Draw Near - Episodes Tagged with “Catholic Faith”

I Am Not Like the Rest of Humanity

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0500

There’s an honest difference between "looking" holy and "living" a holy life. Reflecting on Luke 18:9–14, Fred and Kara explore how pride and comparison creep into our hearts, why appearances are not what God looks at, and how one's heart is truly the measure holiness. Looking beyond all you do for God, what does your heart look like?

Let's dive into how pride can creep into our prayer life, how comparison blinds us to grace, and why holiness is not something we achieve but an interior posture of the heart.

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The Bread of Life: Rediscovering the Power of the Eucharist

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Draw Near, we reflect on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and invite you to rediscover the power, beauty, and reality of the Eucharist. More than a symbol, the Eucharist is the living presence of Jesus—true food for the soul, strength for the weary, and healing for the brokenhearted.

Together, we explore:

How to cultivate a deeper devotion to the Eucharist in your daily life
What it means to live eucharistically—offering your life as a gift
How the Eucharist has brought strength and healing in personal moments of struggle

With heartfelt stories, Scripture, practical takeaways, and wisdom from the saints, this episode will leave you inspired to approach every Mass and every moment with renewed gratitude and reverence.

Challenge for the Week:
Choose one simple way to deepen your Eucharistic devotion—adoration, prayer after Communion, or offering your day intentionally to God—and share it with someone.

Whether you're struggling to connect with the Eucharist or simply desire more, this episode offers encouragement and spiritual depth that will draw you closer to the Heart of Christ.

*Mentioned in this episode: *

Stay With Me - Prayer of St Padre Pio After Communion
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak
and I need Your strength,
that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life,
and without You, I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light,
and without You, I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice
and follow You.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You
very much, and always be in Your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is,
I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes;
death, judgment, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength,
so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You.

It is getting late and death approaches,
I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows.
O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all it’s dangers. I need You.

Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread,
so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness,
the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You,
if not by communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it,
but the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth
and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen

Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.
"Like" and follow us on Facebook!. Follow us on Instagram!

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

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Into the Desert: Overcoming Temptation

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Lent isn’t just about giving things up—it’s about conversion, renewal, and drawing closer to Christ. In this episode, we dive into Jesus’ time in the desert (Luke 4:1-13) and what it teaches us about resisting temptation, deepening our faith, and embracing the call to holiness.

🔥 We also explore:
✔️ How The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis reveal the battle of temptation.
✔️ The distractions that sabotage our prayer life—and what to do about them.
✔️ For some reason, we talk about zombies and we share some news on some big changes coming in April!

Plus, practical ways to grow this Lent through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—not just as obligations, but as pathways to real transformation.

Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.
"Like" and follow us on Facebook!. Follow us on Instagram!

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

Support Draw Near

Her Answered Prayer: Sonja Corbitt Testimony (MLMG Ep 18)

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0600

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.

Learn more about Sonja here: https://www.biblestudyevangelista.com/

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page. Join the Draw Near Community Space on Suscipe.co

Click here to become a supporter/patron or access the patron book study! "Like" and follow us on Facebook! You can even find us on Twitter. Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

Support Draw Near