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.
Life Change
Four years ago today, on August 23, 2018, I had written about feeling God starting to move or redirect me again.... 2 months later hurricane Michael had ripped our entire community out of our familiar places and routines and set us on a long road to recovery, followed by the fearsome COVID-19 pandemic that hit us on March 2020. My life has changed dramatically CBB 9/17/22
Identity Issues
".....some of the most common problems troubling people today, including identity concerns, attachment issues, and addiction...." This was part of an invitation to a webinar on Christian counseling. "Identity concerns"...when life was simpler and people had to go to work even before they finished high school and were on their own pretty quickly in life, identity issues weren't so problematic. People had to figure out who they were and what they were going to do in order to survive relationally and economically. Erik Erikson's human development schema said that the primary task of adolescence...
Heaven’s Math
In April 1997 during a season of extreme stress, I began what I called my "experiencing"... it was an intense period of spiritual awakening, accompanied by a degree of confusion that got worse until one day it was made clear to me that I was experiencing both holy and unholy spiritual influences. It seemed that God, who was very present with me, was teaching me discernment between the two. It was an education in "testing" spirits in the Word of God and in keeping with what it says about His character to determine the truth and true source. During those weeks I kept feeling pressed by...
Love Or Holiness
When asked which is more important , God's love or his holiness, my response is as follows: God's holiness is a function of His particular kind of love, in my opinion. Even though he loves steadfastly and unequivocally, because he loves, he also disciplines and that means setting limits on fellowship. When we are unrepentant in sinfulness, he will withhold the joy and intimacy of his fellowship and communion until we repent, confess, and are reconciled to him. Love without discipline is indulgence and does not bring holiness. Discipline without love is a legalistic demand that exacerbates...
Spiritual Fruit Vs. Spiritual Gifts
“The gifts of the Spirit are not meant to give us a short cut to maturity. One of the dangers in the Church is we expect the gifts of the Spirit to quickly do what only the fruit of the Spirit is meant to do slowly.” -Rich Villodas Strait: (of a place) of limited spatial capacity; narrow or cramped. close, strict, or rigorous Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there ... 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7: 13-14 A close...
Driving Courtesy
Driving today in moderately heavy after-school traffic- Me: (out loud to the driver of the red car in the center lane) I see your signal. Come on in. I'll give you space to merge into this lane. (as several other cars zipped right by her.) Student: You always do that. That's one thing I've learned while I've been here. LOL! You never know what example you might be setting without realizing it. Maybe we need to add driving courtesies to the life skills curriculum along with reading food labels and proper food storage! from 9.25.2016
When I Have To Preach
From 9/14/2016 I'm sure if one is called to preach, there must be a passion and equipping for preparing sermons since one would be expected to do that every week. Preaching is not my calling, although I find myself asked to do that from time to time. My call is to service, teaching and acts of compassion and justice. So, the thought of being assigned a scripture from which to prepare a sermon for video taping and evaluation is a bit intimidating, especially since I've never had a class in preaching. Tonight, however, as I read the four offered selections I was surprised to discover that the...
Knowing……
Some individuals who know a level of spiritual maturity and dependence upon God that mark their walk as what the ancient church called The Unitive Way…….. following the childhood and youth “spiritual growth stages” of The Purgative Way and The Illuminative Way. The Apostle John referred to these three stages in 1John 2:12-14: “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 14 I write to you,...
Suicide Survivor’s Tattoo
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month ….. As I talked to a young woman in some seriously tough circumstances, I held her hand and saw this tattoo on her forearm……. I asked her to tell me about it it. She replied, “It’s a suicide survivor’s tattoo .” I said, “you’re a suicide survivor? When was that?” “Many times,” she said. Are you experiencing suicidal thoughts now?” “No,” was her reply. “It’s an interesting statement of overcoming, the three chevrons. It speaks of courage in battle,” I observed. “A sargeant’s rank,” she replied. We talked further about her past, as well as her present...
End times: God’s Next Move?
From 9/12/2017 "Wildfires across the northwest, earthquakes in California and elsewhere, hurricanes in the southeast, crazed dictators threatening nuclear missiles, the constant threat of terrorists, wars and rumors of war, reports of epidemics of antibiotic resistant TB and a hepatitis outbreak in San Diego, and now overwhelming swarms of gnats in Philadelphia......It's starting to sound rather biblical and apocalyptic. We're watching daily to see what's going to happen next.......and are grateful for salvation and the promise of Christ's presence with us. The sun will come up tomorrow and...