Sondra Kraak

Trails of Love and Grace

Knowing God, Spiritual Growth

How Not to be Like God

The screen on the shed window sags against the metal side. It's not the shed with my birdseed, so I know the damage is not the squirrel's doing. I immediately know who to approach. "Why?" I ask my six year old. "We were trying to be like God, " she tells me. "God destroyed the world with a flood, ... read more

Knowing God, Spiritual Growth

Our Understanding and God’s Plans

We’re a culture of knowledge, and strangely, even though we’re compulsive and crave instant gratification, we also value a well-made decision. If we want to buy a new car, we peruse the consumer reports. If we receive a diagnosis, we research pros and cons of treatment methods. I read Birds & ... read more

Spiritual Growth, Words of Jesus

God Wastes Nothing

“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ These are the words of Jesus, after feeding thousands from five loaves of bread and two fish.” John 6:12 These are the words of Jesus, “Let nothing be wasted.” But what do ... read more

Spiritual Growth

Chase Me

“Mom,” he says, “Will you chase me?” I don’t want to. Not really. There are dishes to wash and clutter to pick-up, not to mention it’s eighty degrees in my house. But the request of my three-year-old sears me. The hesitancy with which he asks, as if he fears I might reject him . . . it wins me ... read more

Spiritual Growth

Open our Eyes, Lord

"The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name." Exodus 15:3, from the Song of Moses celebrating the Lord's deliverance of his people from Egypt. Some days, trials and tribulations slap at us. Eat out our hearts and pin our weary bodies to the ground. Deliverance seems like a far-off hope. A mirage of ... read more

Knowing God, Spiritual Growth

Fullness in Christ

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 Advertising thrusts at us all sorts of products and solutions that we MUST have to be fulfilled. "You lack. You need this. You can't be happy ... read more