Goodbye, Dottie Rambo

Christian Music lost one of its most prolific and loved songwriters on Mother’s Day.  In fact, other than possibly Fanny Crosby, no other songwriter has done more for Christian music.  You may not know Dottie, but if you’ve around long you’ve heard (and loved) her music.

Writing over 2,500 songs in her lifetime, she was an unassuming little women who’s testimony and way of weaving words could keep you spellbound for hours.

“I Will Glory in the Cross”
“For What Earthly Reason”
“Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome (In This Place)”
“If That Isn’t Love”
“I Go to the Rock”
“I’ve Never Been This Homesick Before”

Dottie will be greatly missed.  And yet, sadly, most people will never know the contribution that she made.  And while churches will continue to sing her sweet words for ages to come, there is a fresh hole in Christian music left by the little lady that somehow knew exactly how to paint words in our minds and spin stories to our hearts about the most important thing of all: God, Heaven, and Salvation.

I think there is no more fitting tribute than to close with the words of one of her most famous songs, “We Shall Behold Him”:

The sky shall unfold, preparing His entrance;
The stars shall applaud Him with thunders of praise.
The sweet light in His eyes shall enhance those a waiting,
And we shall behold Him then face to face.

And we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory;
And we shall behold Him, Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Saviour and Lord.

The angels shall sound the shout of His coming,
The sleeping shall rise from their slumbering place.
And those who remain shall be changed in a moment,
And we shall behold Him then face to face.

And we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory;
And we shall behold Him, Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Saviour and Lord.
We shall behold Him, our Saviour and Lord.