December 13, 2007

Note from Dr. Cook

Dear Friends:

Thank you for your prayers. The Lord has been right here with me. I felt so badly this weekend and the early part of the week and had so many gastrointestinal problems.

Many times I wanted to go back to the hospital so that they could try to help me. I pleaded with the Lord, and He came as I cried out for mercy.

Sheila became ill also with gastrointestinal problems, and we felt like we were 100 years old and on our last legs.

Anyway, it’s now Thursday, and we are both better. Can you believe that we both drank Pedialyte for 2 days. We used to give that to our kids when they got sick and were 2 years old.

Our youngest son Mark got home yesterday from his fall semester away and will be with us for a month, and we are just thrilled.

I should feel better every day now until my next round of chemo on December 31. So we may not update this until then unless I have some setback. I really do treasure your prayers. I’m still hoping for a miracle with complete restoration. The doctor seems optimistic that I am doing well.

I am so grateful for family and friends and our DBU family. You are a gift from God. This week my friend Andy Horner sent me a book he had written entitled Reflections. He autographed it to me and wrote: “Gary, you are loved. God has a plan and it will be awesome.”

As you know, our theme verses at Dallas Baptist University have been Jeremiah 29:11-13.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

I do claim these verses today from the Lord, and yes, I pray that the plan will be awesome.

During this Christmas season, I’m going to hold on to these verses for hope, but I’m going to also really dwell on verses 12 and 13.

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

I want to be listening to God and asking Him to teach me through all this and to show me what is His desire for my life. I am seeking Him with all my heart. During this Christmas season, would you join me in this journey with God to see what awesome plans He has for you and me. Let’s seek Him with all our heart.

Merry Christmas!

Gary Cook