Draw Near - Episodes Tagged with “Love”

Beyond "I’m Praying for You": Being There for Others

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Prayer is essential—but sometimes, it’s not the only thing someone needs. In some seasons, words can fall short if they aren’t paired with presence and love. This episode invites you to reflect on how we can truly support one another—not only by praying for someone, but by walking with them.

Drawing from Scripture, the wisdom of the saints, and real-life experience, we explore the power of showing up, listening well, and offering small acts of mercy. Let’s become the kind of people who pray deeply—and live that prayer out with compassion.

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

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Love Builds the Church: a Lectio of 1 Cor 13

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 01:30:00 -0600

LOVE is the root of renewal of heart, renewal in the Church, and renewal in the world. "Love" builds the Church. This is a topic we have wanted to take up for a LONG time. We share personal reflections or this passage and how God has been moving in our hearts and lives recently.

_Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
_
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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Being the Right Kind of Ass: A Reflection on Num 22

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0500

In this at times humorous, but always heartfelt (and honest) reflection, Fred brings our "Hearing God's Voice" series to a close by sharing some insights from the story of Balaam and his talking... @$$... er... eh... donkey. What can we learn about the Christian life, hearing the Lord's voice and the importance of relationships? Listen to find out!

You can read the story of Balaam in: Num 22:22-35

Matt 22:36-40 Love God. Love Neighbor

1 John 4:20 Love of God and love of neighbor go hand in hand.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:34-35)

No greater love: John 15:12-13

Thes 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…

Eph 4:29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.

Heb 3:12-13 Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 10:23-24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Gal 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” What is that law? Love God. Love neighbor.

Prov 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Listen to the "Saying Goodbye" episode here!

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! "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!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

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One Hour with Our Son

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:15:00 -0600

Trigger Warning: Infant Loss and Miscarriage
In this episode we are joined by our friends Danny and Ashley Swalve as we discuss their journey of coming to a deeper faith in Christ and how that has shaped their marriage and helped them to find great hope even through otherwise overwhelmingly difficult circumstances. At the heart of their testimony is their story of surrender and trust in God's will for their lives; a desire to be used by Him to help bring healing to others who have faced similar challenges.

*Looking for resources on infant loss? Here are some that we recommend: *

This article helped Fred and his wife, Krystal, in the immediate days and weeks following their own miscarriage

[Elizabeth Ministry](www.elizabethministry.org)

[Springs in the Desert](www.springsinthedesert.org)

Rachel's Vineyard (a ministry for those needing healing from abortion)

Learn more about Danny's Podcast: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2115328.rss

The book Ashley mentions, "Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: https://amzn.to/3X5Z0Lg

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! "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!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

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Reckless Love?

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 02:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we share some exciting news and rejoice in being back in the studio together for the first time since May! Reflecting on leading a time of music and prayer this past summer, we discuss one of our favorite songs, "Reckless Love" by Cory Asbury. Though not a new song, it is a phrase that has been debated. Is God's love reckless? What does that even mean? Does the phrase "reckless love" of God even mean "reckless" in the usual sense of the word? We would say no, not at all. So what does it mean? Listen as we get more personal and share a bit our journey with you as we reflect on the words of this song.

Learn more about (or purchase) the book, I Believe in Love here!

Learn more about the Suscipe Community or sign up to join the platform here.

Read Kara's blog that we reference in this episode here.

Click to Donate to become a supporter/patron! Join the community by following the Draw Near Facebook page. 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!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

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Saying Goodbye

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 21:00:00 -0500

Exciting news! Major life changes! And the future of Draw Near. All these are discussed in this episode. We also take a few moments to consider the problems with the way we typically say goodbye and the need to encourage one another. Why should we express gratitude and not take for granted that those closest to us know how much we love and care for them.

Mentioned in this episode:

Hebrews 10:24-25
and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Romans 15:2
let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Romans 15:5
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

St Pauls examples of praise and thanksgiving for others:
I thank my God every time I remember you.
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers.

St Therese on edifying others:
Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.

A word or a smile is often enough to put fresh life in a despondent soul.

Click to Donate to become a supporter/patron! Join the community by following the Draw Near Facebook page. 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

Come, Holy Spirit

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 02:00:00 -0600

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). He is Comforter, Teacher, Counselor and Guide. In Acts 15, when the Church is faced with a difficult decision, they seek Him in prayer, trusting in Christ’s promise that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide in all truth. There we hear the phrase, “It seemed good to us and the Holy Spirit.” How can we come to a place where we also can say this about our decisions and our daily lives? 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!

We mention the “Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit” in this episode. These are commonly emphasized in preparation for Confirmation. We love how the Baltimore Catechism describes these gifts:

"The gifts of the Holy Spirit enable us to catch the breath of the Holy Spirit, moving the ship of our soul much faster and farther than we could ever sail it by using the virtues ourselves. For example, we can use the virtue of faith by making an act of faith. But to use this virtue constantly, being aware of God's presence in us and about us at all times, is more than we can do ourselves unless the Holy Spirit does it in us. Likewise, we can make an act of love. But to love our enemies for God's sake and to be willing to die for them, we need the help of the Holy Spirit. THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH OUR SHIP CATCHES BY UNFOLDING THE SAILS OF THE GIFTS, ENABLES US TO DO EVEN THINGS THAT ARE HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE SOULS OF THE SAINTS THAT EXPLAIN THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE THINGS IN THEIR LIVES" (our emphasis added).

These seven gifts are largely aimed at our own growth in holiness:
• Wisdom helps us to see the world through the lens of God’s truth.
• Understanding is the ability to grasp the truths of our faith.
• Knowledge helps you to understand the meaning and purpose God has for you and to actually live up this meaning.
• Counsel is also known as “right judgement.” It is the ability to follow God’s plan in our choices and decisions.
• Fortitude is also known as “courage.” It is the gift to stand up for what is true and right.
• Piety helps us worship God with true devotion and love.
• Fear of the Lord aids someone to have wonder and awe at God.

You can read more about the New Testament (charismatic) gifts in:
• Romans 12
• 1 Corinthians 12
• Ephesians 4

*Want to learn more or dive deeper? We highly recommend the series, The Wild Goose by Fr Dave Pivonka, TOR. You can find it here: https://thewildgooseisloose.com/wild-goose-main-page *

Learn about Lizzie Tecklenburg here: https://www.focus.org/missionaries/lizzie-tecklenburg

Prayers to the Holy Spirit written by Fred and Kara:
Come, Holy Spirit and move upon the waters of my heart. Create in me a new heart - a clean heart! Renew in me a steadfast spirit that I may never be cast from your presence. God who is love, fill me so full of that love that it may overflow into the hearts of all those around me. Lord, God Almighty, help me to love better, to love stronger, to love deeper, to love more fully like yourself. Holy Spirit, God who is love, help me to love well. Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit. Inspire our thoughts. Guide our words and direct our actions. May all of these serve to build your kingdom in our hearts, in our homes, in our relationships, and in the world around us. Lord, Jesus Christ, as you call us out upon the water, may the Holy Spirit fill us anew, baptize us with fresh fire, and give us the courage to keep our eyes on you in the midst of every storm. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Click to Donate to become a supporter! Join the community by following the Draw Near Facebook 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