Venture Smith – Broteer 1730, Born in Dukandarra In the Savannah of the west Africa They named him Broteer he was a tender of sheep When his world turned over by an army of thieves He watched as his father was tortured and killed Then put on a slave ship jam-packed-overfilled
Bought by an officer of the Rhode Island slaver for 4 kegs of rum and a small piece of linen Spared from the smallpox that pillaged the boat And brought to New England to a life with no hope Stripped of his name and renamed Venture He learned a lesson, don’t trust your owner
Beat many times, clubbed and was blamed Brutally robbed, betrayed and then shamed The time had come for him to seized the hour Apply his great strength for bargaining power Was purchase by Smith who treated him right Gave him the means to buy back his life
Finally a free man he purchased some land Worked as a sailor, all part of a plan Fished and cut cordwood now his main mission Was to buy back his wife and boys securing their freedom Purchased more land now his money invested A few short years he now had a 100 acres
Sacred to the memory of Venture Smith Son of a king, kidnapped then sold One out of 12 million African captives Who crossed the Atlantic Ocean the middle passage His story a view of the bitter fought battles Of slavery, freedom and equality struggle
It came burning hot into my mind, How he flattered me But how he lied When he got me there I wasn’t mine Taken away Identity, Sold me a slave
When I sail the lonely deep Dm Am When the midnight watch I keep E7 I stand amazed as stars on the billows gleam Am Am/G And though I know a storm is rising Am/F# Am/F High above the dark horizon Am E7 Am I know oh Lord, I know You are here with me
[Chorus] Am So let there be light Fmaj7 C Lord let it shine Esus E Am Out of your heart and here into mine Am/G When it rains from heaven above Am/F# Am/F Let it rain sweet heavenly love Am Let there be light E E7 Am Oh Lord, let there be [Verse 2] There’s a call on the restless tide Like a longing endless night And it breaks the bow like a raging symphony And though I may be far from shore I am anchored to Heaven’s door And Lord I know, I know You are here with me
[Chorus 2] Am Fmaj7 C So let there be light And Lord let it shine Esus E Am Out of your heart and here into mine Am/G Lead me out of the eye of the storm Am/F# Am/F Into the promise of the crimson dawn Am E E7 Am Let there be light Oh Lord, let there be light [Bridge] Am C/G Your grace is enough Your grace is enough F E E7 Find me here oh Lord surrounded by an ocean of love X3
[Chorus 3] Am So let there be light Fmaj7 C And Lord let it shine Esus E Am Out of your heart and here into mine Am/G Lead me out of the eye of the storm Am/F# Am/F Into the promise of the crimson dawn Am Let there be light E7 Am Oh Lord, oh Lord, let there be light Am/G Am/F# Am/F Let there be light, sweet Jesus Am Am/G Let there be light F E7 Let there be light oh Lord Am Let there be light
I’m sinking falling Almost to my knees I am shaking I’m hurting Tears run down my face I am missing you right now again It’s not an easy time It hurts so bad I’m crying Can’t say I’m doing fine
You’ve been here in my life just 20 years or so You brought me so much joy Would never let it go You lifted me so high Our hearts would touch the sky You’d bring me down real slow We’d snuggle here so close
All those blissful days my memory is full The sea, the sky, the land the world Your joy in it exposed Tomorrow you had plans and me too Marriage Love and home Why was I allowed to have you Then to see you go
Now sweet baby you’re flying I can see you climb Now my child your sailing Free from earthly pine My precious girl your home now Can almost hear you sing All your dreams are real now Living with the king
The wind is crying to me The clouds are streaming on The crowded stars are blinking winking I’m trying to understand. The sun would make me see it If it shines a million times. When children ask me to do it I Do it one more time
The sun will rise tomorrow and The stars will understand And I will rise tomorrow Just as daisy’s are all twins. And God will shine upon us While he holds us in his hand. And I will grow much older but Loving you will never end
Give me bread when I am hungry Give me wine when I am dry Give me hope when I am losing Breathe in me Your life
Is there a reason to this madness Is there a reason to this hell Is there a way to rise above it Can I escape this prison cell
Is it true your loves forever Is it true you came to die Is it true You really suffered And I’m the reason why
Can I know you hold tomorrow Can I know you hold today Can I feel your arms around me Can I trust that you will stay
God groans with us, is with us in suffering and meets us in this place. The stripping away of our security or what we think faith to be in the easy, forces us to have a new understanding of joy and peace within trial and testing. I think it’s comforting to know that we have a God that isn’t above our sorrow. He’s with us in it and feels it even more deeply than we do. He doesn’t expect us to have answers or to defend His sovereignty in this. He just asks us to abide in Him. I’ve seen it practiced in our house church. There’s so much encouragement in abiding, listening and communing together the way we have been. Love you all so much.
" The doors are fantastic. Thanks! I am so pleased. You can see the veins in the leave designs. This door has received compliments from our framer and plasterer who see many door designs. We will enjoy it so much!" -Alison M.