Kara Kardell
Co-Host of Draw Near
Kara is a wife and mother of 2. She was raised Catholic, but really FELL IN LOVE with the faith later in life. She loves fried-food and wine date nights with her husband and dance parties in the living room with her kids. She loves teaching her kids about the faith and watching them fall in love with Jesus!
She has a Master's Degree in Theology and some other degrees, but who cares! God works in each heart and reveals himself to every person in his living Word--the Bible! Because of this, Kara loves the Scriptures. She "nerds" out when teaching from Scripture, and tries to bring the Word of God to life in the heart of all who listen. Jesus encounters us each time we read the Bible!
Kara Kardell has hosted 149 Episodes.
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God is in the Mess and in the Mass (MLMG Ep 23)
March 15th, 2024 | 30 mins 37 secs
In this testimony episode of MyLord and My God, with EmmaLee Miklosovic, she shares how God has called her out of perfectionism and loved her in her mess. That translates to her relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist: where he has pursued her heart as a romance. As LOVE himself.
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Struggles in the Interior Life
March 13th, 2024 | 55 mins 39 secs
In this third episode taken from the I See a Movement series on the apostolate, we discuss the reality of struggles and obstacles we face in the interior life. Why do these obstacles exist? How do we overcome them? Listen to find out!
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The Interior Life
March 6th, 2024 | 57 mins 5 secs
In this second episode taken from the I See a Movement series on the apostolate, we discuss the interior life and it's place within the apostolate of every believer. What is the interior life? What are some of the struggles we face as we strive to grow in the interior life? Listen to find out!
Learn more about I See a Movement at: https://www.iseeamovement.com
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Behold the Lamb (MLMG Ep 20)
March 1st, 2024 | 33 mins 56 secs
behold the lamb, eucharist, mass
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
In this episode, by looking at the Scriptural meaning and themes of "the lamb," we can better understand the gravity of the words we hear every mass... but perhaps have never truly heard. -
The Last Supper (MLMG Ep 22)
February 23rd, 2024 | 28 mins 46 secs
scripture teaching, the last supper
The Institution of the Eucharist (Catholic Mass) comes at the Last Supper. In this episode, Fred and Kara begin by explaining the theme of "covenant" throughout the story of salvation. Jesus, at the Lord's Supper, fulfills the Old Covenant, institutes the New Covenant, and gives us the "thank" offering that will continue for all of time in the Eucharist.
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The Soul of the Apostolate
February 21st, 2024 | 55 mins 38 secs
apostolate, catholic, discipleship, evangelization, interior life, ministry, relational ministry
We are joined by our good friend Eric Gallagher over the next five epsiodes on the apostolate and the interior life! This episode originally posted as part of the Substack platform/podcast we share with Eric, called I See a Movement! We thought this series would be a blessing to all of our Draw Near listeners on your Lenten journey. And of course... we also want you to check out https://www.iseeamovement.com/
In this episdoe, we begin by laying a foundation for this new season. Here we look at the foundational truth, that by grace and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our souls, we are apostles. We take an honest look at what this means for our our lives; and discuss our tendency to want to be independent and in control. We look at the value and necessity of the interior life, and the role our relationship with Christ bears in the fruitfulness of our efforts. We also take a look at the importance of prayer and humility as the greatest strength.
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The Sacrifice of Our Lives (MLMG Ep 21)
February 16th, 2024 | 28 mins 30 secs
conversion, eucharist, matthew leonard, testimony
In this episode we are joined by our friend, catholic speaker, author, filmmaker, founder of the Science of Sainthood, and host of the Art of Catholic podcast, Matthew Leonard. What was the journey from being a Protestant pastor's kid to receiving Christ in the Eucharist like for Matthew? How did meeting one Catholic family who did "relational evangelization" well set him on a new path?
Matthew and Fred share what it is like to discover Catholic teaching, and how it led them both through an, at times, confusing process asking the Lord, "Who are you?" Why was the question of authority so critical in this process? This, too. is discussed.
We look at the "pedestal" that converts can sometimes be placed on, and offer some encouragement for cradle Catholics.
Matthew also describes the radical new way he encountered Christ in the Eucharist and the realization of becoming a part of a family that goes beyond his blood relations, and why that matters!
Finally, we look at the central question of our show: "How has your encounter with Christ in the Eucharist changed your life?" The answer to this question has everything to do with how we build our lives; what we are centered on (or more accurately, WHO we are rooted in). Should our encounter with Christ in the Eucharist be evident to those around us? If so, how? What is the role of sacrifice in a Eucharistic life? Listen to find out!
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DN Classics: Doing Lent... Well?
February 14th, 2024 | 1 hr 4 mins
ash wednesday, lent
Reaching back into "the vault" from a couple of years ago, we share one of our most popular Lenten episodes. If you think you are good at Lent… You are not. No one is good at Lent. But there is a good reason for this. Lent is often a challenge because it requires letting go of things that hinder us in following the Lord. It requires taking up the cross and denying ourselves for something much greater and more beautiful: a deeper encounter with the love and person of Jesus Christ. This helps us to begin to think more like Christ, to live more like Christ, to love more like Christ. But how do we do this? In this episode we invite some of our friends to share some of their own thoughts and experiences of drawing near to the Lord during Lent.
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I'll See You in the Eucharist (MLMG Ep 19)
February 9th, 2024 | 25 mins 8 secs
children, eucharist, fatherhood, testimony
In this episode we are joined by one of the people that makes My Lord and My God (and the Draw Near apostolate) possible: John Fitzsimmons! In his testimony we hear how the legacy of faith has been handed down from one generation to the next; how encountering Christ in the Eucharist shaped his childhood and fostered in him a desire for more as a new father. We also hear how prioritizing that encounter with Christ in the Eucharist has shaped his family and the impact it has had on his children (two of which we are blessed to call friends). Finally, we see what great fruit "dragging your kids to daily Mass" can bear as John shares how his son Jimmy (seminarian) and his daughter, Mary Kate (entering religious life), are deepening his own faith by sharing with him their own encounter with Christ in the Eucharist!
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Wrestling with God: A Lectio Divina Reflection on Genesis 32
February 7th, 2024 | 37 mins 37 secs
discernment, lectio divina, making decisions, overcoming challenges
In this episode we dive deep into one of the most perplexing passages in Scripture and reflect on its meaning and the implications for our own lives. What is this passage? Genesis 32:22-32, in which Jacob wrestles with God. In what ways is this passage an invitation for all of us? In what we ways do (and perhaps must) we also wrestle with God? How does this wrestling leave us changed? Listen to find out!
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Her Answered Prayer (MLMG Ep 18)
February 2nd, 2024 | 44 mins 2 secs
catholic faith, coming home, conversion, eucharist, sonja corbitt, testimony
In this episode, we are so grateful to be joined by our good friend, Sonja Corbitt! Here, Sonja shares with us her powerfully stirring testimony about how God led her to the answer to her prayer, and the longing of her heart: "Lord, I want to be closer to you!"
As always, Sonja shares from the heart with passion. She shares her journey of falling in love with Jesus in and through the Scriptures and how that led her into the Catholic Church.
Fred and Sonja also discuss the challenges and struggles they faced in making that journey toward the Eucharist; but, also how the sacrifice is worth it! Because in Christ, the deepest longing of our hearts can be found.
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As You Did in Egypt (MLMG Ep 17)
January 26th, 2024 | 20 mins 59 secs
eucharist, exodus, jewish, old testament, passover
St Augustine famously said, that in the Old Testament, the New Testament is concealed. And in the New Testament, the meaning of the Old Testament is revealed. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that, "All sacred Scripture is but one book, and this one book is Christ (CCC 134). We hear the St John the Baptist and other New Testament writers refer to Christ as the "Lamb of God." But what does this mean? St Paul refers to Christ as our new Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7). but again, what is the significance of this passage? What profound truth was the apostle, inspired by the Holy Spirit, desiring to reveal to us? In this episode we look at the Passover (when Israel was freed from Egyptian bondage) found in Exodus 12, and what it reveals to us about our reception of Christ in the Eucharist.