Thread by @theisabelb

🧵I have 5,000+ DMs, emails, & comments on socials from people saying, "Charlie introduced me to God... now what? How do I pray? How do I read the Bible?"

I wish I could respond to every single one individually, but my fingers can't type that fast, so we put some recs here👇

Step 1 how to read the Bible: I recommend downloading the @HallowApp (we've worked with them for a long time & there's a 90 day free link if you use hallow.com/isabel) and start listening to the Bible in a Year podcast with @frmikeschmitz. For about 20 minutes every day, you'll have Father Mike break down Scripture in bite-sized chunks with some historical context & commentary, and make it all the way through the Bible in 365 days or less with some extra academic help.

Step 1(a) on how to read the Bible: The beautiful @MrsErikaKirk also has a Biblein365 series that she sends out daily, which tackles different parts of Scripture one day at a time and is a beautiful community to be a part of. You can sign up for her program here 👉 proclaim365.com/biblein365

Step 2 how to pray: start by just talking to God as if he was a friend sitting right in front of you. A great way to begin is first thing when you wake up, thanking God for another day and another opportunity to do good in the world, and ask for His guidance to lead you throughout the rest of your day. Finish your day in gratitude, thanking God for all of the blessings He's given you that day. Dennis Prager is famous for saying gratitude is the key to happiness, and prayers of thanksgiving are the best way to practice gratitude.

Step 2(a) how to pray: use the @HallowApp for some guided prayer if you don't know where else to start. It's such an easy way to get a few minutes at a time incorporated into your daily routine, and they have amazing series like the "Saints in 7 Days" program, our Young Adult Devotional that launched in January (hallow.com/collections/17…), other podcasts, & so much more.

Again, our existing link with them for 90 days free is hallow.com/isabel

On that note with Saints in 7 Days--SO SO SO many people this week compared the beautiful @MrsErikaKirk to the "Esther of our time."

God works in some funny ways-because @HallowApp is literally launching a whole series on Esther on Sep 22 led by @gwenstefani that they planned & recorded months ago. Cannot recommend enough.

This week has been WILD with God's providence.

Step 3 (how to go to Church): the other biggest question I've gotten this week is along the lines of, "I went to Church for the first time ever yesterday... how do I know what's going on & keep going?"

In the fall (usually in September), your local Catholic Church will start a new year of OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), that's basically "Christianity 101" classes for those interested in discerning conversion to the faith.

When you sign up for OCIA, you are NOT determining in solid ink you're joining the Church in ~9 months, but you are given the chance to gather with other discerning Christians and to learn about EVERYTHING related to Church history, the format of the mass, Scripture, social teaching of the Church for modern times, etc.

CANNOT RECOMMEND signing up for OCIA courses enough - even just for the learning opportunity to ask every question under the sun in a more structured setting.

You guys blow me away with your beautiful faith and finding a joyful path forward in the midst of tragedy. I am praying for every single one of you.

Charlie would love to see revival come out of despair.