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.
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...
Sermon Prep
4/13/2021 CBB. Memory I spent my morning working on this next Sunday’s sermon, second in a series of four weeks’ of “pulpit supply” at a local church. The scriptures from the lectionary and the basic points I feel led to make are laid in. Now I can put it down for a while and let it percolate in my spirit. I’ll come back to it Thursday and review it and work the final draft. Then I’ll read through it aloud a half dozen times. I’ll check it one last time for grammar, spelling and “flow” of the manuscript after the multiple vocal readings and then print it on Saturday afternoon. I’ve never had...
Weary(and wary!) of the Fame and Prosperity Interpretation of God’s Redemptive Work in the Midst of Suffering
I get weary of the notion that suffering is preparation for some grand purpose, i.e., as in using Joseph’s story of betrayal, being sold into slavery, victimized by deceitfulness, and left forgotten in prison to becoming #2 leader in Egypt and saving the world from famine in the end. I have been referred to that story in the midst of pain or persecution, most notably by 3 male pastors back to back in a matter of weeks, that I’ve become somewhat immune to attempts at encouragement that come through that story. Suffering bends and molds and tests character, for sure. Its value is in guiding us...
Titus 2 Ministry Report-March 2026
-Grant of $500 to Reality and Truth Ministries for purchase of items needed for soon-to-open Mary Ellen’s Place (formerly Mary Ellen’s Hearth), a women and children shelter in Montgomery. (3/4) -Grant of $250 to residential recovery program for clients’ needs. -Financial assistance to family of FL DOC inmate, (Titus former student), to facilitate communication with family during incarceration. -Coordinated with local Montgomery real estate rental company to advocate for and assist with restoration of water service and assuring owner repair is completed on behalf of family renting...
A Voice for Widows….. (and any who must rale against institutionalism!)
from 10/26/23….CBB At a time when I was at odds with religious institutionalism on several fronts, I sought guidance from 3 respected male pastors. All 3 pointed me to the exact same Scripture… Joseph's story… sold out by jealous brothers, falsely accused by a treacherous woman, betrayed by peers in prison whom he assisted….. until his gifts were needed by the pharaoh, who ultimately put him in charge and empowered him to accomplish God's will. Their advice was unanimous… persevere patiently in trial, you'll come out on top in the end. Coming out on top was not my goal. I knew I was not a...
In Childbearing She Will Be Saved?
Paul's ministry is generally considered to have spanned from around 34 AD, following his conversion, until his death around 67 AD, making it approximately 33 years. 1 Timothy 2’s instructions on worship provide guidance on public conduct and demeanor of Christ-believers by the Apostle Paul in the Jewish synagogues where the converted Gentiles were joining in worship. They were unfamiliar with Jewish traditions as Paul had experienced them. Jesus believers continued worshipping in the synagogues until they were expelled in 70 AD as Christ-believer’s doctrine became more and more divergent...
On Authenticity
"authenticity" . 3/10/21 Facebook post. CBB Gotta be real. No denial. Willing to admit our faults. Another valuable theme for Lent, it seems to me. A blog worthy of note: Keeping It Real: The Truth about Authenticity Sep 13 2012 by Megan HillDo we Christians even understand what the buzzword means?I was standing in the kitchen, talking to my husband, when he began to yawn. As most wives would, I teased him for his insensitivity. He replied, "I'm just being authentic." In case you haven't noticed, the "authentic" label is not just for antiquities or ethnic restaurants anymore.One Thousand...
Kitty Reunion
CBB 3/10/23: This is Minnie and Simon nuzzling and grooming one another in the bed with me this morning at 5 am. This peaceful coexistence has taken three months to accomplish after he came back to live with us again. Norma Wallis found him as a kitten and couldn't keep him at the time so he came to live with Bill and me and our menagerie 7 years ago in 2015. After Bill died in 2020 I had to re-home all but Minnie and Winston, so Simon went to live with Norma for 2 more years since her old cat Cassie had died. After Norma died in November (and Winston was no longer alive as a companion to...
Living Life Consecrated
When one shifts focus from "surrender" of one stronghold point of brokenness, shame, rebellion, ignorance, etc. after another in a life of "recovery"…..to focus on consecration of all of one's self to the Lord. This is what it looks like to live out loving God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, ALL your mind, ALL your strength…. It brings David to my mind, "a man after God's own heart"….. He was consecrated (set apart and prepared), even before he knew what God's plan was, and then anointed for God's purpose. It was decades before the fullness of God's purpose was realized, however....
”Thank You For Asking!”
I was asked, “why are you selling this?” My response: I lead a 501c3 women and families ministry that I support, in part, through sales of donated items from friends. One friend of mine had a serious near death experience in November. It has brought to her awareness how much of a hoarder she has been. Her daughter does not want her overstuffed home to have to clean out when she is gone, she said. She called and asked me to take boxes and boxes of household things to use or sell for ministry support. I partner with several other ministries and serve as a resource for...