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/
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:
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!
Well here it is Sunday evening and I am just now reading and posting. I really loved your episode about Love Languages. I was nervous at first thinking you might find it all unfavored because I do think it a useful tool still so I was pleased you thought so as well and of course had a great conversation about it all. I haven't retaken the test but my #1 has always been gifts with touch and quality time behind it. I’m kind of weird about gifts because I don’t really want a gift just to get a gift but for there to be thought about something I would really like. I try to do that for gifts I but, almost to obsessing. My husband’s is Words of Affirmation and that can be tough. 😆
My turds and treasures start with the weather of course. We had yet another snow day this week. With holidays and teacher work days, we have barely been in school in February but things are looking up this week ahead with 60s and 70s in the forecast.
We booked a Spring Break trip to Universal Orlando and are super excited about that! We have 4 day passes but will really only have 3 full days in the parks. We did not get express passes but have been told that should be fine with more than 2 day passes. Any tips for us?
The ONLY time I have been disappointed being a Lil Swipe was right now... when "Barkenstocks" were not Birkenstocks worn by a golden retriever. Otherwise, happy to be here.