January 19, 2024
Mr. Davis is a man who is paralyzed from his chest down. But he wasn't always this way. He once worked as an engineer coding robotics for surgeons and was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 39. Despite a series of unfortunate events, David has developed a unique insight, wisdom, plus faith in God that will provide our readers hope when feeling hopeless. Love when feeling loveless. And strength when feeling weak. Mr. Davis will provide relaunched Echo readers with weekly shares that we encourage you to support by reading his gentle memoirs and thoughts of inspiration. To learn more about David Davis, please click the link. https://www.echonewstv.com/post/david-davis-dire-straits
Now, without any further ado, the relaunched Echo, N.J.'s oldest Black-owned newspaper, presents
"Inner Visions And Inspirations With Mr. David Davis" of Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Heaviness and Revival - "Steal Away To Jesus" (Negro Spirituals)
Some would be mourning before God that they were not well in health, complaining about their sicknesses, but David sang of him, “Who heals all your diseases.” Morbid minds will be fretting about death and about what might come after death, but David says, “Who redeems your life from destruction.” And now, in the view of his temporal and spiritual blessedness, he pens this verse with which to crown his song, “Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”-Psalm 103:3
George Floyd - "Oh Jonah" (Negro Spiritual)
He said, "I can't breathe," and then he called out for his mother. He sputtered out "Mama" with some of his last breaths. Then he lay still forever. Psalm 22 says, “Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb, you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help” (Ps. 22:9-11).
Jesus spoke to Peter of his own coming crucifixion by saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go” (John. 21:18). Maybe the way so many think of their mothers, even when those mothers are long deceased themselves—at the hour of their deaths is itself a grace of God, reminding us in our dependence that we were dependent before, and yet we were loved.
Testify! "Deep Down in My Heart" (Negro Spiritual)
I would like to share... Every time I was going through troubled times, I would start writing of the troubles, only to be reminded of and writing about the past troubles God had brought me safely through, and sharing the treasures I had gained in Christ through those times. By the time I had finished writing the letter, I had been lifted to such a high state of praise there was no room for complaints or depression. God brought His Word to life for me, making me aware of His Presence, Love, and Power in a very real and unmistakable way. I write this hoping to encourage others to try this form of therapy no matter how far down into the darkness of depression or trouble you might be. Whether you feel like it or not, start praising God for the blessings of the past and then force yourself, if need be, to praise Him for the troubles, depression or whatever, of the present, trusting He is working all things together for good to you according to His promise in (Romans 8:28). He doesn’t tell us we have to understand How He will do it, but only that we Believe He will hasten His Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). Thank You for listening...from my heart..God Bless!
"A Balm In Giliad" (Negro Spiritual)
In His goodness, God responded with a promise that still stirs our hearts. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Heaven may seem a long way off. Yet Jesus is with those who believe in Him. God hears our prayers, and He answers them.
"Run Sister Run" (Negro Spiritual)
I'm a man of limited means, and I was thinking how..when I was able, I would seek the work that needed to be done. Now, the Lord brings me the work. His work to be done. We could have the misfortune to be bedridden or limited to a prison cell or hospital bed. But Jesus could give us living water, just like the story in John 4..the Samaritan Women at Jacob's Well...
Nobody's Known De Trouble I've Seen (Negro Spiritual)
I have fallen into a well of darkness; the Lord had me look into Mother Teresa's ministry and the leprosy of loneliness. She keeps journals of the worst diseases, worse than the actual particular leper ‘covered with leprosy.’ It affects his face, arms and hands, legs and feet. He could have been a mass of ulcers and sores from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. He looked loathsome with a smell of decay and death. It's an awful picture of what a disease can do. Every time he put some food in his mouth with finger-less hands or tottered along on his stumps, the spectators knew how ill he was. But his physical illness led to the most awful social deprivation, and that's loneliness.
Musical Reference:
Library Of Congress African American Spirituals