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.
Marginal Mindfulness
I participated in a continuing education online webinar today on addiction and "mindfulness". Here are some definitions from some who practice and teach it: Rick Hanson- “the practice of knowing what’s happening in the mind without getting hijacked by it” Shapiro and Carlson- “the awareness that arises out of intentionally paying attention in an open, kind, and discerning way…the nonjudgmental, moment by moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and surrounding environment” Jon Kabat-Zinn- “resting in the moment…living your life as if it really matters, moment by moment by...
Counterfeiting Gifts
I have had quite a few conversations this past two weeks about the gift of tongues as a result of writing about one young lady's experience of it in two different venues and with two very different outcomes. Because I have not personally experienced this gift in the typical way, some in the past have believed that I am against it or that I don't understand or appreciate it. None of that is true. I've seen the gift expressed in it's sweetest, most worshipful and healing manifestations. I've also seen it in what appeared to me to be showy, personally-glorifying, even frightening (to some)...
Snowflake Academia
3/26/16 Chalked names on sidewalks....creating "pain" and "intimidation". Students at one of the most elite universities in the South....looking for a reason to protest. Looks like they found it. From one news report: "Like many other students across the country, they’ve spent the past year agitating for what they perceive to be increased social justice and diversity initiatives at Emory—only to be let down by the university, they say, when their campus was defiled with Trump propaganda." You don't learn how to do "social justice" and practice "diversity" in college. Consider what...
Remembering Lavada
3/26/16 I found out today that someone I respected and loved died last weekend. It's been such a busy week, I missed the news if it came across my view at all. Grieving for her death, but grateful that I know where she is now....celebrating Easter with the Risen Christ! Love you, Lavada. Thank you for your many prayers and your wisdom through the years. I'm also grateful that I took the time to spend a few hours with her recently ....the last time I saw her. We laughed, sang, recalled good times, and expressed our hopes for our church and all of God's people.
Moving Mountains
Bill had shared this story about "Faith Moving Mountains" with some friends. I was curious about the origin of the story. Here's what I found about the church from which the story grew. The "anonymous" video appears below the actual report. Now, the truth is, all of this could be a hoax, but there's nothing on SNOPES that dismisses it. "Can God move a mountain? Jesus insisted that he can, and many stories attest to this being literally fulfilled. Unfortunately, many of those stories sound invented. After I posted one such story [see the bottom] on my "Questionable Illustrations" I received...
Not Tempted
From 3/25/17 There was a day I decided that some people undertake writing a book under influences of considerably less noble motivation than I would have thought. A young lady who'd been in recovery for a few months and whom I'd only recently met had talked a pretty good story about her born again faith. In a discussion with her I asked about some things she said about recovery and about use of crystals, reading auras, chakras, etc. She became instantly angry at my suggestion that such practices were not compatible with Christian doctrine. She told me that even though she'd only been clean a...
Direction To Destination
Your direction, not your intention, determines your destination. Andy Stanley From " The Principle of the Path". It's not enough to WANT to follow Christ, you have to actually DO it and strive to STAY on the path. That's a disciple.
Gardening After Hurricane Michael
from 3/25/19 Now that the reconstruction work on the seawall, dock, and fence are complete, we are able to begin serious work on restoration of the yard. I hauled dirt to fill in low spots, transplanted 3 shrubs to new locations, and repotted a few plants. A neighborhood friend who saw my post about losing our English dogwood (photo #1 below from 2016) called me a few days ago to tell me she had some rescued English dogwood to share! So it now graces a spot in the yard again, too! My visiting friend, Pammi Jo Alsip Nevins, today said it was clear I was in my "happy place." Oh,...
Spring Break Traffic
I was in Dothan, just south of the Walmart when traffic headed north backed up because of a multi car accident. I could see at least 5 LEO vehicles in the median and left lane and a tow truck in the left lane. I was already in the far right lane. Maybe 30-35 cars were up ahead trying to merge into the right lane. A Bonnie plant farm truck crept up alongside me and I gave him space so he could merge and keep moving. I have a soft spot for truckers, coming from a trucking family and my Daddy always told me to be a safe and courteous driver sharing the road with trucks. A large black pickup...
Micro and Macro Ecosystems
Now this is cool..... Terrie McCook DePerro and I sat on the beach today and talked about the earth's water cycle as it moves about the planet, watering, cleansing, renewing the earth.... It is the circulatory system, the heart and pulse of the earth. The flora of the earth are fed and nurtured by the water cycle. The plants and trees breathe in and out and clean and restore the air. The earth is a living ecosystem, created by God with resilience and power to renew itself..... and mankind was given dominion over the earth, to steward its resources for God....