Want to see some authentic women? Well here you go. This is my team. I know I have posted about them before, but these women amaze me. The last time I posted about them, it was before we even begun the race. And now, I see them differently.
These women are not only gorgeous inside and out, they are also diving deeply into a gorgeous relationship with their Abba that is so great to witness. I love every single one of these women with my entire heart. God knew exactly what I needed when He brought us together.
We are a united body of women who have hearts to see the Kingdom of God come down. Each of us are different, but somehow, we all come together and make a beautiful body. Even though there are hard times, at the end of the day, these women are my family.
First of all, Taylor White. Look at that gorgeous woman of God. She walks with so much authenticity and she leads young men in women in a way that makes them always consider the heart of their Father. Taylor is our leader and she goes far beyond being a leader. She is like a mother-figure, a best friend, a teacher, a disciple, a shoulder to cry on, sometimes a therapist, a dance partner, and so much more. My favorite thing is when I am working on something and Taylor walks up to me and asks me if I’d like to go on a walk with her to go get a coconut. And, whenever I have the opportunity to have one-on-one time with this woman, I SAY YES. She helps me process things that are going on so well and she leads me into deeper depths of my Abba ALL. THE. TIME. One of the many things that I want to learn from Taylor is vulnerability in all aspects of life. She is unafraid of showing her real self to people because she understands that God has called her and claimed her for greatness. I love Taylor. So much.
Sarah Kennedy, a woman of overwhelming amounts of joy and discovery. I love this wise woman so much. She is always one that will make sure you feel loved and filled with joy. My most favorite thing about Sarah is the fact that she dives into everything with a fresh heart. She doesn’t hope that it is easy or anything, she is willing to learn and she stands near to her Father. I love the energy she brings to the group. She is such a gorgeous woman of God who is willing to learn anything she has to in order to get closer to her Father. One time, she came to me SO excited to tell me a story of how she God in the movie Soul Surfer. I love the immense excitement she has in the little things. Sarah Kennedy, you are a woman that I can see God saying, “Yes, she is truly trusted with the small things. Give her the keys to the Kingdom.” Goodness, I love this woman and the eyes she has for the world.
Shelby Hollowell, a woman of extreme wisdom and discernment. This woman knows how to have intimacy with her Abba. During feedback one time, God gave her a vision for me and it made me cry because it was so accurate. She told me she had a vision of God standing in the doorway of a home and dancing because I was walking down the driveway toward Him with a backpack on. In her wisdom, she said she thought it was my Heavenly Father getting excited because I was coming to spend time with Him. AND I CRIED, SO MUCH. Because of her deep intimacy with the Father, she is able to connect others deeper to the Father. Shelby is a woman who gets excited about chubby babies and babies in general. Her joy when she sees children shows me how well of a mother she will be. AND, that same joy and mother-love, she adds to our group. Shelby cares for each person where they are and makes sure that they feel loved. I love this woman.
Savanah Scott, a dear friend to all and a woman who loves well. In her, I feel like I have a best friend because of how she loves so well. God has been using her in my life and many others to make them feel like they are home with their best friend. She has spent intentional time with me asking about my wildest dreams and then sweating on the rooftop being my personal trainer. And on top of that, she reminds me daily to bring stuff to the Lord in prayer. I have been working on cutting sugar out of my diet because I use that as comfort too much and she has written me cute notes to help encourage me that say, “Ask the Lord” or “Turn to the Lord when you feel tempted.” I love the friend I have in Savanah.
Cara Kelley, a powerful leader and passionate lover. Even though she doesn’t like physical touch, I have felt so loved by this woman of God. She is bold in her leadership and she is a woman of so much wisdom. One of the things said during feedback that I REALLY agree with is that even though she knows a lot about how to do things, she allows others to try things their way and is very humble in the way she leads. I wholeheartedly agree that Cara knows a lot more than I do, however, she is not boastful in what she knows. I love the friend that I have found in Cara. She is stepping into deeper depths of community and loving others well even if it isn’t always the most comfortable thing for her.
Grace Ooley, a true warrior and pursuer. The word pursuer sounds like a weird word to me at first, but when I heard it, it was THE WORD. No matter who you are or where you come from, she will love you and love you well. She asks questions and actually values your story. She is a woman who values inviting people into everything she is doing. Grace is a best friend in many ways. She’s the kind of friend that laughs when you fall and then helps you up. She’s the friend that is needed to keep everything interesting. Today, while parking our bikes, the man that helps park the bikes and motos asked if we were friends. Jokingly, I said, “No.” Then, she pushed me off of the sidewalk into the grass, opened the door for me and slammed it on my face, and then I tripped her when we got inside. For some people, this may make them feel unloved. However, for me, I feel so loved. I truly appreciate when I can laugh with someone and be real. This woman, I love her, a lot.
Victoria Schafer, a unique woman who desires to embrace everything completely. I have seen things from WAY different angles since getting to know Victoria. She walks with so much intentionality in all she does, she takes time to make others feel seen, and she doesn’t consider reputation when she does things. I always feel so seen when I am around her. Victoria is a woman who desires Christ so much that it flows into everything she does. She considers what God is speaking to her always and obeys His voice well. I have loved learning from this wise woman of God. She has really helped me to step into deeper depths of who I am because of the way she loves so well and takes time to know you. I love this woman.
And, then there’s me. I am just the lucky individual that gets to do life with such wise woman. Because of the hearts that these women have, I am able to see deeper into who the Father is and who He is calling me to be. Guys, Christian community is great. Embrace the women in your life and really dig into who they are and what God is teaching them. It is so humbling being able to realize that even though God is teaching me a lot, He wants to teach me through others as well.
