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demonstrates inner peace
by Karen Twinem

Living Today Quietly, Easily

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

"Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily.
To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully.
To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely.
To meet others, peacefully, joyously.
To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously." 

- Francis of Assisi





This beautiful prayer from Francis of Assisi pairs well with advice from another of my favorite saints, Francis de Sales.

He urges us to not look forward in fear to what life is bringing. Rather, he suggests we look forward in hope, living as quietly and easily as Francis of Assisi suggested.

Francis de Sales points out that we belong to God. He will lead us safely through all things. When we cannot go on, God will pick us up and carry us through.

He cautions us not to fear what will happen. Worrying is useless, as Jesus often points out. God loves us. He will take care of us today and tomorrow.

Suffering is a natural part of life on Earth. Jesus told us we will have trouble on this Earth. But in life with him, we will have joy and peace.

That means that God will either shield us from suffering. Or he will give us “unfailing strength,” as Francis de Sales says, to bear it.

The end result is that we make the decision to be at peace. We decide to put aside anxious thoughts and imaginations, as Francis de Sales says.

When we love God with all our mind, we focus on him as the day and night go by.

This can be simple. Perhaps you recall the last Bible story you read. Or you think about a challenging point from last week’s sermon. Or you sing a worship song and really mean it.

I have Bible verses and perpetual calendars with inspirational sayings throughout my house. There are never far away. I read one when I reheat my coffee in the microwave, for example.

I also read the Bible as often as I have food. And I practice fixed hour prayer, stopping to pray at daybreak, 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and bedtime. Just these short breaks … often only five minutes … keep me close to God.

We cannot live today, quietly, easily, without God’s help. Lift your spirit up to Him on a continual basis. You will be shocked as how easy He can make your day.

displays likes and hearts from social media
by Karen Twinem

Be a Force for Good on Social Media During Lent

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Giving up social media for Lent? While that can be helpful, there’s a more positive goal: Resolve to be a force for good online. After all, the biggest problems on social media are the participants.

Yes, social media is problematic. Studies continue to determine social media’s impact on children and teenagers. Yet the level of usage continues to grow as this 2025 Pew Research Center report shows.

Still, 71% of adults use Facebook alone. That’s because, for adults, social media has benefits, including global connectivity. You interact with people you would not otherwise know. Even more commonly, social media connects you to far-flung family, friends and former co-workers. If you are intentional on social media for Lent, you are a force for good with all these people. How? By offering support, compassion, inspiration and laughter.

Your content and the ways you connect make all the difference. A book on habits, “Your Fully Charged Life” by Meaghan B. Murphy, suggests a strategy I find every interesting. She believes the best approach for positive use of social media is to behave as you do in real life.

That means to connect, just as you do when you talk in person or on the phone. Comment on the posts of your friends and family. Compliment a parent on their kids. Be intentional about what you post. This allows you to bring a laugh or an inspirational thought to others. And to thank those who inspire you.

To do that, you have to remember what Mother said: Be careful who your friends are. You can use mute features to stop getting posts from people who are habitually negative or offensive. The most selective you are about who you follow, the more likely it is that you will find fellowship.

The same goes for businesses, not-for-profits and organization. Keep it as local as you can. Give positive feedback when you can. If you have a podcast that has made your life better, support it on Patreon.

Think it Through

Be good to yourself (and others) by thinking about what you are writing online. This is also a “real-life” behavior. Too many people feel that the relative anonymity gives them license to be obnoxious and cruel. Before I speak, I want to ask myself: Is this true? Is this kind? That is how I act at a conference table. It should be how I act on my phone.

It’s also good to have a purpose for your social media accounts. The purposes for mine are:

  • Facebook and Instagram: I use these platforms to connect with family, friends and former colleagues. I try to respect the privacy of my adult children and grandchild. I also use the platforms to talk about caregiving, helping people with mental illness and practicing Christian mindfulness. Finally, I use it to make people laugh.
  • X, BlueSky and LinkedIn: I use these platforms to promote mental health advocacy, Christian mindfulness and laughter.
  • Goodreads: I use this to record and review the books I read. I also share book info with friends.
  • Pinterest: I do put some material from this blog and from other sources on my “From God’s Lips” board. The other boards contain information, recipes and pictures I want to keep.

Every post must meet these criteria. There’s no room for unsubstantiated or iffy information, political fights, vulgarity or hate speech on my social media. That is, when I do it right.

Try creating your own purposes for social media. It’s what the pros … which I used to be … do.

You also have to think about what time limits you set on your social media use. I personally do not look at social media during the day, only after dinner. This gives me more peace of mind. (Remember: Your grandparents and parents waited for the evening news to find out what was happening in the world. And they did fine. If your neighborhood is on fire, you will hear the sirens.)

Being more intentional about your presence on line can bring more faith, hope and love into your life. If you try it, I’d love to hear your results.

a picture of the author
by Karen Twinem

Word of the Year: Renaissance

The popular practice of choosing a word of the year can be a Christian mindfulness practice. My word of the year is Renaissance.

Stopped in my tracks by an unsuccessful spinal fusion that caused actual damage, I am facing at least two surgeries this year. So my word of the year points to the Lord’s promise that he’ll walk with me through it. After the pain comes the Renaissance. No matter the results … and I have lost significant trust in modern surgery … something new and beautiful will result in my life and walk.

Picking a word of the year can open to a deep conversation with God. But it is certainly not mandatory to any Christian practice. It’s not a magic way to get better results in Life 2026. Still, if you listen to the Lord in prayer, you may find that He has a word for you.

One of my favorite hyphenates, author/Christian/YouTube star Jennifer L. Scott did a nice job of describing her process. (That’s her family’s new puppy in her arms, by the way.)

Choosing Your Word

The steps I use to choose my word are simple. They integrate easily in my practices of practicing the presence of God.

Prayer: I practice fixed hour prayer, contemplative (or centering) prayer and examen/gratitude daily. During those times, I ask God to show me the word or phrase for the year. A word may arise from prayers I am reading during fixed hours. (Often they include meditations on scripture.) It may come as I settle into adoration and closeness to God during contemplation. And it may show up as I review my own sins and weakness in examen and gratitude practice each night.

Christian Mindfulness: I practice the presence of God in the present moment. As I’ve said before, I enter each new situation asking God’s presence and blessing. I love the people I am with, and I exit the situation offering gratitude to God for what has happened. Over and over and over again.

Bible Study: You may read your word in the Bible. In fact, I know God is speaking to me when I experience synchronicity. I hear the same Bible verse multiple times a day. Especially when that happens, I pray attention.

If you struggle with selecting a Word, your spouse, prayer partner or small group could pray with or for you. They may hear what you do not. There’s also a LifeSpring word of the year generator for 2025 that could help.

Using Your Word

You may have watched Jennifer Scott’s video above. In it, she suggests writing the word scattered through the year on your calendar or organizing device. I’m definitely doing that.

You can also use your word in multiple examen and Christian meditation exercises. Do a monthly gratitude exercise to see how the word is appearing in your life. Take a mediation walk asking the Lord to show you what He would like you to do. Pray and journal over the word.

I know that my Renaissance will come in phases. First, relief. Some challenging situations are starting to resolve. And I hope some of the chronic pain will be gone. Then restoration: another surgery, definitely lots of physical therapy. Finally, regeneration. I am looking forward to a glorious new season of life!!!

May God be present with you as you find and apply your word this year.

the families of Gaza represent the holy innocents
by Karen Twinem

The Three Days After Christmas: Faith Amid Evil

The church was very careful in how it structured the period immediately after Christmas. Using Christmas mindfulness, we can meditate on three stories of faith amid evil. This keeps us grounded in the true meaning of Christmas.

The Feast of Stephen

The first day after Christmas, Dec. 26, is the feast of Stephen, the first person killed for being a Christian. Stephen was a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem, respected for his holiness. Like Jesus, he was accused of blasphemy.

In his trial before the Sanhedrin, he glowed like an angel. And he gave an eloquent speech that ended with his accusation that the Jewish leaders had just betrayed and murdered the Messiah.

He was sentenced to death. As the stones fell on him, he saw a vision of Jesus in Heaven, welcoming him.

We can meditate on our own commitment to Jesus. Is it strong enough to take us through this kind of trial?

The Feast of St. John

Next, on Dec. 27, is the feast of St. John, the apostle I most look forward to meeting in Heaven.

John identified himself completely through his relationship with Jesus. He was “the one that Jesus loved.” That’s not bragging. It’s saying that he is who he is because Jesus loved him.

That love drove a life of evangelism and suffering. He was one of Jesus’ inner circle of three close friends. He went to Jesus’ trial. He stood at the foot of the cross with the Virgin Mary. The dying Jesus asked him to take his place as Mary’s son. He took Mary home to live under his care. He entered the empty tomb. He wrote five books of the New Testament: a biography of Jesus, three letters and Revelation. As an old man, the last living disciple, he was sentenced to hard labor at Patmos.

John is, to me, an icon of faithfulness. His understanding of Jesus was unparalleled.

The Feast of the Holy Innocents

The next day in Christmas week, Dec. 28, is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, in memory of the Bethlehem babies that Herod executed. Joseph got his family out of Bethlehem just in time.

Jesus came into the fallen world as an infant to start the process of ending suffering. The world was filled with evil then, and it’s filled with evil now. On this day, we can meditate on the suffering of the innocent in our own time. Think of Ukraine. Gaza. Sudan. The unborn and the born who are hungry and cold in wealthy nations.

On this day, we think about how we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to suffering children.

This prayer, from the Catholic Household Blessing and Prayers, is a good one to contemplate: 

Heavenly Father,
your holiness revealed in Jesus
challenges us to renounce violence,
to forsake revenge,
and to love without discrimination, without measure.

Teach us the surpassing truth of the Gospel,
which puts worldly wisdom to shame,
that we may recognize as one with us
even our enemies and persecutors
and see all people as your children.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Enjoy this precious time after Christmas. It tells a story of faith in the midst of countless evil deeds.

advent candle wreath
by Karen Twinem

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Advent

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

The first Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. Do you want a calm Christmas? A holy December? This is where to begin.

Step one is always the Christmas Pledge. I wrote it down decades ago and can’t find the source. But it has served as a pathway for a meaningful Advent.

The Christmas Pledge

  1. To remember those people who truly need my gifts.
  2. To express my love for family and friends in more direct ways that presents.
  3. To re-dedicate myself to the spiritual growth of my family.
  4. To examine my holiday activities in light of the true spirit of Christmas.
  5. To initiate one act of peacemaking within my circle of family and friends.

You can fulfill the pledge in many ways:

  • Give a Christmas present from your family to World Vision or another charity. You can have the youngest child or grandchild pick out the gift. We gave a goat to a family in Africa last year.
  • Prepare a blessing bag with a Christmas card or other Christmas twist to give to the homeless you see. To learn more about blessing bags, click here.
  • Give a warm handwritten note to those you love most.
  • Put up an Advent wreath, lighting the candle of hope on Sunday.
  • Introduce Advent activities into your Christmas calendar.
    • Advent calendars are trendy. You can make a meaningful one digitally or with 25 envelopes. I have a refillable Advent box similar to this. I put mini Christmas ornaments on it for the mini-tree. Others put Advent activities on real calendars.
  • Go through your list of “must do” events to see if they reflect your values.
  • Reach out to family members and neighbors who vote differently than you do.
  • Find an Advent devotional to read each day during your quiet time.

We kick off the First Sunday of Advent with church attendance. Then we set up the barn in our nativity scene … empty. We add the people and animals as the season progresses. We also make Christmas cookies for tea in the afternoon.

On Sunday, I start an Advent devotional from those I have collected over the years. I rotate so this year’s devotionals include “Meditations on the Birth of Jesus: A Renovare Advent Resource for Spiritual Renewal” by Miriam Dixon and Margaret Campbell. I also may add “Hidden Christmas” by Timothy Keller. It’s first on a list of recommended Advent devotionals that you can find on Goodreads here.

Step by step, day by day, you can have the quiet holiday you crave. All you have to do is apply these ideas, based on Christian mindfulness. A holy Advent season leads to a happier new year.

symbols of thanksgiving
by Karen Twinem

Write Down Your Blessings This Thanksgiving

Parts of the world are at war. We may be missing loved ones. And the cost of Thanksgiving may be much higher than last year. Nonetheless, the Lord has been so good to us.

Today, let’s look with intention at what’s right and how God has blessed us. Listing our blessings helps us to stay focused on what is good in our lives. You can write it on a piece of paper, a computer screen or a pumpkin!

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

For example, I am thankful to the Lord for:

  • MRIs and CAT scans that finally show what’s wrong that can be fixed.
  • Our marriage that has remained solid despite everything.
  • Food, water and a warm house.
  • My granddaughter and the miracles of technology that allow us to spend time together.
  • My wonderful kids.
  • A more consistent Christian mindfulness practice.
  • My spiritual director, small group leaders and pastors.

And there’s lots more on my list. Please make one yourself and spend time thanking God for what you have. You will feel much better.

It might be fun to keep it, so you can compare it to next year’s list.

You also can create a list of unanswered prayers to compare. This year I am praying for healing, increased understanding of God’s will and visiting my family.

by Karen Twinem

Resource: What Would St. Francis do?

“What Would St. Francis Do? A Guide to Simplicity, Compassion and Peace” interested me in multiple ways. Lisa Talarico’s book is the rare examination of St. Francis’ values written by a non-Catholic. Neither does she practice the Christian faith. But she deeply admires Francis of Assisi and wants to incorporate his values into daily life.

This is a quick read that can become a well-used handbook. It presents the case for living out Franciscan ideals in the modern world, with specific ideas for how to do that. Ms. Talarico covers Francis’ ideals in seven components:

  • Simplicity
  • Environment Stewardship
  • Compassion and Social Justice
  • Peacemaking
  • Gratitude and Joy
  • Faith
  • Unity and Inclusion
  • Embracing Change
  • Cultivating Inner Peace

For each value, she provides “a Francis-inspired action plan.” Some steps are similar ideas applied to various target audiences, yet all are good suggestions.

For example, her suggestions for expanding simplicity in your life include:

  • Building a habit of gratitude.
  • Creating giveaway boxes and filling them with those things you don’t need.
  • Scheduling a no-spend week.

I’ve studied and admired St. Francis for decades. I often use material about his life as meditation verses to open contemplative or centering prayer. Still, this book gave me some new ideas that I’m planning to try.

Francis, who believed deeply in the value of poverty, would approve of these steps. The book could be an excellent addition to expand your spiritual practices. It also could be a fine companion for a retreat or a year-long resolution.

For me, the best way to implement the ideas would include deep prayer and the Holy Spirit. Francis would approve. And it certainly would make the changes easier. But, using this book in daily (or weekly) reflection and practice would make anyone, Christian or not, a better person.

The book is available on Amazon. Enjoy it! Other resources for Christian mindfulness are found here.

by Karen Twinem

Grow in the Lord (and Dump Anxiety) During Lent

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Today is a good time to think about how you would like Lent to change you this year. Many of us need help with anxiety, for example. We’d focus on ways to help with that on this blog during Lent.

Every Lent, I always do a reading program. You also can consider the ways you can make changes to your patterns of in prayer, fasting and generosity.

Once you, under God’s guidance (of course), develop your program, having an Ash Wednesday service is always useful. If your church does not celebrate Ash Wednesday, here’s a service you can do at home.

Write down a list of your sins. Burn the paper in a bowl or ashtray. Then pray: 

Let us ask our Heavenly Father to bless these ashes, which we will use as a mark of our repentance. Lord, bless these ashes. Wearing them reminds us that we are from the dust of the earth. Pardon our sins and keep us faithful to the resolutions that we have made for Lent. Help us to prepare well for the celebration of your Son's glorious resurrection.  Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Mark each person’s forehead in the sign of the cross saying, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.”

Close with this prayer: 

Loving Father, today we start Lent. From today, we make a new start to be more loving and kind. Help us to show more concern for the less fortunate, the hungry and the poor. Help us to love you more and speak to you more often. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. 

Next time, some recommendations for releasing anxiety to the Lord.  We've talked about this during the election.
shows diversity of Christians
by Karen Twinem

Pray for Christian Unity

Today is the best possible day to pray for Christian unity. It’s the traditional time in the church year. It’s Martin Luther King Day in the United States. And then there’s a presidential inauguration. Since Jesus prayed for unity at the Last Supper, you might even call it his dying wish.

Today, the Christian church is far from unified. Searching about this unity online brings up a lot of material about why unity is not a particularly good thing. As well as some divisive material on both sides of the political spectrum.

Weird, isn’t it? I myself have experienced hateful behavior from other Christians who view issues differently than I do. Surely this is not what Jesus wants for us. That’s especially true when everyone in the disagreement is sure that Jesus is on their side.

What Martin Luther King Can Teach Us

Recently, I attended a Vineyard USA workshop on principles and practices that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used as the core of the civil rights movement. This was a nonviolent movement, so much so that Dr. King told people who couldn’t promise to remain nonviolent to stay away. His “10 Commandments” of nonviolence offered me inspiration for dealing with the divisive nature of today’s Christianity:

  1. Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.
  2. Remember always that the non-violent movement seeks justice and reconciliation – not victory.
  3. Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.
  4. Pray daily to be used by God in order that all men might be free.
  5. Sacrifice personal wishes in order that all men might be free.
  6. Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.
  7. Seek to perform regular service for others and for the world.
  8. Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue, or heart.
  9. Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.
  10. Follow the directions of the movement and of the captain on a demonstration.

If we follow these rules (which King insisted that even nonChristians in the movement do), we will find it much easier to approach each other as Christians.

I began my faith walk as a Lutheran before I converted to Catholicism, in part because it was the only church in my deep, DEEP South town that was integrated. Years later, unable to support the idea of a male celibate priesthood any more, I moved back across the line to the Protestant non-denominational church. So I’ve heard a lot about what both side of the Protestant-Catholic lanes think about each other.

Some things are purely untrue or misunderstood. Others are differences in style. Some are doctrinal disagreements. But Jesus surely asked all of us in the 21st century to strive for unity during the Last Supper. And I have found devoted Christians to admire in both camps.

Placing country over Christ is a form of idolatry. It strains some American churches today. We all should be able to say “Amen” to Jesus’ prayer.

Pray for Christian Unity

This prayer for unity is one I’ve adapted from “Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers.”

Oh Lord, help me to speak and behave in Christian love with all who claim you as Savior.
Give me the grace to have courtesy and refrain from violence of tongue, heart, fist and online behavior.
We pray to you for your holy Christian church in my own neighborhood and around the world.
Help us to accomplish reconciliation.
Fill the church with your presence and your truth.
Keep it in your peace.
Where it is corrupt, reform it.
Where it is in error, correct it.
Where it is right, defend it.
Where it is in want, provide for it.
Where it is divided, reunite it.
For the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.

by Karen Twinem

Spend Good Friday With Jesus

Spend Good Friday with Jesus. He appreciates your company. You can spend the time doing these things:

Fast. Perhaps eat some soup for lunch.

Visit the Stations of Cross. This step-by-step remembrance of Jesus’ journey to death is found in most Catholic churches and in many others, too. If you can’t go visit one, you can watch one on YouTube.

Light a candle. Begin at noon.

Pray. Go before the Lord as you consider your own sins that He is carrying as He dies. Seek His forgiveness and His peace.

Read the story. “A Harmony of the Gospels” , available in a variety of translations and formats, aligns all four of Jesus’ eyewitness biographies to take you through the day … and through His life.

Meditate. Think about the sentences Jesus spoke from the cross.

  • Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
  • Today you shall be with me in paradise.
  • Woman, behold your son! Behold, your mother!
  • My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
  • I thirst.
  • It is finished.
  • Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

Blow out the candle at 3 p.m.

Attend a Good Friday service at your church of choice.

Your presence with Jesus makes Him happy. Just imagine that.