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wordhabit

wordhabit

By wordhabit

So often we try to condense our world into bullet points. It’s easier that way until it’s not. Our lives are a mess of complex pieces and the words we use to sort through them are each important to our ability to see ourselves and see each other. This is a space where all the words matter.

My name is Michaela Lawrence Jeffery and you can find out more about me at wordhabit.com
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Currently playing episode

Advent (day 9) Unexpected.

wordhabitDec 11, 2020

00:00
18:23
Advent 2022 (my way): "This Is How We Show Up"

Advent 2022 (my way): "This Is How We Show Up"

"And the things of earth will grow strangely dim…" is a line from a hymn titled "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." 


Dec 13, 202209:43
Advent 2022 (my way): "Okay."

Advent 2022 (my way): "Okay."

FYI: My reading of Mary & Joseph's conception story is from the Message Bible.

Dec 06, 202207:31
Advent 2022 (my way): "A bit of brand new"

Advent 2022 (my way): "A bit of brand new"

FYI: the verse in Matthew 11 that I reference includes the words of Jesus as recorded in the International Children's Bible. I often enjoy its clarity.

Dec 05, 202209:20
Advent 2022 (my way): "Anticipation"

Advent 2022 (my way): "Anticipation"

FYI...This episode talks about pregnancy and miscarriage.

Dec 04, 202208:16
Advent 2022 (my way): "Adults say and do the darndest things"

Advent 2022 (my way): "Adults say and do the darndest things"

Check out yesterydays for a bit more intro to this.

Dec 03, 202209:11
Advent 2022 (my way): "There are too many dead "

Advent 2022 (my way): "There are too many dead "

Welcome to Advent 2022, My Way.

In case you don’t know who I am, my name is Michaela Lawrence Jeffery. In addition to being a daughter, sister, niece, cousin, wife, mother, friend…you get the picture…I’m a pastor and I’m a writer and I’m still learning to put the two together beyond sermon writing.

Two years ago, I explored Advent for the first time.

This isn’t something Seventh-day Adventists traditionally do, it’s not something I grew up with. It is something I see a lot of value in and I’m enjoying the process of creatively exploring Advent in a way that proves relevant to what I’m experiencing today.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to shepherd you through part of the Advent season.

Dec 02, 202207:49
Ep 23: Sunset (Letter 2)

Ep 23: Sunset (Letter 2)

Two things: 

  1. A few months ago, I came up with a new writing project. I need projects. This one is called Add to the Beauty (ATTB). What is ATTB? See my website for all the details.
  2. My daydream about visiting BBT is truly just a daydream. I don’t even know if she likes lemonade. And I certainly don't know if she likes being referred to as BBT.

This episode is about the glory of a sunset.

Be sure to leave a review.

Oct 27, 202112:52
22: Switching Gears (Letter 1)
Sep 21, 202113:52
21: Dance
Jun 18, 202111:44
20: Later

20: Later

Here's the Chocolate Tea recipe I talk about. 

You can read the rest of the show notes here: https://wordhabit.com/episode-20-later/

Apr 27, 202115:39
19: Sojourner
Mar 29, 202109:31
18: Unity (reflection & poem)

18: Unity (reflection & poem)

I recently published a piece about Unity. You can find it here. The writing process got me thinking a lot about...unity...and so I thought I'd share some recent and not at all recent thoughts on the matter. The poem was written in 1999. I was 20.

Enjoy.

Feb 08, 202116:37
17: A Conversation with hope*writer Kelly Streiff (part 2)

17: A Conversation with hope*writer Kelly Streiff (part 2)

In this episode, Kelly and I wrap up our conversation on writing. If you haven’t already listened to part 1, be sure to do that.
Jan 29, 202128:14
16: A Conversation with hope*writer Kelly Streiff (part 1)
Jan 29, 202117:13
Advent (day 9) Unexpected.

Advent (day 9) Unexpected.

You'll get a laugh out of this one and also some good thinking time.

Enjoy!

Dec 11, 202018:23
Advent (day 8) Clarity.

Advent (day 8) Clarity.

Todays words are not mine at all. Most are pieces from the Bible and the last one is a poem that I got permission to read. It's by Rev.  J Todd Jenkins. You can follow him on Twitter @dabar96.

Until next time...

Dec 10, 202014:11
Advent (day 7) Perfect (pt 1).

Advent (day 7) Perfect (pt 1).

Anyone in the airwaves love to be perfect??

I'm certainly a perfectionist in recovery and I take joy in moments when messy is just fine and imperfect can remain. Listen into what I'm thinking about as I begin making connections between what is perfect and this season of Advent.

Just one piece today. You can read it here: https://wordhabit.com/2020/12/08/advent-day-7-perfect/

To get in touch, email me at wordhabit@gmail.com

Dec 09, 202008:31
Advent (day 6) Music.

Advent (day 6) Music.

One piece today, written tonight. You can read it here: https://wordhabit.com/2020/12/07/advent-day-6-music/

I love music so this one is especially meaningful. Although, last night's is actually my favorite of my Advent episodes so far.

Thank you for tuning in.

Dec 08, 202007:08
Advent (day 5) Father.
Dec 07, 202009:26
Advent (day 4) Settling.
Dec 05, 202008:42
Advent (day 3) Waiting.

Advent (day 3) Waiting.

I am loving this journey even though it, so far, is taking me to 10pm each night to complete. It's worth it.

So is waiting. Tune in and let me know what you think.

Again, I share two pieces. The second is on my website: https://wordhabit.com/2007/06/30/inanition-continues/

Remember you can always email me at wordhabit@gmail.com. Once Advent is over, I'll return to other words and I'd love for you to share a word that means a lot to you with 100 other words telling me why.

Dec 04, 202010:03
Advent (day 2) Fear.

Advent (day 2) Fear.

Day 2 of thinking about and researching Advent. I've shared two pieces again today. You can find the original post of the first one on my website. Click here.

Don't forget to reach out and let me know a word and 100 words telling me why that word matters to you. Email it all to wordhabit@gmail.com


Dec 03, 202012:36
Advent (day 1) Discovery.

Advent (day 1) Discovery.

Thank you for joining my Advent journey. I'm beginning on December 1 and hope to get to December 25 if not the 31st.

I wasn't raised observing this season so I'm taking time to figure it out for myself.

I share two pieces here about discovery--one I wrote today specific to Advent and the other I wrote in 2008 when my husband was my boyfriend and I was in Seminary.

If you enjoy what you hear, be sure to share it. And don't hesitate to email me at wordhabit@gmail.com with words that matter to you.


2008 blog post is https://wordhabit.com/2008/03/13/history-belongs/
The lyric "history belongs to those who pray" is in the song that I can't currently find. The artist who I heard sing it is a woman who, I believe, has a Celtic vibe.

Dec 02, 202008:28
6: Voice

6: Voice

I’ve never enjoyed hearing my voice played back. Does anyone? My consistent internal response is, “Who is that person and why do people listen to her?”

I am learning to listen to her. She hasn’t always been comfortable, she hasn’t always been afraid. She’s had bold moments as a child and she’s shut up an awful lot in older years.

Discovering my voice has been part of my healing.

Nov 17, 202021:27
Blackness (Ep 5)

Blackness (Ep 5)

We're taught to fear the dark, to turn on lights. Even our design sensibilities are telling, from white walls to white sneakers. This thing called skin color is heavy.

In this episode 5, I’ll share a sandwich made up of two short prose pieces and a poem in between. They all have to do with Blackness. Yup. Blackness. That’s our word for today.

Sep 15, 202018:35
Sunshine (Ep 4)

Sunshine (Ep 4)

You know that scene after a good storm when the sun peeks through grey clouds along with a little bit of blue sky? Even if you like thunder and lightning, that little bit of sun does wonders for your psyche. We're getting a lot of sunshine these and could really do with more of the figurative kind.

Sunshine. That's our topic for today. Thanks for listening.

Jul 29, 202010:44
Loneliness (Ep 3)

Loneliness (Ep 3)

The distancing required during the last few months and the fear of the unknown have gotten married and have made all the already bad things even worse. Like loneliness. 

That's our topic for today. Thanks for listening.

Jun 11, 202014:39
Community (Ep 2)

Community (Ep 2)

I share two pieces. The first I wrote on October 2, 2016 when life was full but I only had one child. The second is a piece I started just yesterday and completed today (April 9, 2020). Both are about Community. That's our topic for today. Thanks for listening.
Apr 10, 202009:39
Home (Ep 1)

Home (Ep 1)

I share two pieces I've written about our topic for today--Home. One was written in 2013 the other in 2020. It's nice to see that I still believe what I wrote down almost seven years ago. It's also nice to be a bit more settled.

What are your thoughts on Home?

Apr 02, 202007:08
an introduction

an introduction

Here are the basics of what wordhabit is all about. Hope you'll send me your words (wordhabit@gmail.com) so we can get this conversation rolling.

Apr 01, 202000:49