174. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. Someone kept the lamps burning before the Lord for him.
2 July 2021
Keep the lamps burning.
Exodus 27
20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.
21 In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.”
Psalm 119
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
The Lamp of the Body
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.
Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.
See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” Luke 11:33-36
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
Someone kept the lamps burning before the Lord for me.
The Word of the Lord is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
I had to go to the hospital, the last thing I want to do if I had a choice, given the pandemic.
I had to, I was a walking candidate for collapse, my condition was life-threatening, which I did not know. The very day I realized my health was at risk, I was still driving.
Morning that day, we had blood extraction for medical checkup. Late afternoon, I drove to a nearby place where we do relaxing and walking to gradually return to physical activity after being vaccinated.
In the evening the results of the blood examination came via email.
My hemoglobin was 53 against the normal of about 140. My last blood chemistry November last year indicated my hemoglobin at 113.
My hemoglobin has always been borderline all these years because of hemorrhoids and I have sustained my health with iron-rich foods except red meat.
I slept over the seeming threatening condition of my health.
The following day, consultation with my cardio came the word I need immediate blood transfusion.
At the hospital, I got transfusion and a little later had some confusion about colonoscopy because of the resulting hemoglobin level at 67.
It was at this point that a young cardio fellow stayed around me to patiently explain things to me regarding the colonoscopy. I was enlightened, and he told me he was seeing in my person his Dad, he is the youngest of 3 children in the family. That encounter developed into a bond that he would call me Daddy before my discharge at the hospital, he took a selfie with me and Paolo, my son who accompanied me during my stay at the hospital.
The Lord amazed me having sent this young doctor to give me health care for my frail body and to enlighten my frail spirit amid the confusion about colonoscopy.
This doctor is the only Christian in the family as of the moment, he is from the campus outreach ministry during his premed days. He is close to his Dad who is a retired Marine officer.
I was in darkness, including my physical condition, and this doctor kept the lamps burning before the Lord that illuminated my path during my health crisis.
The Lord amazed me with another thing I came to know during my hospitalization, that my heart is in very good condition which compensated for my very low hemoglobin, otherwise I could have collapsed even just at about 70 hemoglobin level. The Lord has been very gracious to have my heart healthy all these years through illnesses, depression, bout with Stevens-Johnson syndrome which came along with anxiety, and bout with latent PTB which required me to take antibiotics for six months which occurred same time with rectal polypectomy procedure.
My consolation is that I'm now home knowing what to do to restore my hemoglobin level, and most beneficial is the family bond we had because of the situation, father and son moment between me and Paolo, then one of our grandchildren bonding with my wife because our middle daughter and her husband came over to be with my wife. We have been contented with messenger chat all the time because of health protocols.
When I came to the above passage in Exodus at the hospital, I was wondering how I will develop the blog, yet someone kept the lamps burning before the Lord for me, and I realized later the blog was apparently unraveling before my very own eyes.
I also want to thank the anonymous blood donors for my transfusion. The Lord will repay your good heart.
My stay at the hospital was in fact a spiritual retreat. The Lord is indeed amazing, His compassions never fail, great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).
""In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws" (Psalm 119:55, 105, 71, 67, 58, 76, 77, 108). This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
3 January 2018"
"Wala ka sa Lolo ko. Someone kept the lamps burning before the Lord for him.", this my children's children will say someday.
May you be blessed with God's Word.
Dear blog viewers in Ireland, Sweden and Russia, if you will read this blog I am eager to get feedback from you (and from everyone else for that matter), either through blog comment or email: pbgonzales@gmail.com.
Maraming salamat sa lahat na magbabasa ng blog na ito.
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