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.
Inheriting the Earth
Our Almighty Heavenly Abba Father owns all the cattle on a thousand hills (and everything else). He tells us that the meek will inherit the Earth (Matthew 5:5). That means that when we are submitted to his will, listening and attentive, when we are teachable and pliable in his hands, making ourselves available to be used by him for his purpose and plans, we have access to all of the resources of his kingdom. Just like a child who inherits her parents' estate, we will have 'inherited the earth." His resources are then our resources. Whatever is needed for us to accomplish his purpose we will...
Season of the Fig Tree
Jesus tells a story about a fig tree, using it as a way of telling what season it is. We read this story in the Bible in the gospel of Matthew. It says: “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.” Matthew 25:33-34 This is a fig tree. Let’s look at it. Jesus said look for the tender branch. And he said Look for the new leaves coming on it. When you see those things you’ll know summer is near. This is the first week of May. We can see these signs on this fig tree… so according...
Happy Birthday, Daughter
51 years ago today I prepared my bag to head to the hospital for the delivery of our second child, Charlotte Ann. It had been an anxious pregnancy. I remember her birth as clearly as if it were just last week……the doctor, the nurses, the coldness of the room, their quiet voices, Bill in the waiting room ……until she began to have difficulty with the umbilical cord around her neck…and her heart rate began to decline. The doctor said, "Stat, heart rate going." Then there were quick, efficient actions and sharp commands. I observed this from a place that seemed to not even be a part of the...
Remembering Hurricane Michael Recovery
These thoughts remembered once again from April 29, 2019, 6 months after Hurricane Michael, a devastating Cat 5 Hurricane transformed eastern Bay County and Gulf County along Florida's Panhandle Coast…. The Congress’ delay in approving relief still reminds me what a partisan and ineffective Congress we had then and it seems to continue tomthis day. CBB 4/29/2026
Responsible Immigration-Policies and Proof
Over the period of 2 generations my own family has had a hand in sponsoring 4 families’ applications for U.S. citizenship based on their presence and participation in our own lives and local communities. They were from Mexican, African, and Caribbean origins. We were required to pledge our financial resources to participate in their sponsorship. But because we knew them and cared about them, we knew it really was not a risk at all. Additionally, our family enjoyed exchange students’ time in our home from Brazil and Germany. It has provided our children and their children a life-long sense of...
”As A Child…”
Jesus said, “ you must come as a little child……” This post on Substack was so touching: “The other night before bed, my 4 year old daughter asked, “Mommy, did you know that Jesus lives in my body?!?” Her eyes wide with excitement. “Really?” I asked. “Yes, and we talk to each other. I say something and he talks back. Watch.” She closes her eyes and says, “I love you, Jesus.” Pause. A grin spreads on her face. Her eyes open, “He said, ‘I love you, too.’” “Now you try, Mommy.”By Janet Carlisle on Substack Recently, a 51 year old woman, finding a personal relationship with Christ in recent...
”Just Give Them The Word.”
Speaking of Ephesians….. A pastor friend, Buddy Pennington writes this account in his weekly blog for small church pastors (https://brotherbuddy.org/letter-46-revival/) “The story is told of a pastor who was impressed by the Holy Spirit while preparing for a Sunday morning service to simply read the entire book of Ephesians to his congregation and then to open the altar for prayer. The following Sunday morning, when it came time for the sermon, the pastor asked everyone to open their Bibles to Ephesians Chapter 1, Verse 1 and to read along silently as he read aloud. When he completed the...
Sufficient for Every Need
Something to remember. "In Gethsemane, the holiest of all petitioners prayed three times that a certain cup might pass from Him. It did not."C.S.Lewis Not my will, but Yours. Amen. Cathy’s note: I just realized that Paul, who asked three times to have a “thorn in the flesh” removed, also, found his prayer answered with the sufficiency of God’s grace without having it removed either. Paul wrote several times about identifying with the suffering of Christ. This is certainly a way in which we can identify with Christ’s suffering ….. when our will must be yielded to the will of God, and instead...
Having Placed My Hand In His
Thank you, Dottie Wilson for these words…and thanks to God for giving me a vision this morning! “God isn’t preparing you for an ordinary life but one that will impact not only you but those around you. Your weakness is not an obstacle to God‘s power. When your pain is greater than your capacity, the Holy Spirit translates your heart to God. When you understand, you are being prepared for victory, pain gains meaning, waiting gains purpose, and struggle gains significance. You are not being diminished, you are being expanded. You are not being broken, you are being strengthened. You are not...
The Years of Joy in Walk to Emmaus
From FB post-2/5/22 For the first time in a long time I was reminded this morning of my 25 years of involvement with The Walk to Emmaus as I participated in an online devotional conversation where the topic of individuals' experience with that renewal movement came up. I pulled away from involvement in Emmaus after my experience with pursuit of deacon ordination in The UMC. Some of the individuals I'd encountered there in clergy roles had shown me a side of the " connection" and "discipleship-making" that suggested more talk than walk. I no longer felt comfortable inviting lay people to live...