Marja Bergen

author, mental health advocate, follower of Christ

Creative passion

Creative passion, or creative juices as it’s often referred to, is much like real juice. Sweet and flavorful. It quenches our thirst to make beautiful things—things that would not exist if it weren’t for us being here. I’ve often thought of how God must have felt when he created the earth. When he created us. […]

Read More...

When the Hungry are Fed

Elderly Rohingya slicing a fish for his meal. (Photo by Arfat Khan) FEEDING THE WORLD’S HUNGRY – I’ve been talking a lot about hunger lately in the emails to my list—the physical hunger of the Rohingyas and the hunger of Afghani girls to learn. We’ve also talked about the deep desire of individuals who want […]

Read More...

Like children at his feet

HE CAME FOR ALL You may see me repeating mailings from the past. Please bear with me and join with me in praying for those who are seeing them for the first time. Pray that they will be well fed spiritually – no matter who their higher power might be. For some, like many of […]

Read More...

The world remains silent

A painting and poem from Ro Niyamot Ullah, a person from Myanmar living in a refugee camp in Bangladesh. NO WINGS, ONLY WAR The world remains silent, watching without stopping it. Some even support the weapons that Israel uses to kill children, old men, women, and even reporters. The world should protect the innocent, but […]

Read More...

Rohingya refugees from Myanmar

PRAYER NEEDED Thanks to my frequent readings of posts on LinkedIn, I continue learning a lot about what is happening in the world, trying to send words of encouragement, and developing friendships in many different parts of the world. There is one person I’ve been talking to who I would like to spend more time […]

Read More...

Spiritual mental health peer groups

HOW DO THEY HELP? Religious faith is vitally important to people experiencing emotional and mental struggles. Although medication and professional counseling are helpful, Living Room addressed the spiritual aspects of member’s needs. The new Open Door groups for people of all faith traditions will do the same. I have practiced such spiritual mental health support […]

Read More...

Foreword to Open Door guide

VOLUNTEER PREVIEWERS NEEDED FOR 11,500 WORD MANUSCRIPT marja@marjabergen.com SPIRITUAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUPS As I put together this study guide to describe Living Room’s Open Door groups,  giving spiritual mental health support, I knew that I would be talking to readers from many different backgrounds—culturally and spiritually. They would include people working in the mental […]

Read More...

Rising high above a mother’s love

GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE – Some of us may remember times when we felt like this little child, finding comfort in the loving arms of her mother. It was a place of safety and security—protection from what we saw to be a world of animosity. A world where love seemed to have been abandoned. It’s true […]

Read More...

How can the effects of stigma be overcome?

BUILDING CONFIDENCE I believe that many in the medical profession are aware that their patients have a spiritual side to their nature, but most don’t believe that it should be part of their work to address it. They may not personally be very spiritual people and don’t believe it has a place in the treatment […]

Read More...

How he became real to me

I VIRTUALLY ENTERED HIS WORLD “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 […]

Read More...
« Older posts

© 2025 Marja Bergen

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑