Daily Affirming Women's Network (DAWN)

Suzan Thompson
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DAWN is from the Daily Affirming Women's Network (Deeper Church Women), for women who endeavor to grow in their relationship with Christ. dawn360.substack.com

  1. 4d ago

    Trust Him More

    Trust Him More: At His Feet with Nidia Walkup, Part 3 What does it look like to trust God with the assignment when the needs feel greater than your resources? In this final conversation with Nidia Walkup, we sit At His Feet and hear how God led her to begin All For His Glory ministry, serving widows and orphans in Kenya. Known affectionately as “Mama Africa,” Nidia shares the relationships, sacrifices, and moments of provision that have shaped her journey. As we continue BECOMING: Living Aware of God’s Presence, we reflect on surrendering what we cannot control and responding faithfully with what God has placed in our hands. In this episode: The birth of All For His Glory ministry. Building relationships and providing practical support in Kenya. Trusting God when you cannot meet every need. Recognizing His provision through the people He sends. Finding encouragement in the waiting. Nidia’s next faithful step: “Trust Him more.” Scripture connections: Ruth; James 1:27; Isaiah 41:10. A note about the conversation: The hardships discussed do not represent every family or community in Kenya. In some communities served by All For His Glory, widows face significant challenges. Alongside practical support, the ministry helps educate with the aim of breaking harmful cycles. Reflect this week: What are you carrying that you need to lay at God’s feet? Name it, notice His hand, and ask Him for your next faithful step. Please pray for Nidia’s health, her team, and the communities they will serve as she leaves for Kenya on November 1. Join us in November as we welcome Tjuana Byrd to DAWN Conversations. Subscribe and share this episode with a woman who needs encouragement to keep trusting God. You are seen, you are loved, and you are still becoming. Get full access to Deeper Church Women's Newsletter at dawn360.substack.com/subscribe

    Trust Him More

  2. Oct 22

    He Was There Before the Answer

    What does faith look like when you feel forgotten? And how do you forgive when an apology never comes? In this Deep Waters episode, PD Sue continues her conversation with Nidia Walkup, affectionately known as “Mama Africa.” Nidia reflects on God’s presence during a serious illness—the people from different nations she encountered, the conversations about Jesus in her hospital room, and the friends, family, and praying community who supported her. Together, we explore the difference between belonging to God and finding our identity in an assignment. We also discuss forgiveness as an ongoing process, the challenge of praying for those who hurt us, and the place of healthy boundaries. In this episode:• God’s presence in the lonely hours• Feeling forgotten while waiting for an answer• Strength and reassurance from Isaiah 41:10• Recognizing the people God sends• Belonging before assignment• Forgiving without an apology• Boundaries, surrender, and becoming more like Jesus Scripture discussed: Isaiah 41:10; Luke 23:34. “The waters may be deep, but God is deeper still.” Next episode: At His Feet—Nidia shares how All For His Glory began and how her calling developed into ministry to widows and orphans in Kenya. Name what is true. Notice God’s hand. Take your next faithful step. DAWN — Daily Affirming Women’s NetworkHosted by PD Sue Get full access to Deeper Church Women's Newsletter at dawn360.substack.com/subscribe

    He Was There Before the Answer

  3. Oct 14

    What God Placed in You Is Needed

    In this Sister in the Spotlight episode, PD Sue begins her conversation with Nidia Walkup, affectionately known as “Mama Africa.” Before discussing the full scope of Nidia’s mission work, we meet the woman behind the assignment—a daughter of the Almighty King, wife of 46 years, mother, grandmother, woman of faith, and recipient of God’s healing grace. Nidia shares how she moved from knowing about God to making Him Lord of her life. She reflects on a serious illness, the prayers of her children, the faithfulness of God within her marriage, and the moment she realized that what God had placed within her was needed by others. Like Ruth entering an unfamiliar land, Nidia followed God beyond her comfort zone. What began as a willingness to go eventually became a burden for widows and orphans in Africa—and that burden became an assignment. In this episode: • Claiming your identity as God’s daughter• Moving from salvation into surrender• Nidia’s testimony of healing• Faith and perseverance within marriage• Following God into unfamiliar places• Recognizing that your testimony can serve someone else• Allowing a God-given burden to become an assignment “I knew that what I had, they needed.” Scriptures: Ruth 1–2; James 1:27 Next week: Deep Waters... Name what is true. Notice God’s hand. Take your next faithful step. Get full access to Deeper Church Women's Newsletter at dawn360.substack.com/subscribe

    What God Placed in You Is Needed

  4. Oct 7

    When God Calls You Beyond the Familiar | God’s Provision in Ruth 2

    What if the unfamiliar place is exactly where God intends for you to discover His provision? In this solo episode of DAWN Conversations, PD Sue reflects on Ruth 2 and the way God met Ruth in an unfamiliar field. Ruth could not yet see the full story, but her next faithful step positioned her to experience protection, favor, community, and provision. This episode also introduces October’s featured guest, Nidia Walkup, affectionately known as “Mama Africa.” Like Ruth, Nidia has followed God beyond what is familiar and comfortable to serve widows and orphans in Africa. In this episode: • Recognizing God’s provision in unexpected places• Understanding that Boaz represents more than a romantic relationship• Examining the people God uses to provide protection and stability• Moving from famine toward satisfaction and overflow• Allowing personal healing to become an assignment• Asking, “Where am I gleaning?”• Practicing Name. Notice. Next. Scripture: Ruth 2; James 1:27 Name what is true. Notice God’s hand. Take your next faithful step. Subscribe and return next week for Sister in the Spotlight with Nidia Walkup. DAWN — Daily Affirming Women’s NetworkHosted by PD Sue Get full access to Deeper Church Women's Newsletter at dawn360.substack.com/subscribe

    When God Calls You Beyond the Familiar | God’s Provision in Ruth 2

  5. Sep 30

    Let Him Finish What He Started

    ILet Him Finish What He Started | Terri Thomas, Part 3 If God has a plan, trust Him to finish it. In this final portion of my conversation with Terri Thomas, we talk about surrender, obedience, leadership, legacy, and remaining teachable throughout every season of life. Terri shares how God led her and her husband, Larry, to begin JLT Services when they had very little and could not see what the business would eventually become. They simply took the faithful step in front of them. Years later, God reminded Terri that the business had never truly belonged to them—it had always belonged to Him. Her story reminds us that success is not merely found in a particular outcome. The success is first found in our obedience. We also discuss what leadership has taught Terri about listening, recognizing people’s strengths, and refusing to dismiss someone simply because her gifts look different from ours. Terri shares her desire to leave a legacy of being a safe place for women, her daughters, and her grandchildren—a place where they know they are loved, supported, and never beyond God’s reach. Like Ruth, we may be taking one faithful step while God is building a legacy we cannot yet see. Ruth responded to what was before her, trusted God with what remained hidden, and became part of a redemption story that would bless generations. Terri closes the episode with a powerful prayer for women who feel as though they are being stretched, pressed, or refined. Her encouragement is simple: remain in the Potter’s hands and let Him finish what He started. In this episode: Trusting God without knowing the complete outcome Releasing ownership and control Recognizing success in obedience Listening with humility Seeing people’s strengths instead of only their weaknesses Finding identity beyond comparison Building a legacy of faith and safety Remaining teachable and finishing well Questions for reflection: What do you need to release into God’s hands? Where can you notice His faithfulness in your present chapter? What is the next faithful step He is asking you to take? What do you hope remains because you were here? Scriptures for further reflection: Ruth 3–4; Matthew 1:5–6; Deuteronomy 6:5; Philippians 1:6 God sees you. He hears you. He is faithful. You are loved—and you are still becoming. Get full access to Deeper Church Women's Newsletter at dawn360.substack.com/subscribe

    Let Him Finish What He Started

  6. Sep 23

    Who Am I Without What I Do?

    What happens when the roles that once made you feel needed begin to fall away? In Part 2 of PD Sue’s conversation with Terri Thomas, we step into Deep Waters. Terri reflects on a season when her familiar roles in ministry, business and motherhood began changing—and she found herself asking, “Who am I?” God used that season to reveal how deeply her identity had become connected to what she did. Terri and PD Sue discuss the fear beneath control, renewal in marriage, practicing the abundant life Jesus promised and learning not to serve others from emptiness. Their conversation also turns to Ruth 2 and Naomi’s important question: “Where did you glean today?” What we continually receive will eventually affect what we have available to give. The conversation closes with encouragement for mothers who are learning to surrender their children and trust God with outcomes they cannot control. Key Scriptures: John 10:10; Ephesians 3:20; Ruth 2:17–19; Psalm 127:4 Reflection questions: • What role have you allowed to define you?• Where are you gleaning in this season?• What person or outcome do you need to surrender to God? Follow DAWN Conversations so you don’t miss Part 3: At His Feet with Terri Thomas. Content note: This episode includes discussion of painful childhood memories, identity struggles and fear concerning an adult child. Get full access to Deeper Church Women's Newsletter at dawn360.substack.com/subscribe

    Who Am I Without What I Do?

  7. Sep 16

    BECOMING, Episode 2

    Where was Jesus during the hardest parts of your story? In Part 1 of this three-part DAWN Conversation, PD Sue sits down with Terri Thomas—a wife, mother, grandmother, mentor and ministry leader—to talk about finishing well, surrendering control and discovering our identity in Christ. Terri shares how God led her back into painful parts of her past, not to leave her there, but to heal her, remove the masks she had learned to wear and rebuild her life upon a stronger foundation. Through Terri’s story and Ruth 1, we are reminded that God’s quietness is not the same as His absence. He may have been present all along—even before we recognized Him. Reflection question: Where might God be asking you to go back—not to relive the past, but to allow Him to heal what remains? Remember the three N’s: • Name what is true about your season.• Notice the evidence of God’s grace.• Take your next faithful step. Join us next Wednesday for Part 2 with Terri Thomas. Content note: This episode includes a brief discussion of childhood abuse, grief and trauma recovery. #DAWNConversations #Becoming #BookOfRuth Get full access to Deeper Church Women's Newsletter at dawn360.substack.com/subscribe

    BECOMING, Episode 2

  8. Sep 9

    Becoming...

    Sometimes what looks like an ending may actually be God inviting us to pause, listen, and return with greater clarity. In this season-opening episode of DAWN Conversations, PD Sue introduces our theme, BECOMING: Living Aware of God, and walks through Ruth 1—a story filled with loss, transition, loyalty, uncertain beginnings, and the quiet providence of God. Naomi’s feelings did not immediately change, but her direction did. She took the next faithful step while she was still grieving—and arrived in Bethlehem just as the harvest was beginning. This episode introduces three practices we’ll carry throughout the season: Name what is true about your present season.Notice the quiet evidence of God’s grace.Next: Ask God for your next faithful step—and take it. God’s quietness is not the same as God’s absence. He is not waiting for you only at the end of your story; He is present with you now. Scripture: Ruth 1 Coming next: PD Sue’s three-part conversation with Terri Thomas about identity, contentment, spiritual maturity, and learning that Jesus is enough. Join the conversation and consider: Which do you need most today—Name, Notice, or Next? Get full access to Deeper Church Women's Newsletter at dawn360.substack.com/subscribe

    Becoming...
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DAWN is from the Daily Affirming Women's Network (Deeper Church Women), for women who endeavor to grow in their relationship with Christ. dawn360.substack.com

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