Draw Near

Draw Near

By Fred Shellabarger and Kara KardellReligion & SpiritualityChristianitySpirituality
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Draw Near episodes

  • Fraternal Charity: Ch. 6 - I Believe in Love

    Week 6 discussion on "Fraternal Charity" from the I Believe in Love book study led by Fred Shellabarger and Kara Kardell from the [Draw Near](drawnear.me) podcast!!

    This book is a personal retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux written by: Book by Fr Jean C J D'Elbee

    1. Read Conference 6
    2. Listen to this discussion of Conference 6 between Fred and Kara.
    3. Discuss the following discussion questions with a friend OR in the "discussion" feed within the book study on Suscipe
      4. *Be sure to share all God is speaking to your during this study. We want to hear from you in the discussions!

      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 (and related music that is featured on this podcast) © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell, unless otherwise specified.

      Support Draw Near

      30 min
    4. BONUS: The Gift of the Magi

      Continuing to share some of our favorite Christmas stories this holiday season, here is a a classic that may just bring you to tears: "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. For this reading, Fred is joined by Siouxland Catholic Radio's, Joanne Fox, who narrates. He is also joined by his wife, Krystal, in the role of Della and his daughter who plays the part of Mrs. Sofronie.

      Support Draw Near

      11 min
    5. Great Desires, Humility, and Peace: Ch 5 - I Believe in Love

      For a limited time, as a "Christmas gift" to our listeners, please enjoy our full discussion from our I Believe in Love book study on the fifth chapter of this life changing book. Here we discuss the desires of our hearts, how are we to follow and discern those desires, and how the Lord has given us gifts to build the kingdom. Shorter than a typical episode of Draw Near, but also a bit more personal at times, we hope and pray, but also believe, that these discussions will be a blessing to you (whether you have read the book or not - but we hope you will!).

      For the Book Study (or for going deeper):

      This book, "I Believe in Love," is a personal retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux written by Fr Jean C J D'Elbee

      1. Read Chapter 5 (pgs. 115-140)
      2. Listen to this discussion of Conference 5 between Fred and Kara from [Draw Near](drawnear.me)!
      3. Discuss the following discussion questions with a friend OR in the "discussion" feed within the book study on Suscipe You can also click on this link to join the study! It's not too late!

        4. For your convenience, here are the questions:

        1. Chapter 5 opens with the words, "Nothing great ever comes about without great desires... If they are lacking, everything is dull and lifeless." Was there a time you were driven to achieve a desire only to discover that it did not bring fulfillment or glory to God? How did that impact you?

        2. "'When we decide on some action, nine times out of ten we keep asking ourselves, "What are people going to think? What will So-and-so think if I do that?' and not, "What will Jesus think?" (pg.128). Have you ever made a decision based on what others would think? Have you made a decision for God? Which one brought greater peace/ joy/fulfillment or the like?

        3. Reflect on the reality of God's grace at work in your life, and the desires he has placed in your heart; attainable desires according to St Therese! In what way might the Lord be calling you to use your natural gifts, talents, and the desires he placed in your heart, to bring him glory and build the kingdom?

        4. "A ravishing form of humility is simplicity. It is the charm of those who know how to put themselves in their proper place and are not puffed up in their own eyes" (pg 130). Who is someone in your own life that you would describe in this way--simple humility? How might you follow that person as they follow Christ, and imitate their witness?

        5. Building on the discussion about how the Lord speaks to us, and reflecting on being an "angel of peace," as Fr D'Elbee describes it, how is the Lord calling you to be a messenger ("angel") of peace in your home? In your work? In your relationships? In the world around you?

          6. 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.

          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 (and related music that is featured on this podcast) © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell, unless otherwise specified.

          Support Draw Near

          24 min
        6. Abandonment to Jesus: Ch 4 - I Believe in Love

          For a limited time, as a "Christmas gift" to our listeners, please enjoy our full discussion from our I Believe in Love book study on the fourth chapter of this life changing book. Here we discuss what it means to abandon one's self to Jesus; to live the prayer, "Thy will be done." Shorter than a typical episode of Draw Near, but also a bit more personal at times, we hope and pray, but also believe, that these discussions will be a blessing to you (whether you have read the book or not - but we hope you will!).

          For the Book Study (or for going deeper):

          This book, "I Believe in Love," is a personal retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux written by Fr Jean C J D'Elbee

          1. Read Chapter 4 (Pgs. 81-113)
          2. Listen to this discussion of Conference 4 between Fred and Kara from [Draw Near](drawnear.me)!
          3. Discuss the following discussion questions with a friend OR in the "discussion" feed within the book study on Suscipe You can also click on this link to join the study! It's not too late!

            4. For your convenience, here are the questions:

            1. There are examples and definitions of "abandonment" through Conference 4. Which do you relate to the most in your spiritual life? Why?

            2. Meditate on the "Our Father" prayer. Pray it slowly. Think of each word. Pause when you say, "thy will be done." What did God speak to you through your time in meditation?

            3. Share a moment in your life when you followed the will of God. How did you know it was his will? How did it feel to say "yes" when he said, "Let me do it." What was the outcome?

            4. Grab your Bible and read the Word of God in Mt 6: 25-30. Read it once then pray with it for 2 minutes. Read it a second time and pray with in for 2 more minutes. Read it one final time and pray with it for 2 more minutes. What WORD or PHRASE stood out to you? Why do you think it stood out?

            5. Jesus told St. Gertrude, "You trouble me, Gertrude, by asking me for the cure of your friend. I sent her this sickness as a trial. She accepts it with admirable submission to my will which gains great merit for her, and I thus prepare a more beautiful Heaven for her for all eternity" (pg. 100). Have you ever had a prayer go unanswered? Did it seem like God ignored it? What good can you see coming from it?

              6. 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.

              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 (and related music that is featured on this podcast) © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell, unless otherwise specified.

              Support Draw Near

              25 min
            6. Unshakeable Confidence: Ch 3 - I Believe in Love

              For a limited time, as a "Christmas gift" to our listeners, please enjoy our full discussion from our I Believe in Love book study on the third chapter of this life changing book. Here we discuss the danger in becoming too dependent upon ourselves, how our weaknesses are actually opportunities to encounter the Lord and why we must "become like little children." Shorter than a typical episode of Draw Near, but also a bit more personal at times, we hope and pray, but also believe, that these discussions will be a blessing to you (whether you have read the book or not - but we hope you will!).

              For the Book Study (or for going deeper):

              This book, "I Believe in Love," is a personal retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux written by Fr Jean C J D'Elbee

              1. Read Chapter 3 (pgs. 55-80)
              2. Listen to this discussion of Conference 3 between Fred and Kara from [Draw Near](drawnear.me)!
              3. Discuss the following discussion questions with a friend OR in the "discussion" feed within the book study on Suscipe You can also click on this link to join the study! It's not too late!

                4. For your convenience, here are the questions:

                1. Take a moment to reflect on the words of St John Vianney, "God's greatest pleasure is to pardon us." We see similar words in St Teresa of Calcutta's I Thirst reflection, "When you give me your sins, you give me the joy of being your Savior."

                  2. What does this reveal about the mercy of God? How can we keep the realization of the Lord's joy in being our Savior before us from day to day, moment to moment?

                  1. Fr D'Elbee writes, "There is a double danger in the method which diminishes the role of confidence and stresses the role of personal effort... If we are successful, there is the danger of pride, of attributing to ourselves what is in reality the work of grace; on the other hand, if we see no signs of progress, nine times out of ten, we fall into wretched, sterile discouragement."

                    2. In what ways have you found yourself relying on personal effort vs. grace?

                    How might a greater awareness of your own faults and "littleness" help you grow in confidence and holiness?

                    1. On page 78 we read, "Pure love is realized in pure faith, and pure faith is realized in darkness in the same way as 'strength is perfected in weakness.'" How have you experienced moments of darkness and weakness? In what ways did these moments help to strengthen your faith?

                    2. What does it mean to "become like children" (Mt 18:3)? Meditate on the image of God as YOUR father. How does this image speak to your heart? What does it reveal about his love for you as a his child?

                    3. What strikes you about the words, "I believe in Your love for me and I believe in my love for You"? How might we root these words deep in our heart?

                      4. 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.

                      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 (and related music that is featured on this podcast) © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell, unless otherwise specified.

                      Support Draw Near

                      28 min
                    4. Humble Confidence: Ch 2 - I Believe in Love

                      For a limited time, as a "Christmas gift" to our listeners, please enjoy our full discussion from our I Believe in Love book study on the first chapter of this life changing book. Here we discuss times in our lives when we have needed his mercy, when we have felt alone and afraid and like God is far from us, and what it means to have a "living faith." Shorter than a typical episode of Draw Near, but also a bit more personal at times, we hope and pray, but also believe, that these discussions will be a blessing to you (whether you have read the book or not - but we hope you will!).

                      For the Book Study (or for going deeper):

                      This book, "I Believe in Love," is a personal retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux written by Fr Jean C J D'Elbee

                      1. Read Chapter 2 (Pgs 25-53)
                      2. Listen to this discussion of Conference 2 between Fred and Kara from [Draw Near](drawnear.me)!
                      3. Discuss the following discussion questions with a friend OR in the "discussion" feed within the book study on Suscipe You can also click on this link to join the study! It's not too late!

                        4. For your convenience, here are the questions:

                        1. "The elevator which must raise me to the heavens is Your arms, O Jesus! For that I do not need to grow; on the contrary, I must necessarily remain small, become smaller and smaller. O my God, You have surpassed what I expected, and I want to sing Your mercies" (pg. 28). Read and re-read this quotation. Meditate upon it. What strikes you about these words of St. Therese? What is God saying to you through her words?

                        2. Fr D'Elbee asks the question, "How many young people have lost the Faith, not from having fallen, but from not having been helped, with love, to pick themselves up again as many times as was necessary?" In what way have you experienced this loving help in your own life? How can we be that loving help to others, substantially, in our daily lives?

                        3. The words "mercy" and "misery" both derive from the Latin root "miseri." Meditate on how these two words relate to one another; how do they relate to you? To God?

                        4. Jesus slept in the boat. When he awoke to fearful disciples he asked, "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?" Have you ever felt as though Jesus was asleep in your spiritual life? Did this cause your faith to wain? How can you get to a place of faith to say, "You are always in the boat with me... You may sleep; I shall not awaken You... I shall remain in peace" (pg. 41).

                        5. "In a living faith, you will not approach the confessional with dragging feet, but as if you were going to a feast, even if you have to make a great effort each time to humble yourself and to conquer the monotony of the routine" (pg. 35). Put this in to practice this week by going to confession. Receive this Sacrament as if you were going to a feast.

                          6. In what ways have you allowed past faults, struggles, failures and sins to be an obstacle in receiving the love and mercy of God? How might this be overcome?

                          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.

                          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 (and related music that is featured on this podcast) © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell, unless otherwise specified.

                          Support Draw Near

                          27 min
                        6. Love for Love: Ch 1 - I Believe in Love

                          For a limited time, as a "Christmas gift" to our listeners, please enjoy our full discussion from our I Believe in Love book study on the first chapter of this life changing book. Here we discuss our relationship with Christ, whether or not we see ourselves as a "joy" for Jesus, and what it means to "abide" in Him. Shorter than a typical episode of Draw Near, but also a bit more personal at times, we hope and pray, but also believe, that these discussions will be a blessing to you (whether you have read the book or not - but we hope you will!).

                          For the Book Study (or for going deeper):

                          This book, "I Believe in Love," is a personal retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux written by Fr Jean C J D'Elbee

                          1. Read the Forward, Preface, and Chapter 1 (pgs 3-24)
                          2. Listen to this discussion of Conference 1 between Fred and Kara from [Draw Near](drawnear.me)!
                          3. Discuss the following discussion questions with a friend OR in the "discussion" feed within the book study on Suscipe You can also click on this link to join the study! It's not too late!

                            4. For your convenience, here are the questions:

                            1. One of the goals of this study is to provide an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to transform your heart. "There are persons... who pass their whole lives on earth without ever having experienced this heart-to-heart relationship with the Father in Heaven, their Creator and Savior" (pg.23). Reflect on this. How would you describe your relationship with God (stranger, genie, Father, best friend, etc.)? How is God calling you to grow closer to him?

                            2. In John 15:5, Jesus declares, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." What does this passage have to do with the theme of this week's conference -"love"?

                            3. Take a few minutes to meditate on Phillipians 2:7-8: "[He] emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross." What do these words reveal to you about the incredible love of God?

                            4. Do you think you are a "joy for Jesus"? What about you brings Him joy?

                            5. Reflect on these words from the text:

                              6. "I should like to ask you urgently... never let your past sins be an obstacle between you and Jesus. It is a ruse of the Devil to keep putting our sins before our eyes in order to make them like a screen between the Savior and us. Think of your past sins for your own humiliation or to persuade yourself once again of your weakness, of your unworthiness; think of them in order to find happiness in expiation, in order to confirm your firm resolution not to fall again... but especially in order to bless Jesus for having pardoned you, for having purified you, for having cast all your sins to the bottom of the sea... Do not go looking for them at the bottom of the sea!"

                              In what ways have you allowed past faults, struggles, failures and sins to be an obstacle in receiving the love and mercy of God? How might this be overcome?

                              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.

                              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 (and related music that is featured on this podcast) © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell, unless otherwise specified.

                              Support Draw Near

                              25 min
                            6. Exciting Stuff

                              We have some exciting things available to you!

                              TODAY, December 21-January 6th, 2023 we are making the "I Believe in Love" book study discussions available to EVERYONE! The first half of the book, chapters 1-5, will be live for the remainder of the Christmas season. Take time to listen to them. If you enjoyed them, you can still join the book study on suscipe.co and join the LIVE discussion with Fred and Kara on January 31st.

                              Mark January 24th on your calendar for some Draw Near news. You won't want to miss it! Follow us on facebook to keep in touch with all new things.

                              Dad Joke challenge coming soon! Fred and our friend, Philip Grothus, compete to make Kara laugh with dad jokes... can they break this tough cookie? (no...)

                              Last year's Christmas Episode

                              Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our about 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

                              Support Draw Near

                              13 min
                            7. BONUS: The Christmas Story

                              Following up on the surprising popularity of our reading of "Yes, Virginia There is A Santa Claus" last year, we decided to share some more Christmas stories this holiday season. We both will be inviting listeners into our homes and into our families as we celebrate this year by sharing some of our favorite Christmas stories. We invite you (and your family) to enjoy... in the words of Linus from the Peanuts, what Christmas is all about. This is a purely "sit back and relax," "story time" sort of "shorty" episode. We hope this reading will be a blessing to you this Christmas season. Thank you for listening and allowing us to be a part of your lives this year! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

                              Support Draw Near

                              6 min
                            8. BONUS: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

                              Following up on the surprising popularity of our reading of "Yes, Virginia There is A Santa Claus" last year, we decided to share some more Christmas stories this holiday season. We both will be inviting listeners into our homes and into our families as we celebrate this year by sharing some of our favorite Christmas stories. We invite you (and your family) to enjoy this timeless story that Fred reads to his children every year! This is a purely "sit back and relax," "story time" sort of "shorty" episode. We hope this reading will be a blessing to you this Christmas season. Thank you for listening and allowing us to be a part of your lives this year! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

                              You can find a copy of the book we read from here: https://amzn.to/3HwGaZF

                              Support Draw Near

                              4 min

                            About Draw Near

                            From the publisher's feed

                            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…

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