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.
Friendships
Mar 4,2016 posted by my dear friend, Pam Nevins: I'm reading "The Gift of Friendship: Stories That Celebrate the Beauty of Shared Moments" by Dawn Camp, Jennifer Dukes Lee and wanted to share this quote. "The Beauty of Friendship We can appreciate friendship like we do—A beautiful sunset. You can never re-create the sky you once saw across the desert at twilight. You enjoy it while it lasts. These are moments where you connect with a friend, but life takes you on different paths. A shooting star. Some friends seem to appear out of nowhere, when our journeys go through dark times....
“The Great Requirement”
Micah 6:8: The Great Requirement- He has told you, O man, what is good; what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? - “do justice” is to address the cause of the need to which God has called you - “love mercy (kindness)” is to meet the need in all the ways you can - “ and walk humbly with your God” is to continue to do so faithfully in obedience according to God’s will for as long as called to do so. 3/4/19
Parenting Goal
"The most important thing that parents can teach their children is how to get along without them." - Frank Clark - Our German daughter, who spent time in our home as an exchange student, sent this quote several years ago. She is stating something important here. Some parents continue to try to live vicariously through their children or control them to keep them close, or to protect them from the risk of being hurt in life, essentially stunting their children's lives. It does hurt, at times, to let them go, make their mistakes and find their own way. I have had more than a few women in our...
Freedom, In All Its Ways
3/3/15 What a sweet moment....I was talking to someone about the concept of Freedom in Christ and healing ministry for those in addiction or other spiritual bondage.....She said, "The thought that keeps coming to my mind is the story of Harriett Tubman." I think many counselors working in healing ministry have a passion for freedom. Harriet Tubman gave her life toward the cause of freedom and many Christian counselors are called to the same passion for freedom, I think. We know that is what God desires for all his children.
Moon Shine
3/3/2018 The full moon over Deerpoint Lake this morning is stunningly beautiful! Moonlight filtered through oak trees falling on the patio stones makes patterns that look like puzzle pieces. The silvery shimmer of the moonlight on the water resembles metallic fabric waving with each windy ripple on the lake. And I feel safe in my Father's arms as the light shines in through the sunroom windows and caresses me.
Soul Stories
Writer Charlotte Donlon describes well the work we are doing as women write and share their inventories during steps 4 and 5 in the Twelve Step process. It is an evolving process, learning to hear and express one’s soul. “I describe soul stories as stories that touch our souls and the essence of who we are in some way. Our lives are made of stories. But some of our stories are more foundational to who we are, to who we have become. Our soul stories are the stories that form us and impact how we interact with God, others, and ourselves.”
Emergence-y
I've stated that emotional emergency leads to spiritual emergence.The difference between emergency and emergence? The ending- "Y" (you) bringing "e" (energy") to the process by accessing the power of the Holy Spirit to engage God's redemptive and restorative power!
Faith and Science
Last year at a faith and science lecture Dr. Ian Hutchinson used a phrase that made me smile....one that I have come to use based on my own experience and understanding of the need.... to "tether to reality". Tether... to restrain by setting the utmost length to which one can go. It is the setting of a boundary beyond which one cannot go. It is a mechanism of safety and protection for the one which is restrained by one who has more wisdom and provides care and supervision. That is altogether different from being chained, fettered, bound, shackled, and held in a stronghold to prevent any...
AI’s Blind Spot
Observed about social media... You know, after all these years and as many times as I’ve written “God” you’d think my auto-correct function would anticipate and offer that as a suggested word. Yet, it never does. So if I hit the wrong keys, there the word lies...”Hod” or “Gid” ..... until I catch and correct it. I just find that ironic. That AI science can “learn” my syntax and correct so many misspellings for me but it won’t do that one. AI has a blind spot and is quite prideful, I think. One would almost think Lucifer pulls its strings! LOL! I’ve got his number, though, and I’ll keep using...
Beautiful Surrender
Beautiful surrender.......As I drove a friend in her third year of alcohol recovery to a medical appointment out of town she said, "Surrender was hard. I struggled, but once I finally made the first surrender (of a hurt from the past), the others began to fall like dominoes. It has been very freeing." Surrender of "self" starts the process of peace and it enlarges around us like ripples from a dropped stone. God told me at a point of decision over a hard choice, "You hold the stone.." I knew what I was to do with it, what we all must be willing to do with it..... drop it, even when we would...