Swan Quarter Baptist Church

06/08/2026

Daily Devotional — Preparing To Be Positioned

"Remember me when things go well for you, and please do me a favor. Mention me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison... Nevertheless, the chief cupbearer didn't remember Joseph. He forgot all about him." Genesis 40:14;23 GWT

Joseph was in prison for years suffering for a crime he didn't commit. We are not given an exact timeline but I estimate it to be at least 3 years or more based upon my study of Genesis 40. After quite some time, possibly a year or more, an opportunity arose that looked like justice was about to happen and victory would soon follow.

Except it didn't.

Two more years of suffering went by leaving, Joseph—and us as readers—to ask the dreaded question: why? Why couldn't Joseph have been let out of prison in that opportunity? He had already suffered an injustice just for being in there. The whole thing is completely unfair!

Joseph thought that if Pharoah would hear how he interpreted two different men's dreams and they both came true, Pharoah would let him out of prison for it. Perhaps Joseph thought he might get a chance to serve among the King's Court of wise men and magicians (see 41:8), instead of enslaved in the prison.

God had better—way better.

The Lord had been preparing Joseph his entire life for the position as the right-hand man of the king over Egypt. In this position, Joseph would be used by the Lord to do more than interpret dreams. He would help save nations during a famine unlike anything we have ever seen.

Had God allowed Joseph to settle among the wise men of the Court, he never would have taken his place as second in command. God didn't allow Joseph to shortchange his life and miss out on the position of his lifetime.

We may not always understand why things have to play out the way that they do and cause seeming unjust suffering. But God never allows something He won't make good out of. We can trust Him that those grueling years in prison shaped Joseph into all that we know him to be, and it is written down in the word of God. It is solid!

Joseph was a man of integrity. He knew how to submit to God in every area of his life and God calls us to do the same thing. If you only knew how your story was going to play out and what great blessings God has in store for your life, you would be very quick in that submission.

God doesn't want you surrendering for things. He wants you surrendered to Him and then He will do great things.

The sooner you learn this, the better life becomes for you. Weeping may last for a night but joy comes in the morning.

God is faithful! He will never allow something without a purpose for it. Even an unjust and cruel situation will birth out the greatest blessings of your life. Just ask Joseph!

Be blessed! -Servant Misty

06/06/2026

Sunday School
Date of First Use: June 7, 2026

Title: Meeting Needs

The Point: Meeting needs is an opportunity to introduce others to Jesus.

Session: 1 Date of First Use: June 7, 2026 Title: Meeting Needs The Point: Meeting needs is an opportunity to introduce others to Jesus. Life Connection: We can be thankful that many organizations around the world—both secular ...

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

Daily Devotional — You Can Go To God

"The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!" Matthew 8:27 NLT

Here are the disciples embarking with Jesus on a blissful day at sea. Suddenly and violently, a storm erupts threatening their livelihood and they cry out to Jesus to save them. Instead of panicking along with them, He questions their faith instead. I mean, they got on the boat trusting Him with their lives.

This describes marriage perfectly. Even a wife's emotions were present in the questioning of Jesus even caring if they perished. They were just getting on a boat with Jesus headed to the other side of the lake. What could go wrong?

The couple were getting married, heading out with God on this journey in life. What could go wrong?

Today, Doug and I have been married for 27 years. If you only knew how many times I felt like a disciple trying to rouse Jesus! You can get to a point in life where you don't want to get in the boat anymore. A blissful day out on the water starts to look suspicious. Before you know it, water is pouring in on both of you and you're not even on the boat!

You can call out to Jesus to save you from drowning while even on dry land. Don't be fooled because you weren't on the boat.

Do you know what I learned in 27 years? That I can always cry out to the Lord to save me and everybody else. But I also learned an increase in my faith to stand facing the storm and rebuke it by the power and authority of Jesus Christ!

The storms will come and go in life whether you are married or not. Honestly, the storms can be awful but it's our emotions that make a tropical storm feel like a Category 5 Hurricane.

Guess what? Jesus is right there with you no matter what category you find yourself in. The One the waves and winds obey walks you through this life. Remember that and never forget it. There will be times the wind is so strong that you can barely hear Him and the waves are blinding you from seeing Him. He is there and always will be.

Take some time today to let the peace of Jesus settle into your being and quiet you. May you rest on the pillow as our Lord did in this passage. He was greater than the wind and the waves. He knew who He was and is. When you know Jesus, you have this same peace knowing you are going to be fine. In one rebuke from God, everything can cease from tormenting and threatening you. Just like He did for the disciples, He does for you.

Be blessed in His love today! -Servant Misty

06/04/2026

Daily Devotional — Prepare Your Little

"There is a boy here who has five loaves of barley bread and two fish. But they will certainly not be enough for all these people." John 6:9 GNT

I know that the miracle of the five loaves and two fish feeding upwards of 15,000 people is the scene stealer. But I don't want you to miss how my brain works. God can do anything with little or nothing and I absolutely love this about Him! What I zoom in on is that only one young boy was prepared with food for the day out of 15,000 people. Remember, there were no fast food places back then. There aren't any places that exist now to handle 15,000 people for lunch! The whole miracle is astounding.

Only one young person in a crowd the size of a city was ready for the day, and God gave him the opportunity to arise. Let this truth sink into you. What little do you have that God can use?

Prepare your little.

Be ready to give it up and hand it over to the Lord for His using. You have a choice: use it for yourself or let God use it.

​Could you sit back comfortably full on what you prepared for yourself while watching others starve? This applies to both spiritual and material loaves and fish.

​This isn't a guilt trip—it’s a call to action.

​Be prepared for the day because somebody needs you to be. God will use those who are ready, even if they only have a little. It's not about all that you have. It's about all that God can do with it.

Miracles abound when God multiplies the little. So be prepared, even if you are the only one. The Lord sees your lunch and He can turn it into a banquet of His choosing! All you have to do is be ready. Be blessed in that word for your life today! -Servant Misty

06/03/2026

Daily Devotional — A Great Future Is Ahead

"For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains. They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the LORD, and their children, too, will be blessed. I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" Isaiah 65:22a-24. NLT

When I find myself stuck in a rut and feeling the weight of this world too much, I strengthen myself in the Lord.

Life won't be like this forever.

There comes a time when God flips the script. He turns things around for His children and they get blessed in multiple ways beyond measure! God can pour out blessings so fast you think are going to drown in them.

Remember where those blessings come from and never forget to thank the Lord daily—not because He needs it, but because it keeps us grounded. Humility always comes before honor.

In verse 24, it says God's children will have their prayers answered while they are still praying. Humble people pray. That's your position and I encourage you to embrace it!

God will bless you to be a blessing to others. That's a really big deal and it comes with a huge responsibility!

Keep on praying. Let God pour out on you and through you. Let those blessings flow out your house and into your neighborhood. Cover your neighbors like family, especially the ones you wish would move. God is the difference maker and He can change any dynamic around.

Someday, God is changing both Heaven and Earth (Isaiah 65:17) and all of the suffering we have endured will be worth it. In the meantime, work through your struggles with Him knowing He is going bless you. The Lord prepares us to receive blessings. The greater the struggle, the greater the good that is coming.

You are blessed!
-Servant Misty

06/02/2026

Daily Devotional — The Days Were Made For You

"Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:16 ESV

To God, a day is a thousand years and a thousand years is a day; meaning He is not bound by time (2 Peter 3:8). God created time. He can delay it or speed it up according to His plans and purpose. But I want you to realize how precious you are to Him in this day. Because this day was made for you before you were even born. God wrote this day out and thought to put you in it!

This begs the question: What is God doing today? Why are you in it? God is writing a story of your life of things He planned a long time ago that He wants to journey with you in. From the mundane to the insane, it's the ride of your life!

Take some time to spend with God today for a few minutes. Talk about the day. Talk about what is bothering you. Talk about your hopes and dreams. But then start to ask God what His hopes and dreams are for you. Do they align? Would you like them to?

God can make that happen for you all in His timing! Take hold of the day and enjoy its creation because today is a masterpiece. Be blessed! -Servant Misty

06/01/2026

Daily Devotional - God Will Establish And Equip You

"And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands." Psalm 90:17 NKJV

Monday mornings oftentimes bring a weight of anxiety to me. Especially when it comes to devotional writing. It is only because I tend to look out at the week first before changing my focus to a single day. I tend to kick myself on Monday mornings. I should have written a couple of things down over the weekend making it easier for launching. However, I can be prepared and still unprepared if God decides to change it up at the last minute.

This is exactly what keeps me sharp and responsive. I trust the Lord to bless what He has established through the work of my hands.

As I continue to work for Him, each day is a new opportunity to listen and to look into what God is doing right now.

What is He doing for you right now? Is He strengthening your hands or establishing your work?

Monday is a brand new mission. Last week might still be carrying over into this week in terms of work or issues in life. And it might stay that way for a while, too.

If you are feeling dulled in your senses or lost that zest in your life or your work, lift up your hands to the Lord. Let Him strengthen and refresh you. This is the best defense against discouragement. Ask God for wisdom and direction.

Ultimately, your work should be for God's glory no matter what you're doing. Changing the focus of who our boss really is, helps strengthen those hands quickly!

Last week, I was team lead, assistant, helper, author, friend, and teacher. I had two days that looked like mountains to climb. I was so stressed about them, I actually had a nightmare. Rather than caving into the anxiety about "the climb," I decided to take a day off midweek for a regrouping of strength. Then, I prayed and trusted the Lord to level the mountain. He did! Those two days I had dreaded became two days of thankful memories. I saw the favor of the Lord poured out for me and all of it was as seamless as a stream gently flowing.

Only the Lord knows what today will bring but His favor rests on our hands for the work He has prepared in advance for us to do. Let's rise up and get it done with a song of praise on our hearts and lips! God was faithful to see us through the challenges of last week. Won't He do it again? Of course He will!

Rest in the favor God has put on you and if you feel you lack that favor, simply ask God for it. If He has called you to it, He will see you through it! Be blessed in your work and in your life today. -Servant Misty

05/31/2026

Sunday school podcast.

The Point: Never lose sight of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Life Connection: Each May, Americans observe a day to remember those who died in service to their country. It’s important that we not forget the fallen soldiers who fought for freedom. It’s also important that we remember what God has done to gain our ultimate freedom. Throughout Scripture, we see occasions where people set up their own memorials to God’s work. We can follow their example with ways to remember God’s work in our lives.

Session Passage: Joshua 4:1-7,20-24

Special Focus Session Date of First Use: May 31, 2026 The Point: Never lose sight of God’s goodness and faithfulness. Life Connection: Each May, Americans observe a day to remember those who died in service to their country. It’s im...