Marja Bergen

author, mental health advocate, follower of Christ

Page 31 of 142

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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Devotionals set free – ready to download

MARJA’S REFLECTIONS ON SCRIPTURE – FREED It’s with great pleasure that I announce the release of 230 Reflections on Scripture. The writing of these devotionals began in 2013 and were emailed to individuals needing their hunger for God filled—those who needed help for their emotional needs and could not make it to meetings of the […]

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Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen

December 2018 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. Psalm 27:8 Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen, an African-American spiritual that originated during the period of slavery came to mind this morning. I could very much relate to the words and I’m sure some of you might as […]

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My truth – marja’s story

  Have you read this book yet? It’s an account of a person who believes in justice and suffered for it. A line from John Swinton’s book about dementia caught my eye recently: “The question changes from ‘How can I tell my story well?, to ‘Who will tell my story well?’” I don’t have dementia, […]

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When we hurt others

FORGIVENESS August 2019 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23: 33-34 In […]

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Life is worth the living

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE December 2016 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 I awoke from a nap one Monday with the words, “The truth […]

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His costly gift

March 2020 “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Luke 17:3-4 Jesus sacrificed his life by suffering through one of the most […]

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Have mercy on me, God!

Remorse. The honest tears of a servant of God. written in November 2015  Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  Psalm 51:1-2 King David wrote this after Nathan the prophet confronted […]

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