YouTube - Dottie Rambo Home-Going-1 - Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome
Dottie Rambo probably penned this song sometime in the early 70's. During that time she and her family (The Rambos: Buck, Dottie, and Reba) had the opportunity to sing behind the Iron Curtain. When they sang in that area they were instructed they couldn't tell or mention to anyone anything about Jesus, the blood of Jesus, or salvation. They could sing all their songs they normally sing, but they couldn't say anything about Jesus in-between songs. One evening following their concert, their organizer decided to send them to a local bistro not far from where they're staying. Dottie noticed when she was outside how dark, dreary, and oppressive the spirit was in that area behind the Iron Curtain. Dottie had purposed in her heart to find someone in the restaurant that may know Jesus so she could encourage them. She was told she couldn't mention Jesus at the restaurant. Dottie had a pamphlet with Psalms 23 on one side and Jesus with a little lamb on his shoulder on the other side. She had it in the palm of her hand and the waitress came by her table and saw it and the waitress mentioned Jesus's name and said she loved him. The people at her table were scared and were fearful they could be arrested. They immediately left and as she was walking outside she was thinking to herself, "Nobody here may want Jesus, but you're wanted 'here'". She was speaking in reference to her heart. Hence, the song was birthed by the time she had went into the van that evening. Many people when they sing that song misinterpret that Dottie was making reference to being welcome in the churches. Dottie was making reference to an individual's own heart. I was thinking about the different places where we as Christians should desire the Holy Spirit to be. First of all, we should desire for the sinner to repent so the Holy Spirit could take abode in their hearts. We should welcome the Holy Spirit to work in our lives as Christians like he so desires. Lastly, we should desire for the Holy Spirit to be welcome and have his way within the confines of the local church. I believe if the Holy Spirit is welcome to work within our lives like he should, it will spill over into the church.
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace
Thou art welcome in this place
Lord in Thy presence there's healing divine
No other power can save Lord, but Thine
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Thou art welcome in this place
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace
Thou art welcome in this place
Fill all the hungry and empty within
Restore us, oh Father revive us again
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Holy Spirit Thou Art welcome in this place
So like Dottie,keenly responsive to the Holy Spirit and searching for a way to share him. Beautiful story.
ReplyDeleteOkay thanks. I wanted to know who wrote the song and I thought it was this Terry MacAlmon fellow. Dottie Rambo wrote this piece and I like the explanation above.
ReplyDeleteWow I just 1st listened to this song this week. I didn't understand the lyrics of the Holy Spirit not being welcome but now that I read the story I understand the whole song A know how Brave she was to write a beautiful song like that for people to read between the lines and know that God and Jesus is always there for us amen I love you Dottie Rambo
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this story. I have loved the song for a long time, for it welcomes the Holy Spirit into our presence. But I had no idea that Dottie sang it for the first time in place where He was not wanted.
ReplyDeleteBravo.
THANKYOU
ReplyDeleteDottie had such an intimacy with the Holy Spirit I am do glad she wrote it
ReplyDelete