ABOVE ALL THINGS - Deborah Raney - Free Book

I'm always happy to interview my friend Deborah Raney. Welcome back, Deb. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I grew up in a Christian home and can’t remember a time that I didn’t love Jesus and believe in His saving grace. But as a teenager I went through a time of rebellion. God was very patient with me, but there came a time when I knew He was requiring me to “put my money where my mouth was” and follow Him in obedience. I lay in my bed one Friday night after coming home from a beer party, and I dedicated my life––body, mind, and spirit––to Christ. I’ve never looked back.

How did you and your husband meet?

One of the first things the Lord asked of me after I gave my life to Him, was that I break up with my current boyfriend, who was not a believer. I prayed a childish teenage prayer that God would put someone new in my life. He did that in a man named Ken Raney, the brother of my best friend’s boyfriend. We actually beat them to the altar by about a year, and celebrated our 34th anniversary in August. We’re aiming for the milestone Ken’s grandparents will celebrate in May, Lord willing: 80 years of marriage!

A worthy goal. I know you have a speaking ministry. Tell us about that.

When my first book came out thirteen years ago, my church asked if I would give a talk to the women’s group. Not about my book, but on the topic of Raising Rock Solid Children in a Slippery Slope World. A visitor the night I spoke asked if I’d give the same talk in her church, and I’ve been speaking steadily ever since. My focus has become more to writers––teaching at conferences, etc.––in the last few years, but I do occasionally keynote women’s retreats as well. I’m an extrovert and really enjoy the speaking part of my career that gets me out with people.

With a degree in Speech and Drama, I enjoy the speaking part, too. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

Speaking at an event for stay-at-home moms a few years ago, I was delighted to learn that over 800 women had signed up for one of my workshops! (That Rock Solid Kids one…) I spoke in a large auditorium and felt my talk went very well. But as I walked to another building to teach my next workshop, I overheard some women talking and was humbled (humiliated?) to discover WHY so many women had signed up for my class: they thought I was Barbara Rainey, wife of Family Life Today’s Dennis Rainey. J My husband and I actually get mistaken for that famous couple often. Though our last names are not spelled the same, Kenneth and Deborah Raney does sound a lot like Dennis and Barbara Rainey.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I say “Go for it!” And I repeat the most encouraging advice anyone ever gave me: If you were to write just ONE page a day, at the end of a year, you would have 365 pages––and THAT’S a book! It’s like walking ten miles…you just put one foot in front of the other and take one step at a time. Writing happens one word, one paragraph, one page at a time.

Very good advice. Now tell us about the featured book.

Above All Things is the story of a woman confronted with a sin from her husband’s past that she must deal with in a very tangible way––in the form of his six-year-old biracial daughter. This book was my exploration of the subtle racial prejudices we all hold. I hope with all my heart that I am a part of racial reconciliation––that perhaps this book could even play a role in that cause. Since the election, our nation seems to have heightened awareness about such issues. But it was sobering to put myself in the place of my characters and realize that I have places where the Lord needs to create a clean heart within me. Above All Things released from Steeple Hill in June 2009.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is at http://www.deborahraney.com/ and there’s a link to email me on the home page. I’ve also recently become part of the Shoutlife community, and I’d love to make friends with readers there: www.shoutlife.com/debraney

Thank you, Deb, for spending this time with us.

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