Draw Near - Episodes Tagged with “Reflection”

Friend Day: Want to Join?

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Sometimes, we all just need a friend day! Grab your favorite drink and join us today for our much needed friend day chat. In this relaxed episode of Draw Near, let's cut throught the stresses and weariness. Fred and Kara catch up, asking each other questions that spark joy, honesty, and laughter. Want to join us?

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The Hemorrhaging Woman: Desperate for Healing

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Imagine Jesus stopping everything just to find you and heal you. That’s exactly what happens in the story of the hemorrhaging woman. In this Lectio Divine episode, Fred and Kara pray with this passage and reflect on the woman's need to "touch" Jesus and how her circumstances during 12 years of suffering would have led to her "desperate" faith. In addition to spiritual themes, this episode also talks about Jesus' initiative to seek the woman and invite her out of her hiding place of shame and into healing.

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

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"In the Desert, I Praise You:" Gratitude Reflection

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:30:00 -0600

Do you praise God in EVERYTHING?... the Good AND the Pain? With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it is common to be thankful for the good gifts, graces, love, or comforts of life. But, how often do we thank God for the thorn in our side, the pit we have fallen into, or the desert we simply cannot find a way out of?
In this episode of the Catholic podcast, Draw Near, Fred and Kara reflect on 2 Scripture passages focusing on gratitude to God in the midst of difficulty.

Scripture passages mentioned this episode:
Fred's Passage: Psalm 103
Kara's Passage: 2 Corinthians 12: 5-10

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

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Greatness Is... What you were made for

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Once again, Fred invites you into his morning routine. The obligatory coffee and a reflection on the call to holiness and mission, the purpose for which we were created, and how God desires to work in our lives. Drawing on the words of Pope Benedict XVI, Scripture, the Catechism, and the lives and teachings of the saints, we pray this reflection will help you to begin your day, the right way! Listen to find out what that means! :)

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!

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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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I Will Give You Rest

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we take a different approach than usual, by doing a Lectio Divina together on Matthew 11:28-30. What we offer in this episode is a much deeper, personal and more vulnerable reflection on our walk with Christ and how He is working in our lives during this season; in and through the launch of our full time apostolate work, and especially during Lent. We discuss the things that are weighing on our hearts as well how the Lord is calling us to rest and trust in Him. We pray this conversation will be a blessing in your own lenten journey.

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Bar 3:9; 37-41
Hear the commandments of life, O Israel;
give ear, and learn wisdom!
Afterward she appeared upon earth
and lived among men.
She is the book of the commandments of God,
and the law that endures for ever.
All who hold her fast will live,
and those who forsake her will die.

Acts 15:10
Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

Gal 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Mat 5:48
You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever...

Phil 2:1-8
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

1 Cor 13:4-8
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends...

*Come, Follow Me: *
https://drawnear.fireside.fm/8

Virtuous Friendships:
https://drawnear.fireside.fm/21

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!

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Return to Me With Your Whole Heart

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 22:30:00 -0600

It's Ash Wednesday! Our Lenten journey has begun. In this "shortie" episode, Fred offers a reflection on the readings for the day: in particular, the words, “Return to me with your whole heart…” What do these words mean? What is the Lord calling us to and reminding us of? What can we learn from our tendencies in our human relationships? How do we avoid growing cold in our love and taking our beloved for granted? The answers to these questions are found in this reflection. As you begin your Lenten journey, we encourage you to listen and take up the challenge that Fred offers here: "This Lent, may we return to the Lord with our whole heart, so that the fire of his love may be enkindled in our hearts. May we be filled by that fire with the warmth of his grace; and may we inspire others to do the same."

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!

Support Draw Near

Saints, Karate and Holy Week

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 02:30:00 -0500

In this episode, we spend some time reflecting on the past few weeks and what the Lord has been speaking to our hearts and doing in our lives as we have moved through the end of Lent and into Holy Week. We also discuss the Netflix series, Cobra Kai, and examine some lessons we can draw from it in light of our faith. How does the redemption of Johnny Lawrence resemble our own? Listen to find out! Finally, Kara ends the episode with a prayerful meditation on the Sorrowful Mysteries as we prepare for Good Friday.

Holy Week episode from 2021

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Praying the Catechism and God's Incredible Love for You

Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0500

In this "shorty," in honor of our [website](www.drawnear.me) launch week, Fred builds on the previous discussion about the importance of Scripture study, and the how praying the Scriptures helps us to walk and talk with God.

In this segment, Fred explores the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is itself filled with Scripture. This book, a summation of the Catholic faith, is not merely a reference book. One can explore its rich depths in a variety of ways. Here, Fred presents a method for praying the Catechism, and reflects on the profound truth and beauty that is revealed in the process.

Catechism of the Catholic Church
Paragraph 1
God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Saviour. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.

How might we pray this passage? Like this:** Insert your name in the blanks**

God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created _____________ share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to ______________. He calls ______________ [and all men] to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls ____________ [and] together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Saviour. In his Son and through him, he invites ____________ [and all] men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.

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