def frame(lines, word_mode=False):
    if word_mode:
        # Each word on it's own line.
        lines = ' '.join(lines).split()
    else:
        # Traditional
        lines = [l.strip() for l in lines]
    maxlen = len(max(lines, key=len))
    div = '*' * (maxlen + 4)
    return '{div}\n{lines}\n{div}'.format(
        div=div,
        lines='\n'.join(('* {} *'.format(l.ljust(maxlen)) for l in lines)))

print(frame(('These are my lines.', 'They are framed.')))