Draw Near

Helping each person to draw near to Christ and to one another.

About the show

“Jesus himself drew near.” (Lk 24:15)
God takes the initiative to draw near to us out of a deep and personal love for each one of us. This movement asks each of us for a response. There are so many beautiful ways we can respond to the work of God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. This is a journey we share together, drawing near to Christ as we draw near to one another. This shared journey toward Christ, rooted in the Catholic faith, is the focus of our podcast. Our goal is to be authentic, honest, humble, faithful, loving, passionate, real and vulnerable in each episode. We also like to keep it lighthearted. We are two best friends, sharing life together with our families. We invite you to join us as we Draw Near. Let's grow towards sainthood together!

Hosts: Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell
Learn more at: www.drawnear.me

Draw Near on social media

Episodes

  • Doing Lent... Well?

    March 2nd, 2022  |  1 hr 4 mins
    ash wednesday, guests, lent, penance

    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. No one is good at Lent. Lent is often a challenge because it requires a 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.

  • Leading Children to Christ

    February 16th, 2022  |  48 mins 16 secs
    family life, handing on the faith, praying with kids, teaching children

    The Church teaches that parents are the primary evangelists and teachers of their children and goes so far as to refer to the family in the home as “the domestic church.” But what does this mean? Practically, how do we live this out? In this episode we share some experiences from our own families on how we share the love of Christ in our homes and how we strive to be witnesses and hand on the faith.

  •

    Come, Holy Spirit

    February 2nd, 2022  |  52 mins 26 secs
    charismatic, charisms, gifts, holy spirit, love

    Who is the Holy Spirit? Why is a relationship with Him so important? In Scripture, Christ promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, the love of God poured out into our hearts (Rom 5:5). How can we learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit? How can we experience his promptings in our daily lives? What does this have to do with the love of God? And how has God gifted you in the power and grace of the Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth? We will discuss all these things in this episode!

  • COVER SONG: "Amazing Grace"

    January 19th, 2022  |  6 mins 26 secs
    amazing grace, cover, fred and kara

    We LOVE recording and playing music. Please enjoy our cover (with all original verses added) of Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) by Chris Tomlin.

  •

    No Longer Slaves

    January 5th, 2022  |  3 mins 22 secs
    fred and kara, no longer slaves, worship cover

    We LOVE recording and playing music. Please enjoy this cover of "No Longer Slaves" by Bethel Music that Fred and Kara recorded.

  • Christmas Bonus: Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Clause by Francis Church

    December 24th, 2021  |  6 mins 55 secs
    bonus, christmas, santa clause, virginia

    Following up on our Christmas Spectacular episode, we invite you (and your family) to enjoy a timeless story that Fred reads to his children every year!

  • Draw Near Christmas Spectacular!

    December 22nd, 2021  |  49 mins
    advent, chit chat and banter, christmas, christmas traditions, family traditions, new year's, resolutions, shave your face off

    Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell invite you into their friendship and family lives this Christmas season… sharing a few tears from laughing so hard, favorite Christmas memories, traditions, and ways to make this season and Christ’s light shine in the home. Come laugh with us, enjoy Advent and Christmas, and pick up some traditions for your family. Draw Near, Podcast, New Year's, Resolutions, Chit chat and banter, interview

  •

    Full of Grace

    December 8th, 2021  |  29 mins 1 sec
    draw near, full of grace, immaculate conception, kara kardell, mary, scripture, shorty

    December 8th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Listen to this Draw Near podcast "shorty" to learn more about this feast. Mary was set apart for all of time! Scripture shows this. The Blessed Mother was preserved from original sin from the moment of her creation. Listen to Kara teach a Scriptural study on Mary and the Catholic dogma of her Immaculate Conception.
    Tags: Full of Grace, Annunciation, Mary, Catholic Church, Immaculate Conception, Marian Dogma, Draw Near podcast, Kara Kardell, Original Sin

  •

    Until the King Returns

    December 6th, 2021  |  29 mins 4 secs
    catholic church, draw near, kara kardell, papacy, podcast, popes, shorty

    In this shorty, Kara gives an in-depth teaching on the Catholic Church and the Papacy (Popes). Why does the Church have a Pope? Where is the idea of a Pope in the Bible?

  • God's Ways are Desert Ways: An interview with Sonja Corbitt on her book "Just Rest"

    November 24th, 2021  |  55 mins 59 secs
    book just rest, draw near podcast, exodus bible study, fred and kara, just rest, sonja corbitt

    Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell speak with guest, Catholic speaker, author, and podcaster, Sonja Corbitt! Sonja is the Bible Evangelista! This episode unpacks some content in her book, "Just Rest." What does the Exodus teach us? How are God's ways desert ways? God's ways are ALWAYS desert ways. He shows us this throughout the Scriptures, specifically through the Exodus.
    God wants to bring us to the promised land! But before the promised land comes the desert. There are lessons to be learned and "dew" to be given within the desert. Listen to this episode to hear this in depth discussion of "Just Rest" and some profound experiences of Fred and Kara in reading this book.

  • What Am I Supposed to Do?

    November 10th, 2021  |  54 mins 26 secs
    catholic, discernment, draw near podcast, fred and kara, guest, holiness, sister fidelis marie, vocations

    Fred Shellabarger, Kara Kardell, and guest-Sister Fidelis Marie talk about living holiness in our every day lives on this episode of the Draw Near podcast. It's easy to get bogged down discerning the future options, vocations, or the many choices placed in front of us. Sister Fidelis gives wonderful, spiritually balanced, guidance on discerning where God calls us. We also talk about making decisions in life, consolation and desolation, wounds, and the importance of living out the call to holiness each day. We shouldn't wait until a future date to become who God created us to be! Simply say yes to God.

  • St. Therese of Lisieux: Living the Heart of the Gospel

    October 27th, 2021  |  52 mins 47 secs
    lessons from therese, life lessons, small things with great love, st. therese, the hidden way, the little flower

    In this episode, we take up the theme of “life lessons” from the Saints. We share our encounters with St. Therese of Lisieux, the “Little Flower,” and share some deeply personal experiences of how her words, and no doubt her intercession, helped us draw near to the Lord during very difficult times. We consider St. Therese a very dear friend and we hope that this episode will help you to also discover just how relatable she is; and how her “Little Way” can help you also find joy and fulfillment even in the smallest and seemingly insignificant moments.
    Draw Near podcast, Fred Shellabarger, and Kara Kardell, drawnear.me, St. Therese, Catholic