Rachel Dodge's Blog, page 19
October 30, 2018
“31 Days of Praying with Jane” Daily Devotional Discussion Group
Have you ever started a Bible study or devotional book only to never finish? I’m excited to announce that I’m hosting a “31 Days of Praying with Jane” Facebook discussion group for that very reason this November. I hope you’ll join me for a month of Thanksgiving and Prayer!
This group is a great way to enjoy the devotional book Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen with friends this fall! We’ll go through the book one day at a time and discuss Austen’s life, novels, and faith and grow in our own prayer lives.
What “31 Days of Praying with Jane” offers:
Encouragement in your personal prayer life.
Handy tips for prayer journaling, praying Scripture, and prayer walking.
Friendship and accountability with other like-minded people.
Ideas for personal and family devotions.
Fun! We’ll drink tea, eat scones, post photos, and support one another.
Weekly giveaways for active members of the group.
Live events such as a Live Tea Party you don’t want to miss!
The Facebook group launches November 1st. It will run November 1- December 1, just in time to prepare our hearts for Advent. I hope you’ll join us and bring a friend!
Click Here to Join! The privacy settings are set to closed, which means anyone can find the group, but only group members can see posts or interact (and I, the admin, have to approve all members). All you need to do is click on the link and answer the question I’ve provided.
Don’t use Facebook? I’ll be posting here each week as well. Please use the comments section and/or my email to interact with me and the other readers here!
Need a copy of the book? You can order Praying with Jane here.
“We bless thee for every comfort of our past and present existence, for our health of Body and of Mind & for every other source of happiness which Thou hast bountifully bestowed on us . . .”
Jane Austen, Prayers
Let’s Stay in Touch:
Subscribe: To receive articles like this, along with book reviews and other literary ramblings, click here to subscribe to my blog.
Free Download: When you subscribe, you’ll receive a free English Garden printable reading map and activity guide.
Kindred Spirit Book Club Facebook group: If you love to chat about favorite books with other book-lovers, then please join us on Facebook for weekly discussions!
Book Reviews: For book ideas, click here.
The post “31 Days of Praying with Jane” Daily Devotional Discussion Group appeared first on Rachel Dodge.
October 23, 2018
Car Line Devos: Seizing the Moment by Kelly McNeilly
I love these Car Line Devos by my friend Kelly McNeilly over at So That God blog. Take a few moments to listen to Kelly and you’ll be encouraged and refreshed. She shares some great tips for seizing moments with God in the midst of our busy schedules:
The post Car Line Devos: Seizing the Moment by Kelly McNeilly appeared first on Rachel Dodge.
October 11, 2018
Jane Austen’s Spiritual Heritage: The Importance of Family Devotions for Christian Shelf Esteem
Thank you to Amanda Geeney at Christian Shelf Esteem for the opportunity to share the following article about family devotions with her readers as a guest author on her site. In it, I outline ideas for family devotions that you and your family can do together, including 6 ideas for your unique gifting!
Jane Austen’s Spiritual Heritage: The Importance of Family Devotions
In a time when the technology we use is continually pulling us toward isolation, we often feel starved for community. We were made for fellowship with God and others, and we long to connect with people in a real way. When we study the lives of Christians who came before us, we get wonderful glimpses into their daily lives and faith, and we glean from them lessons and practices that can enhance our own prayer and devotional lives.
As a student of Jane Austen’s prayers and faith, I’m struck by the communal nature of her own prayers and by her family’s spiritual life. Jane’s family gathered twice a day to read morning and evening prayers, along with a portion of the Psalms, from the Book of Common Prayer, the liturgy of the Church of England. It’s filled with fitting prayers and Scriptures for daily reading and special occasions. Jane grew up listening to it, and later reading it for herself, and she likely knew many of the prayers and Psalms by heart.
Jane’s own three prayers echo the cadence and language of the Book of Common Prayer and are filled with thanksgiving, confession, petition, and intercession. In her prayers, she uses [Read More]
The post Jane Austen’s Spiritual Heritage: The Importance of Family Devotions for Christian Shelf Esteem appeared first on Rachel Dodge.
October 10, 2018
“Praying with Jane” – a Review by Laura Boyle (Jane Austen Centre, Bath)
A special thank you to Laura Boyle at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England for her review of Praying with Jane. In it, she provides readers with additional background on Austen’s prayers and faith.
“Praying with Jane” – a Review by Laura Boyle
In Praying with Jane, Rachel Dodge has managed to present Jane Austen’s life “in a style entirely new”, taking a closer look at the heart behind the one of the most beloved authors of all time. Much of what is known of Jane’s life comes in the form of her (censored) letters and the reminiscences of family members. While these details paint a cheerful and amusing picture, that which made Jane, Jane, lies at the heart of the three existing prayers we have that she wrote for use during evening prayers. We do not know why she wrote them- whether out of an overflow of devotion or at the bequest of some family member, but the serious, heartfelt tone, when examined, adds a deeper shade to our understanding of the writer. These are no “vain repetitions”, but rather intimate, whole life lessons, summing up the core values of a woman once noted for her desire for anonymity.
In this book, Rachel Dodge closely examines each line of each prayer, in a day by day format, allowing for a 31 day devotional, to be used either in succession, or occasionally. Using Jane’s own historical background as well as Ms. Dodge’s extensive knowledge of Austen’s fictional works, the prayers are placed into context in Jane’s life, along with insightful ways to apply them to our own, often busy, lives. Each day includes . . . [click here for more]
The post “Praying with Jane” – a Review by Laura Boyle (Jane Austen Centre, Bath) appeared first on Rachel Dodge.
October 9, 2018
A Week of Wonder: Praying with Jane Book Launch
Last week was wild and wonderful as I celebrated my first book launch. Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen spread its wings and went out into the world!
On launch day, it was actually quite hard to believe it was real. I got up, read my Bible, took a shower, got dressed, make breakfast for my family, got everyone off to school and work, and . . . and then I stood in the kitchen feeling a little stunned, to tell the truth. I did a few things around the house and on the computer, and then I drove to my friend’s house for lunch.
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We planned on having lunch together because I knew launch day wouldn’t be a day for being home alone or trying to concentrate! She fed me a homemade gourmet lunch, poured glasses of bubbly, presented me with the perfect Jane Austen gift, and smothered me with love (with a little help from her precious baby boy).
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Later in the day, my kids and I were thinking we should do something special, but we didn’t know what. My husband came home and took my son to soccer practice. I was just going to start dinner when we heard a knock at the door. Our friends arrived with their two littles and a beautiful Jane Austen cake. We all went out for dinner together and had the best time celebrating.
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After dinner, my youngest asked if we could go to the bookstore to see my book “in person,” so we finished the evening with a drive to Barnes & Noble, where I signed the copies of the book and snapped a few photos.
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On Saturday, I spoke to the JASNA Greater Sacramento regional group. I talked about the book and Jane Austen’s prayers and faith. We an AGM report, my talk, a break for tea and scones, and then a wonderful talk by our regional coordinator, Nina Edmondson, about the Royal Navy in Persuasion. I sold and signed books, mugs, and prayer journals at the break and after the meeting. What a treat!
Many friends and launch team members spoiled me as well, with reviews, interviews, and articles. Some people I don’t know said lovely things as well. Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me and this book into their hearts and lives. I am grateful for every prayer and every bit of practical help and support!
The beautiful photo featured in this post was taken by Jennifer Kavcsak Smith (used with permission). You can follow her gorgeous bookish photographs on Instagram @storybookstyle. I particularly love her profile bio: “wife & girl mom | believer † | reader of classics.” It doesn’t get much better than that!
Let’s Stay in Touch:
Subscribe: To receive articles like this, along with book reviews and other literary ramblings, click here to subscribe to my blog.
Free Download: When you subscribe, you’ll receive a free English Garden printable reading map and activity guide.
Kindred Spirit Book Club Facebook group: If you love to chat about favorite books with other book-lovers, then please join us on Facebook for weekly discussions!
Book Reviews: For book ideas, click here.
Do you love Jane Austen? Are you passionate about prayer?
My new book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, is available now (Bethany House). Click here to read the book description and to pre-order your copy! If you order now, you’ll receive a set of 6 FREE downloadable prayer cards!
Coming soon: A Praying with Jane Facebook group. There, we can mix and mingle and pray for one another as we explore Jane Austen’s beautiful prayers.
The post A Week of Wonder: Praying with Jane Book Launch appeared first on Rachel Dodge.
September 28, 2018
Jane Austen Friends at JASNA
I’m having a blast at the annual JASNA meeting and wanted to share a few highlights with my blog friends.
First off, I’ve met the most amazing people here. Everyone has been loving, friendly, and welcoming. I came here knowing a handful of people from my regional group, and I’ve made many friends already in just a few days.
Many people have visited my Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen table to buy books, mugs, and prayer journals. I’ve been blessed and in awe of the response. I’ve had the opportunity to talk with many people about life, faith, and prayer.
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I’ve also met several other vendors. What a fun group! We’ve shared helpful tips, insider information, little goodies and trinkets, made some wonderful barters, and kept each other going during the rushes and the lulls. I’ve made friends with the people next to me. We’re bonding in the most unique way! You talk about a lot of wonderful (and deep) topics when you spend 10+ hours together each day. It’s been a treat for me.
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Amanda Root: Loveliness Personified
One of the wonderful events I’ve attended at the JASNA AGM was a live talk with Actress Amanda Root of Persuasion (1995). It was incredible! She brought Persuasion to life for us by reading passages from the novel and entries from her journals from the time when they were filming the movie. I didn’t see a dry eye in the row where I was sitting. Ms. Root is humble, personable, and friendly.
Today she took the time to walk through the Emporium and talk to each of the vendors individually, taking photos and talking to us. She is warm and down to earth. I had the honor of signing a book for her and presenting her with a book, mug, and prayer journal. What a joy!
Ms. Root is also the founder of Talitha Art, a non-profit organization and center where therapeutic art is used to “restore hope and rebuild broken lives.” You can visit Talitha.org.uk to learn more or to donate to the beautiful work they are doing.
The post Jane Austen Friends at JASNA appeared first on Rachel Dodge.
September 23, 2018
Visiting the Gardens at Stoneleigh Abbey
On a visit to see my relatives in Warwick, England, last month, I stopped at Stoneleigh Abbey. It was late in the day and the house tours had concluded, so I purchased a garden ticket and stepped through the wide, low door from the Gatehouse into the garden. Once inside, I followed a small path, lined on one side with tall flowers and a wooden fence. As the imposing front face of Stoneleigh came into view, I stopped and stared. In person, Stoneleigh Abbey is absolutely stunning.
Jane Austen went to Stoneleigh Abbey in 1806 with her mother and Cassandra during a visit to Mrs. Austen’s first cousin, Reverend Thomas Leigh. The Austen women stayed at Leigh’s Adlestrop estate. During their visit, they also went with him to Stoneleigh Abbey, which he had just inherited. It’s believed that Austen drew inspiration from that trip for the Sotherton outing in Mansfield Park.
During the Regency period, the trend in landscape gardening aimed to make the gardens and surrounding land of grand estates look more natural and inviting. Enclosure walls were taken down, streams were redirected, long avenues of trees were chopped down, and new trees were planted in natural clumps. The orderly borders and rows of previous generations gave way to open spaces, grazing sheep or cattle, Grecian urns, and playful fountains.
In Jane Austen and the English Landscape, Mavis Batey closely chronicles the landscape changes made to Adlestrop and Stoneleigh during Thomas Leigh’s day as well as the Red Book design plans proposed by Humphrey Repton. Austen was familiar with Repton’s Red Books, in which Repton presented clients with detailed drawings and paintings of his proposed changes.
During her visit to Adlestrop, Austen had access to Repton’s book, Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening. It features examples of his “before and after” overlays, including his design plans for Adlestrop. “Jane Austen’s first real acquaintance with Repton’s work was at Adlestrop in Gloucestershire, where her cousin the Revd Thomas Leigh had consulted him in 1799” (Batey 81). By the time Austen visited Adlestrop in 1806, the improvements were complete.
When Austen saw Stoneleigh, no alterations had been made. Her brother, James, visited Stoneleigh in 1809, just after Repton had completed the Red Book for Stoneleigh (89). It’s likely that James provided the Austen women with updates on the progress there…
To keep reading the rest of my article and see more of the beautiful photos I took on my visit, click here.
Works Cited:
Batey, Mavis. Jane Austen and the English Landscape. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 1996.
Greayer, Rochelle. “Before & After: Humphry Repton.” Pith + Vigor, 8 May 2013, http://www.pithandvigor.com/garden/before-after/before-after-humphry-repton.
Nicholson, Nigel. The World of Jane Austen. London: Orion Publishing Group, 1991.
Photo Gallery of Stoneleigh Abbey:
Let’s Stay in Touch:
Subscribe: To receive articles like this, along with book reviews and other literary ramblings, click here to subscribe to my blog.
Free Download: When you subscribe, you’ll receive a free English Garden printable reading map and activity guide.
Kindred Spirit Book Club Facebook group: If you love to chat about favorite books with other book-lovers, then please join us on Facebook for weekly discussions!
Book Reviews: For book ideas, click here.
Do you love Jane Austen? Are you passionate about prayer?
My new book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, releases in October (Bethany House). Click here to read the book description and to pre-order your copy!
Free Downloadable Prayer Cards When You Order Now
For a limited time, if you order a copy of Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, you will receive a free downloadable set of six Praying with Jane prayer cards. Each prayer card has a quote from Jane Austen’s prayers and space for your own prayers and praises. May you draw near to God as “you pray with Jane.” If you’ve already ordered a copy, please click here to redeem your gift.
The post Visiting the Gardens at Stoneleigh Abbey appeared first on Rachel Dodge.
September 20, 2018
Free Prayer Cards with Your Order of Praying with Jane
Jane Austen’s novels have charmed readers for over 200 years with their beauty, humor, and wisdom. Much less is known, however, about the exquisite prayers she wrote. Now readers can take a month-long journey through Austen’s prayers as they explore her life of faith in this lovely devotional book.
Praying with Jane is a devotional book designed to guide readers through Jane Austen’s prayers line-by-line, providing insights into her faith, her family’s religious life, and the spiritual truths found in her novels. Each day’s reflection ends with an invitation to “pray with Jane,” a sample prayer, and a key Scripture verse for the day. Readers will enjoy a fresh take on prayer and on Austen’s life and faith.
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Bethany House Publishers
Pre-order your copy at the following booksellers today:
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Free Downloadable Prayer Cards When You Order Now
Right now, if you order a copy of Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, you will receive a free downloadable set of six Praying with Jane prayer cards. Each prayer card has a quote from Jane Austen’s prayers and space for you to write down your own prayers and praises. May you draw near to God as “you pray with Jane.”
To receive your free gift, please click here.
The post Free Prayer Cards with Your Order of Praying with Jane appeared first on Rachel Dodge.
September 18, 2018
Kindred Spirit Book Club: Fall Read-Along Books
I’ve been thinking about what to read next as a group, and I love the idea of reading one book every two months. A few of the women in our online book club suggested it. It’s a great idea because most of us have way less time to read during the fall months.
I landed on one that may be new for some of you and one that’s a good, old-fashioned standby: For September and October, we’ll read Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. It’s one of my all-time favorite books that I read with my college literature students. For November and December, we’ll read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It’s such a fun book to read during the holidays. I love a cozy classic when the weather turns cold.
As always, you can read along with us, join in discussions as you like, and/or read other great books and share them with the rest of the group.
Both of these books also have movie versions, so you and your local friends might want to put together a book discussion and viewing party as well.
Let’s Stay in Touch:
Subscribe: To receive articles like this, along with book reviews and other literary ramblings, click here to subscribe to my blog.
Free Download: When you subscribe, you’ll receive a free English Garden printable reading map and activity guide.
Kindred Spirit Book Club Facebook group: If you love to chat about favorite books with other book-lovers, then please join us on Facebook for weekly discussions!
Book Reviews: For book ideas, click here.
Do you love Jane Austen? Are you passionate about prayer?
My new book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, releases in October (Bethany House). Click here to read the book description and to pre-order your copy!
Coming soon: A Praying with Jane Facebook group where we can mix and mingle and pray for one another as we explore Jane Austen’s beautiful prayers.
The post Kindred Spirit Book Club: Fall Read-Along Books appeared first on Rachel Dodge.
September 15, 2018
Prayerful (a series): Finding your personal prayer spot.
“Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray I’ll tell you what I’d do. I’d go out into a great big field all alone or in the deep, deep woods and I’d look up into the sky—up—up—up—into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I’d just feel a prayer.” ― Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery
The beauty of creation has the power to elicit spontaneous prayer, doesn’t it? I’ve had moments when prayer bubbled up in me as I stood beside the ocean, enjoyed a mountain view, or held my sleeping babies.
Anne’s dream of praying all alone in a giant field or in the deep forest brings up a wonderful feeling. It’s the sense of being in a place where you can commune with God without interruption. It’s safe, comfortable, and set apart.
Since spectacular mountaintop moments only come once in a while for most of us, how can we make our prayer times fruitful and special on regular days?
There’s value in creating dedicated spaces for extended times of prayer. When we have a routine and a place and space for spiritual things, those spaces become tender, holy, and reverent.
Here are a few ideas for your own personal prayer spot:
Pray in a dedicated place. Create a prayer nook for your time with God. Perhaps there’s a candle, a blanket, a favorite drink, a Bible, and a pen close at hand.
Pray sitting at a table. One of my friends sits at her kitchen table with everything spread out in front of her so she can look through the glass doors to the backyard.
Pray in a secluded spot. I often pray in my closet because it’s sometimes the only quiet place in my house. There are no distractions. It’s dark, close, and cozy.
Pray on a walk. I love prayer walks. My pastor and his wife walk and pray together. There’s something about moving and praying that works.
Pray beside your bed. Praying before you get into bed at night and when you first get up in the morning is a beautiful way to start and end each day with Jesus.
Pray in the shower. I have a friend who intercedes for others in the shower after her family leaves for school and work. It’s a distraction-free space.
Pray in the car. If you’re driving alone, try praying out loud. It’s freeing. You can pray anything and everything because it’s private.
The key to finding your own personal prayer spot is communion with God. It’s the place and posture that helps you focus your mind and heart on prayer and draw near to God. As you pray there more, you’ll soon find that you have many prayer memories attached to that place. It will become a treasured place that reminds you of many loving conversations with your Heavenly Father.
I pray that these ideas help you think about a special prayer spot that’s all your own, where you can stay a while and spend time with God.
Do you have a prayer space? If not, where do you think you’d like to make one? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
For more articles on prayer and faith, click here.
Let’s Stay in Touch:
Subscribe: To receive articles like this, along with book reviews and other literary ramblings, click here to subscribe to my blog.
Free Download: When you subscribe, you’ll receive a free English Garden printable reading map and activity guide.
Kindred Spirit Book Club Facebook group: If you love to chat about favorite books with other book-lovers, then please join us on Facebook for weekly discussions!
Book Reviews: For book ideas, click here.
Do you love Jane Austen? Are you passionate about prayer?
My new book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, releases in October (Bethany House). Click here to read the book description and to pre-order your copy!
Coming soon: A Praying with Jane Facebook group where we can mix and mingle and pray for one another as we explore Jane Austen’s beautiful prayers.
The post Prayerful (a series): Finding your personal prayer spot. appeared first on Rachel Dodge.
