Marja Bergen

author, mental health advocate, follower of Christ

Category: Mental Health and Faith (page 1 of 40)

All of us together

MY PASSIONATE DESIRE – This morning, I was thinking about what I’m trying to do with this unusual Open Door initiative. I’m sure that many must be thinking I’m bizarre to think I can do something as revolutionary as this. But I think that God is a God of possibilities and I believe that this […]

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Open Door meetings

  SPIRITUAL SUPPORT – At Living Room’s Open Door there is one thing we all have in common. We are all looking for support from our peers as we try to find relief from our mental health challenges. But it is different from other kinds of support groups in that our spiritual needs are also […]

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Caring humbly

A DEVOTIONAL – A patient on a mental health ward was having a hard time, not able to cope. The staff couldn’t meet her needs. As a result, she was placed in a seclusion room where she would have a chance to calm down and not hurt herself. The room was uncomfortable, only containing a […]

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Introducing Jesus to other faiths

THE CHALLENGE How can we introduce Jesus as the healer he is to nonbelieving faiths? Can Jesus heal those who do not believe in his divine nature—the Son of God? Some will think this is impossible unless they were converted to Christianity. I believe that it is possible. I follow Jesus and believe all the […]

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Part 9 – The nature of open door groups

LIVING ROOM’S OPEN DOOR I believe that Living Room’s Open Door is not about religion, regardless of what our beliefs might be or not be. It’s simply about Jesus and his immeasurable love for ALL of us—for people of all faiths or for people of no faith at all. It is about a love that […]

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Part 6 – He heals us with his love

LIVING ROOM’S OPEN DOOR The following was written by Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ: 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 […]

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Part 4 – Thinking of being a facilitator?

LIVING ROOM OPEN DOOR – Have you had thoughts about facilitating a Living Room group? Perhaps you would like to share how your faith has helped you live with your mental health problems. You may have learned coping techniques that you would like to pass along so that the people in your group could learn […]

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Part two – Faith is vitally important for mental health

THE OPEN DOOR – Faith in Someone greater than ourselves can bring us a sense of well-being that isn’t available elsewhere. Not with medication nor endless counselling. Faith can help us develop the following: A sense of hope A reason for living Strength to cope with hardships Confidence Relief from anxiety, stress, and fear Ability […]

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A message for the child in you

CLOSER TO HIM – Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. “All things have been committed to me by my […]

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Most important – spiritual support

LIVING ROOM – Some thoughts for churches who wish to learn how to give support to individuals with lived experience in their communities: Learn what you can from the https://sanctuarymentalhealth.org/  They have valuable resources, designed to equip churches with the ins and outs of mental health—what they need to know about being there for individuals […]

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