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.
Believing Is Seeing
Some say seeing is believing. Christ says believing is seeing. John 11:40: "Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” What a difference a simple paradigm shift can make! One either believes and follows Christ or one holds out for his own sufficient proof and satisfaction and is only a hearer and not a doer of the Word.
Information or Transformation?
"….to know this LOVE THAT SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE —that you may be FILLED TO THE MEASURE OF ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD ! ". Ephesians 3:19 I have observed recently a distinction between one who comes at discipleship with an inquiring mind, desiring simply INFORMATION ABOUT LIFE IN CHRIST in order to evaluate the cost and weigh the risk ……..in contrast to one who comes with a heart ready to be IMMERSED IN TRANSFORMATION TOWARD LIVING LIFE IN CHRIST. The difference is similar to Susan Kent's (Altar'd) description of the difference between occupying a space (like a tenant or even simply a squatter or...
Grief Follows
This past week in one day I had two people inquire of me...... one about how Bill is doing, not knowing Bill had died. The other asking how I'm doing with my grief. Both came somewhat unexpectedly, but I was okay talking about it, then setting it aside to continue my day. A couple of days later I realized my companion of 3 1/2 years....Grief..... was no longer driving my emotions or dominating my thoughts. It still tugs at my sleeve now and again reminding me it is there. But I am in the lead now, not Grief. I give Grief a respectful hearing when it speaks, then I continue with my day. My...
“God Is Ineffable.”
Tonight a discipleship student was sharing some things God was working on in her and she said, "I learned today the words silent and listen are just different arrangements of the same letters! Did you realize that?" It's the same way with "evil" and "live", the impact of one on the other. Lots of ironies in the English language seem to point to more than just coincidence of the obvious. A few weeks ago in our "In Christ" Sunday@5 women's group the word "ineffable" came up in relationship to the unknowable, inexpressible, indescribable scale of the depth and width and breadth of the mystery...
“Idle” or “Idol”……Hindsight.
I have observed multiple times how the Lord gives a word, then years later gives a new persepctive on the word that totally changes the way one first heard and understood it! Such is the case with a word in a prophecy spoken over me just weeks before my final interview with the AWFUMC Board of Ordained Ministry. The following is a prophetic word spoken over my life in January 2017 at a friend's home by someone I'd just met...... Sarah Labonte told our dinner party hostess, Deborah Zirbel, that she felt strongly that she had a word from the Lord for me. The two of them came to me...
Twelve Step Lifestyle
Some view Twelve Steps as something only those with chemical addiction do. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is a useful foundational self-evaluation tool for spiritual, psychological, and relational growth. Some approach it with dread and anxiety. Abut I believe it is a wonderful way to know one's self better in order to give oneself to God and others better and more fully! A thorough, fearless, and searching Twelve Step study under the supervision of a Christian who is experienced in spiritual direction and guidance can be one of the most helpful spiritual discipline practices...
Doorknob Mystery
From 2/7/22 journal I sleep with my bedroom door locked. Of course, all the outside doors are locked as well, but it just gives me an extra measure of security. If anyone breaks in, I have a few minutes of notice before they can get to me…. This morning I walked to the door to unlock it then turned and pulled the knob. The knob on the outside fell off on the floor in the hallway as I pulled. I stood there looking at it thinking,"What in the world….??" The knob had not been loose. There had been no sticking of the knob or the lock component. It just fell apart without warning. Huh! Imagine...
Social Media: Language
Three years ago today I was posting something on Facebook and accidentally mistyped or the phone autocorrected something from what I typed to the word “hoe” and I got an immediate notice that my post violated community standards. I had the option to ignore the message, delete the post, or change it. What in the world is going on? Big Brother is definitely here. So I guess I can’t post about gardening anymore and having to hoe around the plants to pull out weeds! Is urban slang the official language of social media??? What happened to straight forward English words meaning what they’ve always...
Incarnation and Calm In The New Year 2024
My words for pondering, praying, pouring over, and pursuing this year are "incarnation" and "calm.". It seems the two are intertwined in my mind. God had been impressing the word "incarnation" on my heart throughout Advent and Christmastide. I thought I understood it...... Perhaps not. When I read Beth Felker Jones' Church Blogmatics' post from Christmas Eve a year ago right after the first of this year as she reposted it, I knew it was deeper and there was more to learn. Here is an excerpt from her blog... "Incarnation isn’t God letting us out of the ordinary and into glory. It’s the truth...
Choose How You Live
CHOOSE HOW TO LIVE From 1/12/2017 "So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none.When you arise...