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.
Far More Valuable Than Rubies, Gold and Diamonds
On our 30th anniversary in 2002 Bill gave me a lovely delicately-styled gold bracelet with rubies and diamonds. It was a beautiful and sweet surprise. We renewed our vows that year. Unfortunately, in November of 2013, while our home was being remodeled a tile contractor broke into a locked chest and stole it and other jewelry. Though some of the jewelry was recovered, that bracelet never was... Later, Bill gave me a ruby necklace gracefully styled in a manner similar to the bracelet... On 7/22/2012, our 40th anniversary I had written this: "Proverbs 31: 10- "A wife of noble character who can...
Merry Makers Ministry
For a year and a half I led a group of women who went twice a month on Tuesday afternoons to spend an hour telling humorous stories, singing songs and visiting with residents at Mathison Retirement Center.. This is a report from our visit on 7/22/2014: We (4 Merry Makers and a couple of Titus 2 ladies) had a delightful afternoon in ministry at Mathison Retirement Center. Our program featured "river" songs...including Moon River! One gentleman sang it all the way through with his eyes closed, smiling....wonder who he was imagining as he sang....Audrey Hepburn or his beloved? We sang a rocking...
Religious Faith and Practice Impact On Health
Titus 2 Partnership's ministry focuses on three areas of developmental goals with individuals we serve: 1.) Personal identity in Christ 2.) Experiential perception of reality 3.) Development of healthy support system in faith community The following report demonstrates some of the physical and mental health benefits of the third goal. Reporting on a study of 59 countries, researcher Olga Stavrova reports, "the higher the regional level of religiosity was, the stronger the positive association between religion and self-reported health." Death records confirmed this trend. "Religious...
Adler and Family Systems
Family system therapy from an Adlerian perspective asserts that "human beings are essentially social, purposeful, subjective and interpretive in their approach to life (Sweeney, 1998). These attributes are no accident. They are required at least in part from the moment of birth. Without the social, physical, and emotional nurturing provided in the family, no infant would survive. Within the family, children quickly become active agents, defining and redefining the family constellation or system; striving for growth, significance, and meaning; and acting in line with their subjective, and too...
Fear God…..
“FEAR GOD AND YOU WILL FEAR NOTHING ELSE,” GOV. RON DESANTIS 7:22/2021 I’m always surprised when I discover that many Christians don’t understand the biblical call to fear God. It doesn’t mean quake and quiver with trembling anticipation of being struck by a lightning bolt or being sent straight to hell if you mess up…… it means revere, honor, trust, listen with respect, and obey God. He created us… He loves us. He will discipline us at times, but He does not punish His children.
Boundaries Wisdom: Having Hard Conversations
"Boundaries" is a key curriculum resource and learning goal at Titus 2 Partnership, Inc. One of this curriculum authors, Dr Henry Cloud, sends out periodic newsletter articles of value that give additional insights. We share some of those here. Wisdom from Dr.Henry Cloud: “Learning to have a difficult conversation helps you solve problems. Now, this seems obvious, but it's an important benefit of confrontation. Boundary conversations are geared towards addressing and resolving an issue that is keeping two people apart or is hurtful to someone. When things work well, a problem is solved and...
Judging and Healing At The Same Time….
Time and time again, as Jesus healed and restored bodies and spirits, he said, "Go and sin no more." Was Jesus making a judgement and loving at the same time? He showed mercy and gave the valuable gift of life- sometimes physically, always spiritually- and he did judge the sin while loving the sinner. Can we even get our minds around how to do that in life today? I have seen occasions of it among people I know for whom it became a means to restored life after failing miserably,,,,,In each case observed it occurred among people who truly loved the Lord and loved the person and who took the...
When I Envision Jesus…
I have shared photos of Jesus Zlaugging snd it often stirs interest. I have an entire digital file of favorite pictures of Jesus. A friend and I were talking about our speculations Snd she sent me this link: The Faces of Jesus http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4621991478559084&pid=1.7&w=109&h=169&c=7&rs=1 Jesus via scientific magazines based on ethnicity. The EYES of WONDER Jesus based on the shroud of Turin. The EYES of CONTEMPLATION Jesus based on a young woman’s memory followin a life-after-death experience. The EYES of LOVE. I don’t care what you look like,...
Prayer for Adult Children and Grandchildren
Praying for adult children and grandchildren… file:///C:/Users/cathy_000/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/SQKV0C2Y/Prayer-for-My-Adult-Children.pdf From Randy Carlson at Intentional Living: Lord, we gave our children a home to grow in; I ask you to give them a life to thrive in Lord, we gave our children an education; I ask that you give them your wisdom Lord, we gave our children food for physical strength; I ask you to give them the Bread of Life Lord, we gave our children clothes for their bodies; I ask that you give them a covering of your grace for their souls...
Fringe Facts
From the Fringes; "Author A.J. Jacobs admits that he was agnostic before he even knew what the word meant. For all the good God seemed to invoke, the potential for abuse was far too high in his mind for God to be taken seriously. In a book exploring religion and religiousness, Jacobs describes an uncle who seemed to confirm this for him. Dabbling religiously in nearly every religion, his uncle went through a phase where he decided to take the Bible completely literally. Thus, heeding the Bible’s command in Deuteronomy 14:25 to secure money in one’s hand, he tied bills to his palms. Heeding...