A Perfect Heart

 

Dony McGuire and Reba Rambo are familiar to many of us in this present age. The 1980s is still very close in heart to many of us senior Christians.

Both Dony and Reba come from a rich musical family heritage. As a young boy, Dony toured with his four brothers and many popular Gospel singing groups before joining The Downings. At the age of 13, Reba began traveling with her parents, Buck and Dottie Rambo, in the legendary southern Gospel music group, The Rambos. They both launched solo careers in the late ‘70s becoming trendsetters in contemporary Christian music before joining forces as Rambo-McGuire.

Dony spent his early years performing in churches and concert halls with such popular Gospel groups as The Downings, The Galileans, and The Rebels Quartet. He is a well-known singer, pianist, arranger, and producer and is one of Christian music’s most beloved and sought after artists. Reba is a GRAMMY and Dove Award-winning singer, songwriter, author, minister and teacher. She’s the walking definition of a pioneering woman.

One of the major highlights of Dony’s career was receiving the 1980 GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Gospel Album for the musical he wrote with Reba, The Lord’s Prayer, and performed at the 1981 GRAMMY Awards show with other acclaimed artists. They also received a Dove Award that year for the same project. 

Dony continues to compose and write songs and produces projects for other artists. Two of his most recent productions are Mark Lowry’s, What’s Not To Love, and The Freemans, Tower of Song.

Dony and Reba taught creative writing workshops giving young and seasoned writers practical instruction in the craft of writing songs, stories, sermons, and speeches. “I wish someone had taught me these principles and secrets when I was young because it would have shaved years off my creative learning process,” says Reba.

Reba continues to write and teach creative writing. She has collaborated with her daughter, Destiny, in recording a new project which will be released as Rambo Women in the near future.

The story behind "A Perfect Heart" begins when friends invited the McGuires to vacation with them on their houseboat on a lake near Nashville. They had determined to work diligently on their songwriting during that time, and they did so. They prayed earnestly that the Lord would do something special through them that week. At the end of the week they had completed a number of songs and done some work on a musical. Reba tells the story.

"On the very last morning we were to be on the boat, Dony got up very early to try to catch a catfish for breakfast. He's an early riser. I was so full of faith in his fishing ability that I proceeded to the kitchen and started to cook bacon and eggs.

"The sun was peeking over the hills and a mist was rising from the water. It was a glorious morning. I looked out of a small porthole and caught a glimpse of Dony with a strange look on his face. Some people come down with a cold, while Dony comes down with a song! I couldn't explain it, but I knew something good was about to happen. I turned off the burners where I was cooking and removed the food. I gathered our songwriting materials and sat down to wait for him to come in.

"When he came in a few minutes later, he sat down before a small electric piano and began to play. As he played what the Lord was giving to him, I began to write lyrics as they were being given to me. That kind of inspiration had only occurred a few times in our short songwriting career together. It was as if God was saying, 'You've been faithful in your praying and studying for a week, now I'm going to give you something just because I have the power to do so.' I wrote as fast as I could write while Dony continued to play. We both completed the whole composition and have never changed a word or the musical setting.

"It became our 'little lake song.' We used it for a time around our offices as a devotional song and sang it at a few small churches. One day Bill Gaither came by our offices and heard us singing it during one of our devotional periods. He asked where we got it. We told him it was our 'lake song.' He expressed such a keen interest in it that Dony made a tape of it for him. That started it on its way."

Several years later, halfway around the world in Zimbabwe, the McGuires heard their "little lake song" being sung by the great host of Africans gathered there. They arrived at a large gathering in Zimbabwe, Africa, where thousands of happy Christians sang their beautiful song, first in their native language and then in charming, heavily accented English. Reba reports, "I was so moved that I was reduced to an emotional basket case for a few moments."

Verse
“Morning sun light of creation,
Grassy fields of velvet floor.
Silver clouds a shimmering curtain,
He's designed a perfect world.

I'm amazed at His talents,

I stand in awe of One so great,

Now my soul begins to sing out,

To the source from which it came.”

“Morning sun light of creation”

Genesis 1:5

“God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: God said, Let there be light; He willed it, and at once there was light. Oh, the power of the Word of God! And in the new creation, the first thing that is wrought in the soul is light: the blessed Spirit works upon the will and affections by enlightening the understanding.

“Grassy fields of velvet floor.”

Genesis 1:10

“God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.”

Scripturesavvy.com: It is essential for us to understand that God’s Word holds immense power. When He speaks, things happen. This is a foundational truth in how we view the narrative of creation. The act of God saying, “Let the dry land appear” demonstrates His authority. From nothing, God made something substantial and beautiful. He created the Earth, which would eventually bear life. We can draw parallels to our lives today. Just as God spoke the world into existence with His Words, He can impact our lives through his promises and commands.

“Silver clouds a shimmering curtain”

Genesis 1:8

“God called the vault 'sky.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.”

Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: Including the starry and airy heavens: it has its name from its height in the Arabic language, it being above the earth, and reaching to the third heaven.

“He's designed a perfect world.”

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Christianitypath.com: Genesis 1:1 is a profound verse that sets the stage for the entire Bible. It tells us that at the very beginning of everything, there was God. The verse does not start with a description or explanation of God; instead, it simply states God’s action – creation. This is significant because it emphasizes the sovereignty and authority of God, highlighting the fact that all creation originates from Him. The phrase “In the beginning” indicates a point in time when the universe was created, which is crucial for understanding the biblical narrative.

“I'm amazed at His talents, I stand in awe of One so great”

Proverbs 30:18

"There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand.”

Godsbless.ing, Reverend Michael Johnson: The powerful message in this verse is clear: God’s might is beyond comprehension, deserving our highest reverence and admiration. The use of the word “awesome” emphasizes the magnitude of God’s power and the awe-inspiring nature of His actions. By acknowledging and praising His power, we remind ourselves of our humble position in the presence of such greatness . . . Think about the wonders of the universe, the beauty of nature, and the countless blessings in your life. All of these incredible things are a testament to God’s power and presence. When we acknowledge and honor His greatness, we are filled with a sense of gratitude and humility. This verse serves as a powerful reminder to reflect on God’s majesty and offer Him the praise and honor He deserves.

Scripturesavvy.com: Proverbs 30:18 invites us to embrace the wonders and mysteries of life with open hearts and minds. As we journey through learning and discovery, we find beauty in the things we do not fully understand. Humility, curiosity, and trust in God all play vital roles in shaping our perspective as we navigate the uncertainties of life.

As we apply these teachings into our daily lives, we get the opportunity to delve deeper into our relationships with others and God. It is through embracing the unknown that we nurture faith, empathy, and gratitude. The next time we find ourselves in awe of an experience or a question we cannot answer, let us celebrate that moment—knowing it draws us closer to wisdom and to God every step of the way.

This chapter also emphasizes a strong connection to the natural world and God’s creation, reinforcing how our experiences are influenced by the environment around us. As we read through this chapter, we may discover admiration for how God shaped the world and the incredible balance maintained within it. The speaker aims to open our eyes and hearts to these treasures of knowledge and wisdom, urging us to value the journey of discovery.

“Now my soul begins to sing out, To the source from which it came.”

Psalm 68:32

“Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord.”

Godsbless.ing: The directive to “Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth” extends a universal call to worship, emphasizing God’s dominion over all nations and peoples. It invites individuals to celebrate and honor God’s greatness collectively. The imagery of God riding across the heavens underscores His majestic and active involvement in the world, highlighting His omnipotence and creative power.

Refrain

“Bless the Lord Who reigns with beauty.
Bless the Lord Who reigns with wisdom and with power.
Bless the Lord Who reigns my life with so much love,
He can make a perfect heart.
Praise the Lord Who reigns in beauty.
Praise the Lord Who reigns with wisdom and with power.
Praise the Lord Who reigns my life with so much love,
He can make a perfect heart.”

Compellingtruth.org: To bless God simply means to praise Him or to honor His name. The Hebrew word translated "bless" in the Old Testament literally means to kneel, indicating the idea of honoring the Lord. We do not add anything to Him when we bless Him, yet we worship Him as our appropriate response to His greatness and His love for us.

Psalm 103 is a good psalm to read to bless the Lord. On Enduringword.com: David did not mean this in the sense that a greater person bestows a blessing on a lesser person. God is infinitely greater than man, and man could never give a blessing to God. David meant this in the sense that it blesses and honors God when His creatures praise Him and thank Him appropriately . . . David called upon his soul to bless Yahweh. It was as if David looked at his soul and understood that it was not praising God enough. He called upon his soul to do more . . . David understood that true worship was something deeply inward, of the soul. It is not just about outward forms or expressions, but also about something real from the soul.

 

I am indebted to the website of rambomcguire.com

By His Grace . . .