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

  • Doubting Thomas (MLMG Ep. 1)

    September 27th, 2023  |  24 mins 26 secs
    doubting thomas, episode 1, my lord and my god

    In our very first episode of My Lord and My God, we take some time to reflect on the words of St Thomas, "My Lord and My God." He speaks these words after his famous doubt... "Unless I stick my fingers in his wounds I will not believe." Why did Thomas say this? What can we learn from him? How is St Thomas' encounter with the risen Christ similar to what we are invited into every time we attend Mass and receive Communion? These are just some of the topics Fred Shallabarger and Kara Kardell will explore in this episode!

  • Trailer: My Lord and My God

    September 27th, 2023  |  2 mins 53 secs
    eucharist, my lord and my god, podcast trailer

    The hosts of Draw Near, Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell, have a second show, My Lord & My God, focused on the Eucharist! This show is based on the words of St. Thomas. Over the next few months, this show will make it's way over to be hosted on the Draw Near podcast page, too! Enjoy this additional weekly content, and if you're already a MLMG listener, enjoy these re-runs!

  • One Year Later: What happened after quitting our jobs?

    September 20th, 2023  |  32 mins 5 secs

    What has this past year held for Fred, Kara, and their families? How has God worked and How has he spoken?

  • Four Steps to Hearing God's Voice

    September 4th, 2023  |  24 mins 11 secs
    god speaks, hearing god's voice, prayer, relationship, sheep, shepherd, steps, tips

    This episode serves as a companion and follow up to our "Does God Speak to Me?" episode. Here we are joined by Julie Storr, from Lectio the Liturgy. Julie presented at our recent Draw Near Retreat in which the theme was, "Hearing God's Voice." Julie offers some great practical steps for not only hearing the Lord's voice, but also building a lifestyle in which a relationship with God characterized by talking with your loving Father is not just a wish, but an actual lived experience, rooted in prayer, in Scripture, and in the life of the Holy Spirit.

    Our journey with the Lord is one that is lived step by step! So many effective spiritual disciplines that help us grow in the life of prayer and relationship with Christ walk us through a process of steps (e.g. Lectio Divina, Ignatian Discernment, the ACTS prayer method, etc). If you are looking for a way to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ, if you are not sure if you have ever heard the Lord speak, this may just be a great place to start!

  • Hearing God: Ask and You Shall Receive

    September 2nd, 2023  |  16 mins 27 secs
    hearing god's voice, shorty, tips

    This shorty serves as a follow-up to the episode, "Does God Speak to Me?" Here, Kara offers two practical tips for your spiritual life to grow in your ability to hear God's voice and familiarity with his voice.

  • Hearing God: Does God Speak to Me?

    August 30th, 2023  |  30 mins 20 secs
    god speaks, hearing god's voice, relationship, sheep, shepherd

    We are back!!! In this episode, we reflect on our experiences coming back from our summer "break", unplanned home renovations and being a sheep. In all these things, the Lord was speaking! But what do we mean by the Lord was "speaking?" What does it mean to hear the Lord's voice? Is hearing the Lord's voice something we all can do? What does this have to do with sheep and our identity? These are the questions we seek to answer in the first of a series on "Hearing the Lord's Voice." Hearing the Lord's voice is not a privilege to be earned, but rather an inheritance, a promise from our loving Father. As such, we hope this series will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord, and hear the voice of our Shepherd.

  • BONUS: Revelation Song (Cover Song)

    June 8th, 2023  |  5 mins 31 secs

    Revelation Song by Kari Jobe (Cover by Fred and Kara with Draw Near)
    We decided to make another cover song available for everyone. For access to MORE bonus content, become a PATRON for as low as $5 a month.
    Patrons, you will have access to simply by being a patron. To become a Patron, go to: https://www.patreon.com/drawnear

  •

    Behind the Scenes BLOOPERS!

    June 7th, 2023  |  8 mins 25 secs
    behinds the scenes, bloopers, friends

    The long awaited blooper reel is here! Take a few minutes out of your day to have a good laugh with us; you won't regret it. ;)
    P.S. Thank you for all your support for the mission of Draw Near!

  •

    What Makes Us Different? (ISAM PREVIEW 1: Ep. 1)

    May 26th, 2023  |  3 mins 39 secs

    We have some exciting news to share with our listeners!

    We have partnered with our long time ministry colleague and friend Eric Gallagher in forming a ministry apostolate. Phase 1 of this effort, launches on the Feast of Pentecost: May 28, 2023! Much more to come as it is not simply a podcast!

    Draw Near listeners may recognize that the name sounds familiar. That's because the three of us drew inspiration from what we have seen and witnessed in our many years of combined ministry experience, in our time forming disciples, and of course in our own seeking to grow in relationship with Christ. We also drew inspiration from this: https://www.drawnear.me/blog/iseeamovement

    You will hear more about this in our first two episodes which launch on Pentecost! In the meantime, enjoy these previews!

    You can find the I See a Movement (ISAM) podcast here: https://iseeamovement.fireside.fm/ and on your favorite podcast apps!

  • Be Like Lincoln (ISAM PREVIEW 2: Ep.1)

    May 26th, 2023  |  3 mins 25 secs

    We have some exciting news to share with our listeners!

    We have partnered with our long time ministry colleague and friend Eric Gallagher in forming a ministry apostolate. Phase 1 of this effort, launches on the Feast of Pentecost: May 28, 2023! Much more to come as it is not simply a podcast!

    Draw Near listeners may recognize that the name sounds familiar. That's because the three of us drew inspiration from what we have seen and witnessed in our many years of combined ministry experience, in our time forming disciples, and of course in our own seeking to grow in relationship with Christ. We also drew inspiration from this: https://www.drawnear.me/blog/iseeamovement

    You will hear more about this in our first two episodes which launch on Pentecost! In the meantime, enjoy these previews!

    You can find the I See a Movement (ISAM) podcast here: https://iseeamovement.fireside.fm/ and on your favorite podcast apps!

  • The Holy Spirit and Hope (ISAM PREVIEW 3: Ep. 1)

    May 26th, 2023  |  3 mins 23 secs

    We have some exciting news to share with our listeners!

    We have partnered with our long time ministry colleague and friend Eric Gallagher in forming a ministry apostolate. Phase 1 of this effort, launches on the Feast of Pentecost: May 28, 2023! Much more to come as it is not simply a podcast!

    Draw Near listeners may recognize that the name sounds familiar. That's because the three of us drew inspiration from what we have seen and witnessed in our many years of combined ministry experience, in our time forming disciples, and of course in our own seeking to grow in relationship with Christ. We also drew inspiration from this: https://www.drawnear.me/blog/iseeamovement

    You will hear more about this in our first two episodes which launch on Pentecost! In the meantime, enjoy these previews!

    You can find the I See a Movement (ISAM) podcast here: https://iseeamovement.fireside.fm/ and on your favorite podcast apps!

  • A Step of Faith (ISAM PREVIEW 1: Ep. 2)

    May 26th, 2023  |  2 mins 10 secs

    We have some exciting news to share with our listeners!

    We have partnered with our long time ministry colleague and friend Eric Gallagher in forming a ministry apostolate. Phase 1 of this effort, launches on the Feast of Pentecost: May 28, 2023! Much more to come as it is not simply a podcast!

    Draw Near listeners may recognize that the name sounds familiar. That's because the three of us drew inspiration from what we have seen and witnessed in our many years of combined ministry experience, in our time forming disciples, and of course in our own seeking to grow in relationship with Christ. We also drew inspiration from this: https://www.drawnear.me/blog/iseeamovement

    You will hear more about this in our first two episodes which launch on Pentecost! In the meantime, enjoy these previews!

    You can find the I See a Movement (ISAM) podcast here: https://iseeamovement.fireside.fm/ and on your favorite podcast apps!