We're back. Whew. Episode dumps biweekly. 

Happy Father's Day to the man I love and admire, from the sons he loves and leads. There's no one like my guy. 

Have peace in order to be a peace bringer.  With some of my fav peaceful tunes and the soothing wisdom of our forever Queen,  Dr. Maya Angelou, episode 7 of CTL will dig deep down into the roots of peace and how to prioritize it and protect it in an era where unease is served sunny side down.
Take notes and take time to absorb these tips, about twenty-six in all, to help us identify habits we can cultivate, practices we can break and people we can surround ourselves with to help have a posture of peace.

Remember,  we serve the King of Kings,  the Lord of Lords and the Prince of Peace...it's ours to have, and ours to maintain. God gives us tools for doing so in His Word. Our survival and our ability to thrive and cope in a stressful world, where trouble is present on every hand, depends on how well we identify and manage peace thieves, prioritize it in our schedules, even how we monitor the stuff we eat and listen to.

Maya serenades us with a Chrismas Poem for Peace she performed in a 2005 interview with Katie Couric on the Today Show.

Our soundtrack for peace contains these tunes (below).  Enjoy them and wrap yourself in the music and melodies. Music is so very important in promoting the routines that work peace into our lives . Tell us on IG how you protect and prioritize your peace. From the largest shift to the smallest notion, whatever you can do to protect your peace is a valuable act of trust and gratitude to the God who promises to care for you. 

Happy new year. May it being you the joy and peace you deserve.  I'm believing God with you for better days. 

King-Supernatural 
Badbadnotgood 
Weldon Irvine- Morning Sunrise 
Hiatus Kaiyote- The Lung 
Musinah 
Longstars 

Fellow writer, my dear, new friend, a daughter, sister, yogi, recent Duke MBA grad, and HR change agent Teni Ayo-Ariyo (first name Teninlanimi te-ni-nlah-nih-mih, last name Ayo-Ariyo (eye-yo-ah-rih-yoh) whose name in Yoruba means  I belong to the Great One  talks candidly to us about how she has learned to trust God's process in her incredible life.

The recent Seattle transplant details how she's navigated through the foggy times in her life and trusted God to move across the country in the middle of a pandemic.  She shares how the Christian upbringing in her parents' nurturing home laid the foundation for her to stand firmly as she deepened (s) her relationship with God in her own way, for herself.

Seeing God as a merciful Creator who cares about the details of her process has been her rod and her peace. She'll share what's in her 'backpack' and help all of us go into 2021 trusting God fully,  being more emphatic to ourselves and being patient as we allow God to move in God's time.

It takes a lot of strength and power to exhibit such trust and relinquish autonomy of lives we didn't create,  but rather we get to enjoy, courtesy of a GRACIOUS God, Who lights our paths and whose thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

Follow Teni and her visual and written content on IG at teninla and be ready to grab her new chapbook in 2021 called, 'Wash Between Your Toes'. While you're over there, read her method for Activism For Soft Hearts. Yours will melt at her gentle,  affirming words. She is a sweet soul who indeed belongs to The Great One.  

Warning...this episode, this episode right herrreee...is full of good music, cool spaces to exhale and warm, chocolaty metaphors. Lol 

Playlist coming soon. 

The 41 Best Things at 41 - Considering Your  Accomplishments, our host Pastor Shaun was inspired by content creator, Iz Harris, to create a list of forty-one accomplishments she's achieved at her age of 41. Shaunna was inspired to create her own list and it's so appropriate as we close out 2020...write your list.. think on the good things...I'm reminding you to remember the good. 

This episode will be a treat for your heart as well as your ears. Consider Your Accomplishments. 

Songs played
Da da 'n Da - Chante Cann and Snarky Puppy
Holy Holy - John Legend and the Roots
Piece of Mind - Idris Muhammad 
Morning Sunrise - Weldon Irvine
Never Ending - Shako and F

Tiara Smith talks about the journey of self-discovery, her pursuit of peace and the alignment with God that she has been so fortunate to experience in 2020. According to Smith,  the process has been rewarding and painful. She shares her self care practices and details some of the life changing encounters she's had with God on foreign land. If you ever been feeling 'stuck ' as a single person, this episode is for you!

Smith is a master stylist and hair guru in Nashville Tennessee who is currently expanding her brand and making her mark in the beauty and wellness industry. Her best friend and business partner, the beautiful Linda Fisher,  are reminding women and men every day to remember what they loved about themselves in their health and wellness initiative called My Keto Best Friend. The pair have lost weight together through the ketogenic diet,, intermittent fasting and support from the network of trainers and resources they've assembled. The program is growing by leaps and bounds and clients are seeing real results. Follow My KetoBestFriend on Instagram.

Always consult your doctor before embarking on a new diet and exercise regimen.

Follow Tiara Smith on Instagram at ThestylistQueen and if your interested in safe exciting travel excursions outside the US, contact MovingMelanin.

Follow our new Instagram page at ConsiderTheLiliesPodcast for chance to win a $100 gift card to Massage Envy!!
See rules there before applying.

US residents from any state can enter.
Not sponsored by Massage Envy.
One winner chosen on December 25th.

Not ready to fly? Here's a link to some top destinations in driving distance from Tennessee and North Carolina. I live in the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) area. It's an 8 hour drive from Nashville. Charlotte, NC is a 3 hour drive from me. Also, don't sleep on Richmond (2 hours) and our Carolina Beaches. Try your local parks and lakes and don't forget Botanical Gardens for a local getaway. Plan a day trip to a small town you've never been to. Grab some local foods, sit in the car and listen to your favorite podcast or sermon..  Check hotel rates now. They've been pretty low and they are still generous with cancelation policies. You might need a quick stay-cation. Wherever you reside, Google 'road trips within 1 hour outside ____________(your city). ' You will be surprised at the gems that aren't so far from your home. 

Get out of the house. Get on the road, especially during this beautiful fall season. It'll do you some good. Realign with God and listen for that still,  small voice. 

Meditate on Luke 12:27 and give all your concerns to God. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. 

Thank you to all our listeners and be blessed!
Pastor Shaun 

I have the pleasure of talking to my youngest son, James Luke, about how he practices thankfulness daily. We talk about the impact the pandemic has had on his life as a 5fh grader and the perspective of thankfulness and giving we should all have. 

This season is very difficult for so many families. Go to #savethechildren.org to donate to their #SaveAPlate campaign to help feed kids right here in my neighborhood and yours. We need each other now more than ever.  I'm thankful to God for you, my listeners,  my family, my children,  and my beloved husband,  James. All I do and what I am able to do, is because of my heavenly Father and my partner. Happy Thanksgiving my King. 

Mrs. Tyus. 

The second half of our chat with Cindy Canty Dumas about being Fine and Flourishing over Fifty is packed with even more gems from the savvy sage.  She'll talk about coping strategies she uses in situations coming to test her and unpack how she was able to break the chain of abuse she experienced as a child. 

Cindy encourages us to 
1. Be here.
2. Be better. 
3. Be at peace.  

We'll share more of her self-care strategies and receive our call to action....there's much to learn, unpact and do. Thanks for listening and remember to ALWAYS Consider the Lilies.

National Domestic Violence Hotline https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/local-resources/ 

Call this number to be directed to resources in your state. 1.800.790.SAFE ( 7233). 
Here are the 5 Abuses to identify and seek help for: 

• Physical abuse.
• Emotional and verbal abuse.
• Sexual abuse.
• Financial abuse.
• Digital abuse.
• Stalking.

Go to their website to create a Safety Plan.
"You deserve a future without fear." NDVHotline

Episode 2.1 with the fabulous and fierce, firecracker of a woman, and my friend, Cindy Canty Dumas. She recalls how self- love was not easy and the angel of a husband who helped her see herself as God saw her-beautiful, important and worthy. This episode is so good, we broke it into two parts. Next week, Cindy will share how determination and the commitment she made and continues to make to herself, is essential to her ability to thrive and live a fulfilling life,  despite her turbulent upbringing. 

Pastor Lisa Yebuah talks about Rest as a Holy Mandate,  a commandment that honors God and helps to honor our neighbor. Rest, as Pastor Lisa put it, is an act of Trust in God.