s one thing you do that AI can’t do? Or two things? Or three?" Spiritual Director and Writer’s Coach, Charlotte Byrd Donlon, posed this question in one of her recent “5 Good Things” newsletters that she sends out. It was a timely and unexpected challenge when I read it. The reason it seemed so timely was because of something that happened over the weekend that helped congeal some thoughts in my mind when I read her question. I went to dinner with a couple who are friends of mine. One of them is an IT specialist with a large governmental agency who has worked in support of the...
Foundational Triangles for a Whole Life
"Triangles are very strong shapes which makes them important when building strong and stable structures.” The notion of an “iron triangle” resonates with me, just as it does when a child picks up one to tap out a rhythm for the first time. Thinking of triangles stimulates reflection on the lowest common denominators observed in formation of strength, stability, value, and cohesion. This perspective of a three-point structure is the same concept that appealed to me about Dr. Mark Ragins book on counseling and journeying alongside people with serious mental health challenges like addiction,...
For Parents with “Littles”
😊 A friend with 2 babes under age 2 posted the below the other day and I immediately remembered those days! It also still applies to our older babes, it’s just different triggers. For younger elementary kids it’s learning rules, starting real curriculum, being around so many new people, longer days etc. For my mini who’s adjusting to high school and adding HS sports to club soccer, it’s going to school the full day, sometimes x2 practices and then homework until 10:30-11pm. Big hugs! "From the diary of a 2-year-old: Today I woke up and wanted to get dressed by myself but was told “No,...
Attending GMC Ordination: Experience and Reponse
To: Cathy Sunday, September 10, 2023 Regarding first ordination of clergy by Alabama-Emerald Coast Conference of The Global Methodist Church at St.James Methodist Church, Montgomery, AL "I thought of you many times this weekend. Almost every one of us had a story similar to yours, ordination denied in spite of education, experience, passion, and calling. Well in truth, I stopped trying before I was labeled unworthy and unwelcome. But I knew. I knew I would never be approved by them while knowing absolutely that I was called and approved by God. Just as you were. Yesterday was very healing...
10,000 Reasons and Seasons
In the parable of the 4 soils, it was sowing seed in good soil that produced a yield. Today as we considered evangelism in our worship service, the pastor reminded us of the bible's promise of return on investment from witnessing to the power of Christ in our lives. "And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He noted that a hundredfold would a 10,000 percent return. That number, 10,000 , reminded me a song that plays in my head a lot: ,,,,,,You’re rich in love And You’re slow to anger...