💃Lil Treasures #115: Barkenstocks and Aerobics with Sister Beth

Hey pals, it’s Friday! We have officially entered into the last weekend of February. While I feel like January took the equivalent of an entire calendar year to complete, February seemed to fly by and I’m still trying to catch my breath. I’m not mad about it though because March is one of my favorite months and honestly, I have trouble pronouncing the word February anyways.

The month of March is great because it contains a new season, longer days, and the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is just 4 days away and I cannot wait to walk through the highs and lows of the Psalms with many of you for the next 40ish days. I had no idea when I started writing this study that we’d be transitioning from being stuck in a pandemic to dealing with war conflicts, yet here we are. I think we need the Psalms more than ever right now.

I know this week has taken a very somber turn with the events unfolding in Ukraine. I hope that during this time, this newsletter doesn’t come across as trite in some ways with its’ links and funny videos. I never want to be insensitive or downplay the turmoil that is happening. Please know I am grieving alongside all of you for the people in Ukraine.

I asked my friends, Yuriy and Madison Perekotiy, to share a little bit about how we might be able to help our Ukrainian siblings. The Perekotiy’s live and work in Ukraine, and they are positioned to be a force for good in the midst of pain. They have graciously shared their heart below, as well as a way to support them financially and in prayer. I trust Yuriy and Madison; I’ve known them for years, and their heart for the Ukrainian people is unmatched.

Here is Madison, in here own words:

We worshiped on these lands. Fields trampled generations ago by soldiers fighting World War II. Rolling hills of golden wheat, now lost in a nonsensical war since 2014. Now, it’s not only these fields but every inch of Ukrainian soil at risk of being covered in tank tires or destroyed by fire from the sky. 

I fell in love with my proud Ukrainian husband on these grounds – that land became sacred to us. A glass bottle filled with handwritten dreams for our future together, buried in the dirt under a tree whose leaves we will never see again.

But the ones who suffer? The civilian. The child. The single mother. The teenager in the orphanage. The doctor on his way to work. The infant with special needs in the baby house. The wife who flees to the west, not knowing if she will see her husband again.

Odesa has been our home since April 2018, when we moved with our children to serve vulnerable children and families.

Our hearts beat for the downtrodden, as we strive to show them the hope that lies in our Heavenly Father. The outcasts of Ukrainian society like the deaf, children with special needs, and families struggling with poverty or addiction will still be facing trials no matter what we see on the news today.

Psalm 73:28

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

We have been praying these words over our family, our friends, and our home in Ukraine. There are immediate needs in this fog of war, and there will be ongoing hardships in the weeks ahead. We have set up a War Relief Fund through our sending agency, Globe International.

If you feel led to give, these funds will go to:

– Ukrainian partners and friends on the ground

– contacts who are evacuating (in need of lodging, gas, or transportation)

– our friends in the deaf community (an unreached people group)

– urgent needs that arise, specifically for children and families in at-risk situations.

If you feel led to pray, here are some very specific requests:

Please pray for Yura’s sister and family to arrive safely at his parent’s home after evacuating from the east.

Pray for mercy over civilians. 

Pray for the leadership of Ukraine.

Pray for the families of the Ukrainian military. 

Pray for the churches and Christ-followers to stand firm in their faith.

Pray for the Russian leadership.

Pray for vulnerable children + families.

Thank you for praying + sharing. 🇺🇦  Thank you for standing in solidarity with Ukraine.

You can follow Yuriy and Madison here, and if you have questions, I know they would love to chat with you. If you feel led to give, you can do that here: https://globeintl.org/members/perekotiy-madison-yuriy/

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Now for this week’s treasures:

🤫 I loved this post Your Silence is Required from our very own brilliant Lil Swipe, MJ Thach! Spoiler: if Encanto is a big part of your life right now, this will be especially relevant.

💃 This post from Sister Beth is the inspirational fuel I needed for this week. What I wouldn’t give to go back and take one of her aerobics classes!

💕If you were a part of the Love Languages craze of the 90’s, last week's episode of The Bible Binge will be right up your alley! On this episode, we explore each of love language test results and tried to determine if Gary Chapman’s Love Languages are Favored or Forsaken. I’d love to hear your thoughts about it (and if you know your love language score) in the comments!

📜I don’t know why I find it so funny but I cannot stop laughing at this video of a recreated mummy talking.

💔Do I share one of David Gate’s poems every week? Maybe. But listen, they are just so good. This one is especially important in light of this week’s events.

💇‍♀️I’m a big fan of Elyse Myers and this video of her responding to the haters had me ready to kick down a door.

🌿 It’s almost time for Lent! I don’t want to exhaust you with the same info every time you read this newsletter, but if you’ve been waiting to join, this is your chance! Here are a couple of ways you can participate in Lent this year:

In the Swipe Up+: This year’s Lent study, called Mercy Seat, will be a study of the Psalms hosted in the The Swipe Up+ private Substack group. You’ll receive the devotionals (including the audio versions if that’s your cup of tea) straight to your inbox and can interact in the comments with other people in the group. It’s $6 a month to join and the study will last for 2 months, so that’s just $12 total for you to participate! Click here to join the Swipe Up+ and journey through Lent with a wonderful community of people.

On your own: If you don’t have the capacity for a community right now and want to do a study on your own, I have two other Lent studies available at my online store for purchase! If you prefer the printed version this is a great option too - when you purchase either of these studies, you’ll receive a PDF of the entire study along with the audio version and other resources to accompany you. You can even grab some friends in your community and go through it together! Find out how to purchase Memento Mori or Every Broken Thing at this link. (Also, don’t forget to use the code LILSWIPES for 20% off)

Either way you participate, I’d love for you to join me for Lent this year! And as a reminder, please do not let money be an obstacle keeping you from taking part. There are kind and generous people in this community who have donated to make sure that there is room for everyone. If you need help this go-round, or if you’d like to donate to someone so they can join us for the study, send me an email at hello@erinhmoon.com! ❤️

Twitter Hall of Fame:

first-mate prance @bocxtop

idk how anyone can believe in the patriarchy after stepping inside a men’s bathroom

Adam Grant @AdamMGrant

Too many people spend their lives being dutiful descendants instead of good ancestors. The responsibility of each generation is not to please their predecessors. It's to improve things for their offspring. It's more important to make your children proud than your parents proud.

Laura M. Cheifetz @lmcheifetz

Being an adult is understanding that no matter what you do, someone will be mad at you. 🤷🏻‍♀️

caleb hearon @calebsaysthings

this time between variant surges is so precious

Caroline, Poltergoose (ABD) @carolinecprogro

Once again I am asking why can't the IRS just send me a bill

the glennis show @theglennisshow

can’t say nothin to me when I’m rockin the barkenstocks

ben "darth normal" flores @limitlessjest

hey man sorry i didn't text you back for four months. i only look at my phone 23 hours a day

Azie Dungey @AzieDee

Some of y’all’s ancestors sucked and I’m sorry. Instead of worrying about them, think about the future. Be a good ancestor yourself. Make a better world.

Beth Moore @BethMooreLPM

If we know who we are in Christ, we’ve got nothing to prove. Just people to love and serve. It is God who proves us genuine, not we ourselves.

ᴘᴀᴠʟᴏᴠ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀɢɪ @PAVGOD

she protec, she attac, she dug a hole and take a nap

꧁Madimoiselle꧂ @drivingmemadi

my bank blocked my card because of a security threat. it was me, buying a mattress, at 2 am. i am my own biggest threat

Alright, that’s it for this week! If you have specific ways we can pray for and support our friends in Ukraine, please post those in the comments. I am looking forward to walking through this season of Lent with some of you, and can’t wait to read your treasures in the comments!