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    <fireside:genDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:44:23 -0500</fireside:genDate>
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    <title>Draw Near - Episodes Tagged with “Surrender”</title>
    <link>https://drawnear.fireside.fm/tags/surrender</link>
    <pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <description>At Draw Near, we explore the beautiful truth that God, out of His deep and personal love for each of us, takes the first step to draw near. But this divine movement calls for a response—a response that shapes our lives and transforms our hearts. Together, we embark on this journey of faith, discovering the many ways God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit work within us.
Rooted in the Catholic faith, our podcast is a space where authenticity meets joy. We’re two best friends navigating life, family, and faith with honesty, humility, and a lot of love. Each episode is a heartfelt conversation—sometimes deep, sometimes lighthearted, but always real. We strive to be vulnerable, faithful, and passionate, sharing insights and stories to inspire you on your path toward Christ.
This is more than a podcast; it’s a shared journey toward sainthood. So come laugh with us, reflect with us, and grow with us as we Draw Near to God and one another. Let’s set out together on this adventure of faith, friendship, and grace.
</description>
    <language>en</language>
    <itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>
    <itunes:subtitle>Helping each person to draw near to Christ and to one another. </itunes:subtitle>
    <itunes:author>Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell</itunes:author>
    <itunes:summary>At Draw Near, we explore the beautiful truth that God, out of His deep and personal love for each of us, takes the first step to draw near. But this divine movement calls for a response—a response that shapes our lives and transforms our hearts. Together, we embark on this journey of faith, discovering the many ways God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit work within us.
Rooted in the Catholic faith, our podcast is a space where authenticity meets joy. We’re two best friends navigating life, family, and faith with honesty, humility, and a lot of love. Each episode is a heartfelt conversation—sometimes deep, sometimes lighthearted, but always real. We strive to be vulnerable, faithful, and passionate, sharing insights and stories to inspire you on your path toward Christ.
This is more than a podcast; it’s a shared journey toward sainthood. So come laugh with us, reflect with us, and grow with us as we Draw Near to God and one another. Let’s set out together on this adventure of faith, friendship, and grace.
</itunes:summary>
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    <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
    <itunes:keywords>Faith; Christ; Podcast; Catholic; Friends; Draw Near</itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:owner>
      <itunes:name>Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell</itunes:name>
      <itunes:email>drawnear.me@gmail.com</itunes:email>
    </itunes:owner>
<itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality">
  <itunes:category text="Spirituality"/>
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<itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality">
  <itunes:category text="Christianity"/>
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<itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality"/>
<item>
  <title>Guided Meditation: God Saw That It Was Good</title>
  <link>https://drawnear.fireside.fm/233</link>
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  <pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
  <author>Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell</author>
  <enclosure url="https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/e1ddec60-ea89-4a32-a14b-8340909d71a5/8124cd21-bf08-48a1-b8b5-fbcd6eadeb85.mp3" length="25380054" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>In this guided Christian visualization meditation, Kara leads you into prayer to help you see yourself through God’s eyes: intentionally formed, fully known, and deeply loved. Rooted in Draw Near’s Surrender Journal, this reflection invites you to receive all that God has created in you—your gifts, personality, and even the parts you struggle to understand—with truth, purpose, and love.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>17:37</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
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  <description>God formed you carefully—every part of you. In this episode of Draw Near, Kara leads you through a guided visualization meditation designed to quiet the noise and open you to the depth of God’s love for you. 
This reflection is especially for anyone who struggles to see themselves as wholly good and loved... those who can appreciate their strengths but wrestle with their weaknesses, insecurities, or parts they wish were different. This meditation gently invites you to see yourself through God’s eyes and to receive yourself with the same love God offers.
Drawn directly from the Surrender Journal (https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop) we wrote and offer through our shop, this prayer experience is meant to be returned to again and again—especially in moments of self-doubt, comparison, or discouragement.
Find a quiet place, take a deep breath, and allow God to remind you: you are deeply known, carefully created, and lovingly held.
Questions to reflect on before you begin:
1. Where do you find value within yourself? When do feel valuable? Are there moments when you do not feel valuable but worthless? What are they?
2. What lies from the evil one do you listen to regularly regarding your life, identity, or value?
3. What does it mean to be made in the image of God? What does it mean to be in the likeness of God? 
The Surrender Journal: 
Find additional meditations in the Surrender Journal. Learn more or ORDER by clicking HERE (https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop)
Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page (https://www.drawnear.me/booking)."
Click here (https://www.patreon.com/c/drawnear/membership) 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! (https://www.facebook.com/fredandkara). Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fredandkara/)! 
Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.  (https://www.drawnear.me/)
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 &amp;amp; Kara Kardell 
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>Catholic podcast, Draw Near, Fred and Kara, Christian meditation, guided Christian meditation, guided prayer, Christian guided prayer, visualization prayer, Catholic meditation, Catholic prayer, encountering God’s love, God’s intentional design, identity in Christ, seeing yourself through God’s eyes, God’s gaze, prayer for self-worth, prayer for healing, spiritual reflection, contemplative prayer, surrender prayer, inner healing prayer, Christian mindfulness, resting in God’s presence, God’s love for you, personal prayer, Draw Near podcast, Surrender Journal</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>God formed you carefully—every part of you. In this episode of Draw Near, Kara leads you through a guided visualization meditation designed to quiet the noise and open you to the depth of God’s love for you. </p>

<p>This reflection is especially for anyone who struggles to see themselves as wholly good and loved... those who can appreciate their strengths but wrestle with their weaknesses, insecurities, or parts they wish were different. This meditation gently invites you to see yourself through God’s eyes and to receive yourself with the same love God offers.</p>

<p>Drawn directly from the <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop" rel="nofollow">Surrender Journal</a> we wrote and offer through our shop, this prayer experience is meant to be returned to again and again—especially in moments of self-doubt, comparison, or discouragement.</p>

<p>Find a quiet place, take a deep breath, and allow God to remind you: you are deeply known, carefully created, and lovingly held.</p>

<p><strong>Questions to reflect on before you begin:</strong></p>

<ol>
<li>Where do you find value within yourself? When do feel valuable? Are there moments when you do not feel valuable but worthless? What are they?</li>
<li>What lies from the evil one do you listen to regularly regarding your life, identity, or value?</li>
<li>What does it mean to be made in the image of God? What does it mean to be in the likeness of God? </li>
</ol>

<p><strong>The Surrender Journal:</strong> <br>
Find additional meditations in the Surrender Journal. <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop" rel="nofollow">Learn more or ORDER by clicking HERE</a></p>

<p>Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near &quot;<a href="https://www.drawnear.me/booking" rel="nofollow">booking page</a>.&quot;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/drawnear/membership" rel="nofollow">Click here</a> to become a patron! Patrons are essentially &quot;sponsors&quot; and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them. <br>
&quot;Like&quot; and follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fredandkara" rel="nofollow">Facebook!</a>. Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fredandkara/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a>! </p>

<p>Who are &quot;Fred and Kara?&quot; Find out by visiting our <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/" rel="nofollow">home page. </a></p>

<p>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! </p>

<p>Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger &amp; Kara Kardell</p><p><a rel="payment" href="https://www.patreon.com/drawnear">Support Draw Near</a></p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>God formed you carefully—every part of you. In this episode of Draw Near, Kara leads you through a guided visualization meditation designed to quiet the noise and open you to the depth of God’s love for you. </p>

<p>This reflection is especially for anyone who struggles to see themselves as wholly good and loved... those who can appreciate their strengths but wrestle with their weaknesses, insecurities, or parts they wish were different. This meditation gently invites you to see yourself through God’s eyes and to receive yourself with the same love God offers.</p>

<p>Drawn directly from the <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop" rel="nofollow">Surrender Journal</a> we wrote and offer through our shop, this prayer experience is meant to be returned to again and again—especially in moments of self-doubt, comparison, or discouragement.</p>

<p>Find a quiet place, take a deep breath, and allow God to remind you: you are deeply known, carefully created, and lovingly held.</p>

<p><strong>Questions to reflect on before you begin:</strong></p>

<ol>
<li>Where do you find value within yourself? When do feel valuable? Are there moments when you do not feel valuable but worthless? What are they?</li>
<li>What lies from the evil one do you listen to regularly regarding your life, identity, or value?</li>
<li>What does it mean to be made in the image of God? What does it mean to be in the likeness of God? </li>
</ol>

<p><strong>The Surrender Journal:</strong> <br>
Find additional meditations in the Surrender Journal. <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop" rel="nofollow">Learn more or ORDER by clicking HERE</a></p>

<p>Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near &quot;<a href="https://www.drawnear.me/booking" rel="nofollow">booking page</a>.&quot;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/drawnear/membership" rel="nofollow">Click here</a> to become a patron! Patrons are essentially &quot;sponsors&quot; and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them. <br>
&quot;Like&quot; and follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fredandkara" rel="nofollow">Facebook!</a>. Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fredandkara/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a>! </p>

<p>Who are &quot;Fred and Kara?&quot; Find out by visiting our <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/" rel="nofollow">home page. </a></p>

<p>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! </p>

<p>Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger &amp; Kara Kardell</p><p><a rel="payment" href="https://www.patreon.com/drawnear">Support Draw Near</a></p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
<item>
  <title>Surrender: Trusting God in the Waiting</title>
  <link>https://drawnear.fireside.fm/225</link>
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  <pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
  <author>Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell</author>
  <enclosure url="https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/e1ddec60-ea89-4a32-a14b-8340909d71a5/262512f0-31ac-4593-8ba0-52be42c2e70b.mp3" length="110744610" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>What does it mean to truly surrender to God? In this episode of Draw Near, we explore how surrender isn’t giving up. It’s stepping out in faith like Peter on the water and trusting God’s slow, faithful work of grace. So, how can we actually begin to surrender?</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>46:08</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/e/e1ddec60-ea89-4a32-a14b-8340909d71a5/episodes/2/262512f0-31ac-4593-8ba0-52be42c2e70b/cover.jpg?v=2"/>
  <description>What does it mean to actually surrender to God?... and how do we begin to do it? There are seasons when God feels silent, when prayers go unanswered, or when our hearts wrestle with waiting. In those moments, surrender can sound like a nice idea but feel nearly impossible. So, where do we begin?  
To continue your journey to total surrender to God, check out The Surrender Journal (https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop/p/the-surrender-journal) on the Draw Near Shop (https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop). It shares 30 uniquely crafted meditation exercises that will bring you to a place of surrender. 
Reflection Questions from this episode:
What does it look like for you to actively surrender to God’s timing right now?
What truths or promises do you cling to when waiting feels hard?
Can you recall a time when waiting brought unexpected grace, growth, or healing?
Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page (https://www.drawnear.me/booking)."
Click here (https://www.drawnear.me/donate) 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! (https://www.facebook.com/fredandkara). Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/drawnear.me/)! 
Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.  (https://www.drawnear.me/)
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 &amp;amp; Kara Kardell 
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>surrender to God, trusting God, active surrender, waiting on God, Fred and Kara, Catholic meditations, Surrender journal, God’s timing, faith in hard times, Catholic spirituality, Christian surrender, hope in suffering, prayer and trust, faith journey, trusting God’s plan, divine timing, letting go and letting God, spiritual growth, Catholic faith, Christian podcast, peace in waiting, Jesus I trust in You, God’s faithfulness, finding peace in the storm, how to surrender to God, waiting with hope, spiritual surrender, discipleship, prayer in hard times, Catholic teaching on surrender, faith and patience, trust and obedience, surrender and peace, waiting for God’s answer</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>What does it mean to actually surrender to God?... and how do we begin to do it? There are seasons when God feels silent, when prayers go unanswered, or when our hearts wrestle with waiting. In those moments, surrender can sound like a nice idea but feel nearly impossible. So, where do we begin?  </p>

<p>To continue your journey to total surrender to God, check out <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop/p/the-surrender-journal" rel="nofollow">The Surrender Journal</a> on the Draw Near <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop" rel="nofollow">Shop</a>. It shares 30 uniquely crafted meditation exercises that will bring you to a place of surrender. </p>

<p><strong>Reflection Questions from this episode</strong>:<br>
What does it look like for you to actively surrender to God’s timing right now?<br>
What truths or promises do you cling to when waiting feels hard?<br>
Can you recall a time when waiting brought unexpected grace, growth, or healing?</p>

<p>Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near &quot;<a href="https://www.drawnear.me/booking" rel="nofollow">booking page</a>.&quot;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.drawnear.me/donate" rel="nofollow">Click here</a> to become a patron! Patrons are essentially &quot;sponsors&quot; and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them. <br>
&quot;Like&quot; and follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fredandkara" rel="nofollow">Facebook!</a>. Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drawnear.me/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a>! </p>

<p>Who are &quot;Fred and Kara?&quot; Find out by visiting our <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/" rel="nofollow">home page. </a></p>

<p>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! </p>

<p>Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger &amp; Kara Kardell</p><p><a rel="payment" href="https://www.patreon.com/drawnear">Support Draw Near</a></p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>What does it mean to actually surrender to God?... and how do we begin to do it? There are seasons when God feels silent, when prayers go unanswered, or when our hearts wrestle with waiting. In those moments, surrender can sound like a nice idea but feel nearly impossible. So, where do we begin?  </p>

<p>To continue your journey to total surrender to God, check out <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop/p/the-surrender-journal" rel="nofollow">The Surrender Journal</a> on the Draw Near <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/drawnearshop" rel="nofollow">Shop</a>. It shares 30 uniquely crafted meditation exercises that will bring you to a place of surrender. </p>

<p><strong>Reflection Questions from this episode</strong>:<br>
What does it look like for you to actively surrender to God’s timing right now?<br>
What truths or promises do you cling to when waiting feels hard?<br>
Can you recall a time when waiting brought unexpected grace, growth, or healing?</p>

<p>Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near &quot;<a href="https://www.drawnear.me/booking" rel="nofollow">booking page</a>.&quot;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.drawnear.me/donate" rel="nofollow">Click here</a> to become a patron! Patrons are essentially &quot;sponsors&quot; and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them. <br>
&quot;Like&quot; and follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fredandkara" rel="nofollow">Facebook!</a>. Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drawnear.me/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a>! </p>

<p>Who are &quot;Fred and Kara?&quot; Find out by visiting our <a href="https://www.drawnear.me/" rel="nofollow">home page. </a></p>

<p>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! </p>

<p>Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger &amp; Kara Kardell</p><p><a rel="payment" href="https://www.patreon.com/drawnear">Support Draw Near</a></p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
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