Marja Bergen

author, mental health advocate, follower of Christ

Joining God in his work

July 2017 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can […]

Read More...

Why do we need living room?

The devotional below shows why Living Room is such an important ministry. It’s a sample of the kind of messages people at Living Room hear. We are reassured of the great love and compassion of Jesus. We need this kind of reminder, because for many of us the world is not a friendly place.   And […]

Read More...

My testimony – 2007 – part one

In 2007, one year after I founded Living Room, the B.C. Christian News published this testimony I will share with you here and over the next while. During those days I did a lot of speaking and writing to build awareness in the Church. I still think it’s important for our fellow Christians to hear what […]

Read More...

Where are you leading God?

FAITH-BASED SUPPORT GROUPS Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me,  for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  Psalm 25:4-5   A wise person warned me today, “Listen to God and be guided by him, and do not be led astray by our […]

Read More...

Keeping the focus on Jesus

MENTAL HEALTH AND SPIRITUALITY SPEECH DELIVERED TO NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH,  JANUARY 29, 2023: In 1993, I answered God’s call to do all I could to build mental health awareness—a few years later focusing on the Church. I thought that if anyone could show the love of Christ, members of his Church could. They just […]

Read More...

He heals us with his love

CHRIST’S LOVE   Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 […]

Read More...

Another gift – he calls us to come

FAITH AND MENTAL ILLNESS “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.” […]

Read More...

The Gift of Compassion

MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE GIFTS IT OFFERS   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians […]

Read More...

Where faith and therapy meet

RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE On December 20, I attended a seminar by Joseph Currier on Spiritual and Religious Competencies for Mental Health Care. The seminar was put on by Duke University’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, under the direction of Dr. Harold Koenig, a leading researcher in the field. Much research […]

Read More...

Remembering joy

Ever remember feeling like this? With the eagerness of a child witnessing the world around you? Have a good – a really good – look. . . on what’s growing on the earth below your feet. . . at what’s happening in the skies above you. Remember how it was? I experienced a taste of […]

Read More...
« Older posts

© 2023 Marja Bergen

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑