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🌿 Maple Lane Devotion: “Power for the Next Step”

This pairing has such a warm, steady heartbeat. There Is Power in the Blood carries that mix of redemption, strength, and gentle courage that fits beautifully on Maple Lane. Here’s a cozy, story‑shaped devotion that blends Scripture, hymn, and place. 🌿 Maple Lane Devotion: “Power for the Next Step” 🌳 The Scene on Maple Lane There’s a little rise in the road where Maple Lane crests just enough for the morning sun to spill across the path like a soft blanket. Dew clings to the grass. The air smells like newness. It’s the kind of place where you pause without meaning to — where your breath catches, not from exertion, but from the quiet reminder that God is near. This morning, as you reach that rise, a hymn drifts into your mind. Not loudly. Not triumphantly. Just a gentle hum: “There is power, power, wonder‑working power…” You don’t even need the whole refrain. Just that one line is enough to stir something inside you — a reminder that God’s strength is not distant or dramatic. ...
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Church growth - Once and Future Hope

  Since you are serving on the church revitalization committee during a time of significant transition—with a new pastor and the loss of key "glue sticks" like Brandon—Tom Rainer’s work is incredibly relevant. The video you found provides a "2025 update" to his classic book, and as a "troubleshooter" and "graphic designer," you are uniquely positioned to help your church avoid the "autopsy" and move toward a "revival." Based on the author's insights in the video, here are the four key areas you should focus on to help your committee: 1. Identify the "Hero" of Your Church's Story Rainer notes that a major sign of a dying church is "thinking that the past is the hero". The Trap: Many churches today are obsessed with getting back to 2019 (pre-COVID) as their "glory days". Your Focus: In your committee meetings, listen for people wanting to "go back." Your role can be to redirect ...
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