Spiritually Fed with Bri Marshall

10/06/2024

A spiritual experience to share with all of you. :)

"Spirit of Unity"

It’s a huge help when I start any day by engaging in talks and videos that invite me to live with fuller light and potential.

I listened to some wonderful talks and videos on how to let go of anger and contention. When doing so we can become one with Christ and unified in relationships.

In a talk by D Todd Christopherson called, One In Christ, he says,

“For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

“Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.”

A year ago, President Russell M. Nelson pled with us in these words: “None of us can control nations or the actions of others or even members of our own families. But we can control ourselves. My call today, dear brothers and sisters, is to end conflicts that are raging in your heart, your home, and your life.”

I reflected on how so often I have contention in my heart by being easily offended with friends and family choices. I will hold on to something that hurts and then use it as one of Satan’s tools to be against ones that I really care for.

It has hurt my spirit and I know that it isn’t helping my relationship and ultimately who I want to become.

I reflected on a typical day I had with my children where I could feel contention or frustration. We will run errands and it will take a longer time than mostly planned. It can get tiring. The kids start to complain, we will get fatigued, hungry, or feel bored with the tasks.

I remember one day before we went to run our errands that I watched a video from the churchofjesuschrist youtube channel about a woman doing a 30 day challenge on decreasing anger and a temper in her life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HljT9eeSf6I

I felt like I could relate with her. In our weakest moments even when we are trying to do something good, like being a good mom or taking care of the needs of our family, we can get upset by the offset of daily life or struggles of parenthood.

That could be feeding them, running errands, keeping the house clean, taking them to their activities, dealing with conflict between siblings, or just not feeling our best that day.

I loved how she expressed that each time she felt she was going to get upset or be contentious, she prayed in her heart, outloud, on her knees, or stopped in her tracks to feel that closeness with the Savior.

What would the Savior do or how could He help, bring light into this moment?

I felt like this is something that I could work on as well. I have felt so many times during the day or my entire motherhood experience I have wanted to burst with anger or frustration for small or mundane things.

The thing that she said that stuck with me the most in this video was when she talked about how who we spend the most time with is who we normally become. Meaning, in our relationships, who we can be around a lot is how we can act around others.

Are one of these, the Savior?

She said that if we spend most of our time with our Savior, we can become more like Him. I sincerely loved that. She went on to say that if she is continually seeking Him in prayer throughout the day in her strengths and weaknesses, especially in those contentious moments, that He will become one with her.

When we are one with Christ and coming to Him at any moment, then we will have more harmony in our hearts and peace and unity in our relationships, less contention and anger in our lives.
I found myself today when we were out longer and longer with these errands that I was starting to get frustrated with my kids due to us being tired. They were not listening in stores or being silly to find the fun in the journey. haha

I also found myself getting frustrated with my husband over a conversation about our car later on in the day.

In these moments I remembered the talk by D Todd Christopherson as well as the video with the young mom and becoming “one with Christ.”

With me being reminded of these things, I thought of putting off the contention and frustration by choosing silence, dropping it, and/or turning my thoughts to the Lord and often apologizing when I was in the wrong.

It did help me become self aware as well as strive to have a more loving heart. Even if it just did that for me today, I hope going forward it will build to having less and less contention by turning to the Lord when I am slowly becoming upset.

I don’t need to be easily offset by little or even things that can become big problems. Choose peace now and don’t let contention build. It’s not of the Lord and really doesn’t even help us feel better.

I will need to implement this more in my daily life, but I am grateful for the spiritual reminder to let go of contention and anger. I want to find better ways to respond as well as be more unified with my Savior to be more unified with the ones I love.

It’s a daily process and it takes humility and light from the spirit. I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow in this.
I pray to invite this light and connection through prayer or reminders of the spirit to choose kinder thoughts, words, and actions not just daily but for a better life experience.

The Spirit of the Lord is light, peace, meekness, truth, and so many beautiful beautiful things.

It’s that stillness, softness in the heart and mind that only the oneness in Christ can bring. 🙂

Transform Your Life With Prayer | Try Faith: 30-Day Challenge | Stop, Drop, and Pray | to Try Faith: 30-Day Challenge! In this episode, we fo...

04/04/2024

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/Lfz17QcywIb

I hope you are able to check out this recent episode on where I am recognizing the Holy Ghost in my communication with others.

Thank you, friends! :)

I have been asking for help more in my prayers recently with having the influence of the Holy Ghost in my life. I pray for its companionship with my thoughts, my family, and friendships. When I let thoughts react and become too stimulating, overpowering in my mind, I find that I can say things or do...

14/03/2024

Hello everyone! :)

I hope you are enjoying your transition into spring! I hope this gentle reminder brings some fresh perspective.

In this episode I share a gentle reminder of how a negative experience helped me turn to prayer for specific guidance. In my prayer, I asked to be "slow to anger, quick to love and to forgive." With this being in my personal and family prayers the last couple of weeks, I have seen myself trying to b...

07/03/2024

Hello friends!

I have a new episode for ya!

"One of the greatest distinctions in life is the opposing forces. We have good or bad, sin or righteousness, struggle or strength, etc…

I am learning more and more about life as I experience the tug and pull of both of them.

I have learned in faith and in yoga that it’s about balancing them..."

Click below to hear more. :)

Enjoy!

Love ya!

One of the greatest distinctions in life is the opposing forces. We have good or bad, sin or righteousness, struggle or strength, etc… I am learning more and more about life as I experience the tug and pull of both of them. I have learned in faith and in yoga that it’s about balancing them.  Ba...

08/02/2024

I am loving these gentle reminders. They are super helpful for me! I hope they are for you! :)

Hello friends! I am not as present as I would like! Today, I share some areas of my life that I am working to be more present with my relationships, goals, life...etc. Finding ways to be present helps us connect with ourselves and invites God, spirit, light into each area that we desire to create fo...

01/02/2024

Hello everyone! I hope you can check out my new episode of detachment. :)

"I have noticed something about myself for sometime now. I have grasped at wanting more, more, more.
I have wanted to make our house look nicer, better cars, better appearance.
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s wonderful to make things beautiful. I think it’s wonderful to aspire towards better but I have allowed it to consume my mind so much to that being what I think about the majority of the time. Sadly to say.
I find myself thinking so much during the day about what to buy or how to make things better material wise.
It is consuming more of my mind rather than focusing on things I want to do during the day, how to progress, or making room to fill my mind spiritually.
Along the way, I hope to let go of the idea of stuff making me happy but allow my heart to see the gift of life making me happy, the experiences that change me for the better to make me happy, the spiritual growth, the love in a family, the blessings of always having what I need, the blessings of being loved."

I have noticed something about myself for sometime now. I have grasped at wanting more, more, more.  I have wanted to make our house look nicer, better cars, better appearance.  Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s wonderful to make things beautiful. I think it’s wonderful to aspire towards bett...

11/01/2024

Hey friends I hope you can check out this new episode! Love to you all!

I came across an episode on Brooke Snow's new podcast in her cocreate app that I loved!

It helped me redefine what success to me really is.

I have been defining success in ways that aren't improving me in the long run.

In this episode I share the things I am wanting to pursue and do daily in my life are how I see myself becoming successful

This way of success helps me rest in who I want to be.

Linked below is Brooke Snow's webpage that will lead you to the podcast. :)

https://brookesnow.com/

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/SYn7dzFohGb

I came across an episode on Brooke Snow's new podcast in her cocreate app that I loved! It helped me redefine what success to me really is. I have been defining success in ways that aren't improving me in the long run. In this episode I share the things I am wanting to pursue and do daily in my life...

04/01/2024

I shared a new episode today! I hope you take some time to listen! :)

"In this episode I opened up about how I can see others in a better light rather than myself or my family at times.

Me and my family are the ones I want to love and give compassion to the most. We can be so hard on ourselves and those closest to us at times because of our weaknesses.

What are we doing to look past those weaknesses and seeing each other the way God sees us?

Let us give the gift of love in all seasons, not just Christmas and spread it through the new year."

In this episode I opened up about how I can see others in a better light rather than myself or my family at times. Me and my family are the ones I want to love and give compassion to the most. We can be so hard on ourselves and those closest to us at times because of our weaknesses. What are we doin...

14/12/2023

Hey! Here is the second episode that I have uploaded to the podcast!

Thanks friends!

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brianna-marshall6/episodes/Ever-Compassionate-e2d7fc6

14/12/2023

Hey guys! I wanted to reach out and share that I have uploaded two new episodes to my podcast. I took a very long break from it but I feel it is time to share.

Here is a link to my first episode back!

You can listen on google, spotify, and apple podcasts. :)

Thanks friends!

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brianna-marshall6/episodes/Helping-Others-Belong-Wherever-I-am-e2cv03d

13/09/2023

Responding With Comfort and Compassion

Responding to my family rather than reacting to problems that arise has been something I have been diligently working on since starting my own family.

I have struggled for years with trying to always “respond” with loving kindness and compassion.

I feel like when I am stressed or overwhelmed, I tend to react with how I am feeling at that moment. It looks like I am stressed and I have recognized in my family that they can feel it.

This week my family and I have been praying that we will do better at not reacting to each other when we are frustrated. (Meaning, we don’t just immediately say what we are thinking when we are overwhelmed. We try to listen to each other and assess what is best to say.)

We have prayed to respond by listening to the spirit. And…most importantly, if we do react, we make things better by apologizing and continue to try to respond with loving kindness.

I love that my children have remembered that we are all wanting to work on this. We do want to respond to each other with love because we genuinely love one another.

I sometimes feel at the end of the week when Sunday comes, we feel overtired that we don’t really focus on the Sabbath day and it's light. The light of the Savior. We can forget the focus of Jesus Christ and how important of a day it is to reflect on how to follow Him.

We are learning that the more tired and overwhelmed from all that we have going on is most likely the point when we all react not in the kindest ways at times.

We went on a walk Sunday evening and I had a prompting to ask my husband something we would like to work on in our marriage and family this week.

We both said that we would like to respond with love and be compassionate and patient with one another.

We also wanted to work on ways to be more Christ-like in our family. So we brought the question to our family during our nightly scripture study as well. We discussed with our children “What could we do to be better as a family this week?”

We all agreed that we would like to respond to each other with love and not contention when we feel stressed or overwhelmed…really all the time. Not just when we have unpleasant emotions.

It’s been a prayer in our heart for a few days. We hope to keep it up. 🙂

This morning was a test of our faith.

My daughter has been waking up very early for school because she wants to be ready in time. A lot like me, I wake up out of nervousness to make sure I don’t sleep too long to start the day.

She hasn’t been sleeping very well since starting school. Most of us haven’t since this is a new routine of earlier mornings.

Some mornings feel very frantic trying to get out the door.

With everyone dressed and fed, it can feel overwhelming to get ready and not have us wake up too early so we can feel refreshed.

I am always trying to make sure we look presentable, have eaten, taken our vitamins, and have had scripture and prayer.

It’s one thing after another.

Ryen was rushing to finish her breakfast because of the time but then threw it all up. It was all over her shirt and the floor. She stood there feeling sad.

This does happen with us at times. We can feel rushed and eat too quickly to the point where we get sick.

I was still trying to get us already that I really just wanted to process how to handle it while still getting things packed up.

I just grabbed what we needed and put them in the car and then came back to address the situation.

I definitely felt bad because I know she didn’t want that but my brain was thinking of how it was another thing to add when we were feeling rushed. Not very pleasant of me.

Thankfully my husband was available to help clean up while I went to get her a new shirt.

She felt bad physically and emotionally. I could tell she was sad.

I didn’t want to react because I remembered how we prayed about trying to respond rather than react.

I got her cleaned up and ready to get in the car.

When getting in the car and driving them to school, I felt the spirit comfort me to comfort my daughter.

She didn’t want this to happen! I also know she didn’t want to go to school starting off on a bad note early in the day.

I expressed to her how sorry I was for her throwing up. I looked at her and smiled so she could know she was ok and did nothing wrong.

I could tell how she quickly felt better because of the choice I made to respond with compassion rather than frustrated by the “unplanned” experience.

She felt better the rest of the way to school and I could see how good she felt good going into school.

I am grateful for our prayers on wanting to respond with compassion and kindness rather than reacting out of overwhelm.

It was such a comfort to me and I know it was a comfort for her.

Some things that we don’t want to happen, just do.

We can choose to not take things so seriously. We can easily clean things up.

It takes more repairing when we react harshly than when we can respond with compassion.

It really was a great experience to learn from. 🙂

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

I have a testimony that my Savior responds to me with love when I make mistakes. I desire to respond to His children with love and compassion when they make them as well. We are all in this together. It helps to comfort one another in love through those difficult times.

It’s comforting to know we are not all perfect but we can all comfort each other in the imperfections of life, because…we all got them.

11/04/2023

-Hard Heart-

How often are we choosing to not forgive?

My son and I were grabbing some groceries this morning and he was pushing the cart around.

When he pushes, I always remind him to watch out for hitting me or people or things around him.

I try to give him chances hoping he will watch where he pushes the cart.

He was pushing behind me and I could feel him getting too close. I looked back and told him to watch for me so that he doesn't hit me.

A moment later he hit the back of my calf so hard that it caused a welt. I wanted to cry not completely out of pain but because I was frustrated with him.

I looked at him and told him that it hurt and that I asked him to make sure to not hit me.

He then said that I shouldn’t be wearing the shoes I am wearing. I think he thought he ran over my feet. Haha..I could have laughed at his silly comment…

I was so upset because he hit me and then told me I shouldn’t be wearing the shoes I am wearing or I wouldn’t be hurt. Haha oh goodness.

I couldn’t even talk to him after that comment.

I could see he felt bad but I was just too upset to acknowledge his feelings.

The spirit expressed to me that I can forgive him very easily and let this go.

I had a hard heart and said in my mind that I don’t want to forgive him right now.

It’s hurtful for the choices that others make but it’s also hurtful to not forgive the choices of others and my own.

How wrong I am. I felt closer to the adversary rather than the holy ghost and my son.

While reading scriptures with my daughter this evening she asked me to read these two that she opened when getting out her scriptures.

1 John 2:4-5

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

These scriptures pierced my heart and opened my mind too many things I need to work on. It reminded me of my experience with my son earlier this morning. I felt like a liar for claiming to follow my Savior but ignoring the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

I knew I was wrong by my hard heart to not listen to the spirit and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ of loving my child and forgiving him quickly.

A few moments later I told him why I was upset. We both apologized and hugged it out.

I felt ashamed for my hard heart and unwillingness to forgive quickly.

As I desire to become one with Jesus Christ and follow His commandments, I need to walk in His ways, obey the spirit, and love more deeply.

It felt so good a couple hours later when I followed the spirit to play with my kids while we were at the car dealership.

Ronen and I were playing “hair salon” talking about p**p, we both busted up laughing from our belly’s.

After a sad experience just a couple hours earlier, we were able to join hearts and come closer through laughter.

I know that I could have resolved things more quickly if I chose to forgive and repent.

I pray to do a better job of forgiving. I know if I forgive, I will be forgiven.

It feels awful holding back love when there is so much to find joy in, right now.

Forgiveness is powerful and so so important for our spiritual growth.

Let it go and let love be our deciding factors.

22/11/2022

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year, my friends! :)
.....

Having A Grateful Heart

Each year I try to find many things to share what I am grateful for on Thanksgiving week.

I don’t want to forget how vital it is for me to seek gratitude. At times I can put myself in despair and not feel grateful for what I do have, which is always everything I need and more than enough.

This morning as I was running I listened to Meg Johnson share her experience about falling from a cliff and becoming paralyzed. Her book is called, “When Life Gets Hard.” She shared how finding gratitude was the first thing she did after her accident. It helped keep her going through the truly hard times she experienced.

She looked for the small things she was grateful for like a window, light bulb, car near her hospital room, and then moved to bigger things, like being grateful for her accident.

She then went on to share how she had a dream about being in a hospital room dressed in white with another man dressed in white. He explained to her all that she was going to experience in her mortal life, one of those being a paraplegic. When she read it and looked over her life, she was so excited. She was excited for the times she would be in pain and she was excited for the times she would have joy. It was all wonderful in her eyes and she was grateful for what she would gain and learn through her earthly experience.

After listening to that statement I stopped her book and then soaked in her words. I didn’t want to forget how she saw the good for her accident and then through her dream she shouted for joy for her life’s experiences.

I want to hold on to those words because I know I sometimes endure my trials and experiences not at all well. I plead to know why I am experiencing them. I will also hold grudges. I will linger on the pain longer than ever needed. It becomes more painful to think about them and that’s what I do, than to forgive, let go, and move on.

1 Peter 3:10

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

My thoughts then turned to what I was already grateful for at 7 a.m.

I was grateful for my legs to let me run. To be able to run faster than normal on a Monday after a weekend. To have legs that work.

I looked for things I was grateful for other times throughout the day. More so after listening to her book.

I was grateful for…

Blankets that keep me warm on cold nights.
Toothbrushes and toothpaste.
My kids slept in a little bit longer this morning.
Washer and dryer.

As I was going through those things that I am grateful for I thought of how I want to find joy in the experiences that cause suffering for me.

I must have known that I would have problems as a wife, mother, my faith, callings, and goals. Yet, I knew in heaven that they would give me greater understanding and compassion for the Savior and many of God’s children.

I felt motivated to find courage to endure my life well and with joy. To be excited for what I can grow from with a grateful heart and gentle mouth.

I love how Gordon B. Hinkley always has taught us to have a grateful attitude. That’s something I loved the most in his teachings.

In his book, “Way To Be” he says, “Try to be grateful even when you encounter challenges and problems along the way of life, because you will. Like everyone else, you will have difficulties to overcome. But they will not last forever. And God will not forsake you.

Let a spirit of thanksgiving guide and bless your days and nights. Work at it. You will find that it will yield wonderful results.”

I want to cultivate more of a grateful heart. I have noticed as I looked for the good and was grateful today, it made my day brighter and lighter.

I am grateful for the things of today…

-Putting up Christmas decorations and listening to Christmas music.
-For coloring thanksgiving turkeys and reading Christmas books that helped me want to be better with my kids.
-Dancing with my son for a moment.
-Planning my lesson for young women’s.
-For meals that help me feel healthy.
-A clean home
-Rain
-Showers to get clean
-Games to play
-Holiday movies to enjoy
-scripture study and prayer with my family
-my yoga practice

I know that as I look for these wonderful things in my life I feel the love from the Lord and have a stronger desire to endure.

I love how powerful the holiday Thanksgiving is to give us ways to see the good and express what we are grateful for.

I am grateful for this each year and each day to look for God and all the blessings in my life that I was excited for.

22/07/2022

I See Love In The People

I was listening to a book by Steve Young today called, The Law of Love.

He talked about an experience with a team player on his football team that he didn't like. They both had some tension with each other.

After years of playing together they finally had a moment to get to know each other. They were on a bus heading to an area to play football and he was sincerely asking about the team player's wife and her health.

One simple question and inquiry had them both see each other in a different way. They both found friendship and love to this day from one small interaction.

It had me think that we all are good and want to do what is right. We also are experiencing things that someone doesn’t know about. Or, we don’t fully understand why another person is the way they are until we sincerely get to know them, like these two players did.

I am grateful for this summer. I have lived in Texas for almost two years now and have felt like we are still trying to get to know people and make friends.

I am grateful for the friends that we have made this summer and how I have truly, with sincerity, grown to see love and goodness in the people we are getting to know.

I can have ideas or my own judgements on who anyone is but I don’t truly understand till I get to know them.

I have been able to spend time with people from my ward that I haven’t had conversations with.

After being with them I have seen how good and kind these people are.

They are trying to make friends, trying to survive, and do the best they can. Like my own family.

I felt richly blessed for having the honor to be friendly with each of these families.

I don’t know what will happen going forward but I am grateful that I am able to love the people that I am around for now.

I felt a heavenly love for them.

I also could see Heavenly Father in my life today by just being with them.

I had more of an understanding for these people and I know Heavenly Father has an understanding for them and me. He is good. :)

I want to see His children through the light of love.

We are all on a journey back to our Heavenly home. I hope to get there with love and friendship in my heart.

4 Nephi 1:15

And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

“I do not like labels; I do not like to categorize people. We are all individuals–men and women, sons and daughters of God, not a mass of “look-alikes” or “do-alikes.” All of us are very much alike in our capacity to think, to reason, to be miserable, if you please; in our need to be happy, to love and be loved. We are subject to the same pains, the same sensitivities, the same emotions. We are all individuals living together, hopefully with respect for one another, notwithstanding our unique personal situations.”

Gordon B. Hinkley

16/06/2022

Hey friends,

I wanted to share a moment with you all! Thank you for your love!

-Following the Teachings of the Savior-

It was a rough evening at my daughters gymnastics.

My daughter's class can be challenging with so many girls and one coach to teach them.

The coach wasn’t having a very good day.

While I was observing the class, I could see the coach getting easily frustrated with the class because of them not doing something quick enough, or not doing what she told them to do, or not doing something right.

I could see many of the children shutting down and not wanting to do what the coach says because she was upset with them.

I was almost upset with her for getting so frustrated but then I could genuinely feel some compassion for her.

I understand what it is like to be overwhelmed with kids that don’t listen. I am a mom. I understand, I do.

But, I also know that when my children feel loved, they respond better.

Seeing her getting frustrated, I decided I would rather have compassion for her the way the Savior does.

When it was time to get my daughter from the class, I walked up to the coach to talk to her.

I wasn’t planning on talking to her because I had mixed emotions about how I watched the class but I ended up doing it.

I told her that I was so sorry for how difficult the class was for her. I let her know I understood and that some days are hard. I expressed to her that I know she is doing the best she can.

I know it was the spirit speaking for me.

I wanted to talk to her the way the Savior would even though I didn't agree with how she was speaking to the class.

I know when I have bad days that the Lord is concerned for me. He is compassionate for what I am feeling even if I am not doing something right. He knows something is painful for me.

I want to be like Him and understand others.

I am grateful for this experience that it taught me how to see others the way I would want to be treated.

We all experience hard days. We all are going through something painful.

I hope we can all see each other as a child of God and we are all in this together.

Overcoming the World, April 2017 General Conference Talk

“Overcoming the world is trusting in the one voice that warns, comforts, enlightens, and brings peace “not as the world giveth.”16