AN OPEN HEART You may have noticed how I come across as a bit of a child through much of my story. And I do feel like a child in many ways. You might be seeing it in how enthusiastic I am about Jesus. You might be seeing it in how vulnerable I am in […]
Read More...SHARING GOD’S LOVE Part 12 of my story I loved photographing young children at their most natural. Feeling a bit like a child myself, I could relate to them. But competing in camera club competitions was not enough. I wanted to see my pictures published. Many of them were good editorial material. I did find […]
Read More...ACCEPTING CHRIST’S CALL Part 10 of my story Every time I want to carry on and tell you the next part of my story something else, more important, comes up that needs to be told. This time, it’s the influence Matthew 11:28-30 had on my life. There’s a good reason why I shared those verses […]
Read More...My mother-in-law, Selma Bergen, caring for her ailing husband, Cornelius, in 1988. CAREGIVING . . . a Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man […]
Read More...Part 1 of my story As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went […]
Read More...HIS INVITATION I wrote the following during a time when I suffered greatly because of how hurtfully I had been treated by a person who used to be a friend. In my time with Jesus, I drew close to him by picturing myself in his presence at a time when he was living among us […]
Read More...IN THE NAME OF JESUS, REVISITED Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You […]
Read More...A LIFE WITH BIPOLAR Many years ago, believing that people with mental health challenges should be better accepted, I thought that a way to do that was to be open about my bipolar disorder. To tell it as it is. How else could it be known that there should be no shame connected to such […]
Read More...IN THE NAME OF JESUS I am concerned. Because I, and others with mental health conditions, are not being heard. Although I’m not a trained counselor or pastor, I have known Jesus for a very long time, especially close to him during times of suffering. Through him and the words he has given me, I […]
Read More...People with mental health challenges live with the following: They are looked down on, They are not understood, Their truths not believed, They are shunned, rejected, excluded, They are made to feel ashamed, Their intellect is often underrated, Their opinions not respected. They are not taken seriously in the way well people are. This should […]
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