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.
2020: Review
shared on FB 7/8/2020 Don’t know who wrote this but it’s a great laugh...and who doesn’t need a laugh right now? Long read but worth the laugh😉. #😷or⚰️ Dear Diary 2020 Edition, In ❄️ January, 🔥 Australia caught on fire. I don’t even know if that fire was put out, because we straight up almost went to war with Iran 🇮🇷 . We might actually still be almost at war with them 🤔. I don’t know, because 👩 Jen Aniston and 👨🏻 Brad Pitt spoke to one another at an awards 🏆 show and everyone flipped the crap out 😲, but then there was this thing happening in 🦇 🇨🇳 China, then 👑 Prince Harry and Megan...
Parables: Minds Upset
One of my very favorite devotional writers- Jill Carattini always challenges one to think! And one of my favorite topics....the revelation of God in Christ! Minds Upset Wherever one might be in declarations of belief, God is so often not the God these declarations expect, and often it is shocking to discover it. God comes near and offends our sense of understanding; God affronts our categories and overturns our sense of familiarity. Jesus of Nazareth does the same; quite particularly so in the language of the parables. With his stories, he offends the believing and unbelieving, disciples,...
Death: poem By William Cullen Bryant
So live, that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan which moves To that mysterious realm, where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. William Cullen Bryant.
Parenting Wisdom from Gov. Mike Huckabee
A Blank Book of Pages The first school in which we enroll, and the most important in shaping our future, is our home. A casual view of modern TV shows might lead us to believe that parents don’t matter. I contend that nothing matters more. When Benjamin West was a boy, his mother left him in charge of his younger sister, Sally. Benjamin found bottles of colored ink and painted Sally’s portrait. When his mother arrived home, she discovered spilled ink and ruined paper. But before she had the chance to scold Benjamin, she saw the picture. Then she planted an encouraging kiss on his cheek. He...
Social Holiness: Habit of the Heart
I described myself in a social media setting as as "molded by Wesleyan theology, love the Word and Spirit, believe social holiness arises from personal holiness and am called to spread scriptural holiness to the world." I was asked what's the difference between "social holiness" and "social gospel". Good done on behalf of others & the world that leads to peace & enables one to persevere in hardship (Matt 5: 9-10) resulting from merciful & pure hearts born of hungering & thirsting for righteousness (Matt 5: 6-8), faithful devotion to God & obedience. Social holiness is a...
Loving The Lord With My Mind
"Luke Timothy Johnson said once that expecting folks to fall in love with scripture through the historical-critical method is like expecting someone to fall in love with someone via autopsy." From Father Everett on Twitter Dissection and examination may lead to discovery of facts about the kingdom of God but it won't draw one into relationship with the King. I was a nit- picker of Scripture in a critical kind of way for years.... confused by things that appeared to be conflicts or contrary to what a "good" God would do. I finally got it through my culturally-clouded, stiff-necked, stubborn...
Beggar’s Cup
Shared by a friend, Deborah Anne Holstine, 7/6/2014. Worth repeating. "Hold the empty cup in your hands. Look at all the room the cup has for filling. Picture the inner part of yourself. Notice how much room there is for filling. Hold the cup out before you in the gesture of a beggar. Ask God to fill you."
Experiencing God’s BEST Daily
God's place...God's time....I visited with a couple of families with members having surgery this morning and decided to have lunch at the hospital cafeteria, which I have never done before while on such a mission. I had on my LHUMC clergy name tag. A volunteer from the ER sat down across from me to eat and when he saw my badge, he asked me if I had time to meet with a young man from out of state who had brought his girlfriend into the ER last night. I found him and we visited in the Chapel. He's a recent new believer. I visited with her, too. When I sat down she said, "I knew you were...
God Delights In Me.
The Lord says to us in Isaiah 42:1, "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight." God takes great delight in you. You give Him great joy. He finds pleasure and satisfaction in your worship and praise. And your obedience brings a smile to His face. Love Him today with all your heart. After all, every day His heart is full of love for you. - This reminder was observed today in my morning devotional from Joni Eareckson Tada. Such words are wonderfully sweet. Would that all would know the sweetness of feeling delighted in by God! All may..... Consider today that you are...
Priesthood: Believers, Pastors, Christ
"A sacrament is a sacrament even if the materials are less than perfect. One may prefer the best bread for the Eucharist, but the worst will still serve the purpose. One might prefer, with the ancient directives of the Didiche, to have cold, running water for baptism, but standing water will do. One would be glad to have the best possible priest in every sense of the word standing at altar or font to preside at these sacraments, but we can participate fully in the sacred rites even with a sacramental priest who is far less than perfect." - William Countryman, Living on the Border of the Holy...