Episode 14:
My Body: Given to Me for You & How to Care for a Newborn Mum
With Jodie McIver
Jodie McIver is a registered midwife and a graduate of Moore Theological College, Sydney. She is mother to 3 children and along with her husband is in ministry in the Anglican Church. Jodie is also the author of "Bringing Forth Life: God's purposes in pregnancy and birth".
In part 1 of this episode, we discuss the driving forces behind Jodie's decision to write the book and her personal experience of giving birth for the first time. The first experiences of motherhood are not only transforming us as people but transforming the bodies we thought we knew so well. We look at the physical impact of that transformation and the deepening understanding of our body and it's value.
In part 2, Jodie and I discuss the transformation of our very identity through pregnancy and birth. We look at the importance of relationships with our spouse, family, church and
community as well as our burgeoning relationship with the new member of the family. Jodie brings the term Matrescence to our conversation, the disruption to our perceived identity in motherhood and how to trust and realise the ultimate authority of God over it all.
Scriptural References
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All of the scriptures discussed are referenced below using the World English Bible version unless otherwise stated.
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Romans 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
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Psalm 147:7 - 9
Sing to Yahweh with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God,
8 who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains. 9 He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.
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Matthew 14:13 - 14
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
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Matthew 14:22 - 23
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.
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Luke 9:23 - 24
He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, will save it.
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Additional Scriptures
Though not quoted directly in the episode, Jodie provided the following scriptures which have been important to her through her experience. (All WEB).
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Romans 8:28 - 29
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
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Colossians 3:9 - 10
Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, 10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator
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Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
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Resources
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Links
Buy Bringing Forth Life: God's purposes in pregnancy and birth - Youthworks Media
