Daniel Rose: The Pastor Next Door logo Daniel Rose: The Pastor Next Door

This Sunday we will be beginning a new series of summer conversations called, “Whispers of Grace.” Each will be focused on a word from a different book of the New Testament. This week is, “righteousness” from Matthew.

An open Bible is set against a scenic outdoor path with the overlay text "Whispers of Grace: Words for the Journey."

Good morning! Do the hard thing today, it will be worth it. #MorningMug

A black mug with an orange interior is being held in a living room with a fireplace, gray furniture, and a patterned rug.

#Wordle 1,410 3/6*

⬛⬛🟩🟩⬛ ⬛⬛🟩🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

The #OldGal also posted a 3. Sigh. She just doesn’t quit!

Good morning! May you choose contentment today. #Discipline2025

A hand is holding a mug with a design in a cozy living room setting near a fireplace.

#Wordle 1,409 5/6*

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The streak lives and so does a victory over the #OldGal who posted a 6!

Good morning! May you be fully present today wherever you find yourself. #MorningMug

A hand is holding a white paper cup with the logo "avid AN IHG HOTEL" on a table near a window in a building.

#Wordle 1,408 3/6*

⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨 ⬛⬛⬛🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

The #OldGal also posted a three today. She’s back on a heater!

Lake Michigan from the wrong side, still overwhelmingly beautiful.

Also? We may have been soaked at this point because someone wanted to try to walk to a lighthouse with the wind whipping 1 billion mph. 🤭

Fifth workout of the week complete. Five week streak of five workouts per week. Ten week streak of at least three workouts per week. #Discipline2025

A fitness app screenshot displays a workout summary with calories burned, volume lifted, records set, and exercises like dumbbell shoulder press and bicep curl.A workout tracking summary shows a 10-week streak with detailed workout durations for a week in February 2025.A fitness tracking app display shows a 5-week workout streak with details of workouts completed each day during week 5.

Good morning! Don’t miss the small joys today. #MorningMug

A person is holding a paper cup that says "avid" in a room with a window and a trash can nearby.

#Wordle 1,407 3/6*

⬛🟨⬛🟩⬛ 🟩🟨🟩🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

The #OldGal posted a 3 well. Is there a 2 out there #YoungPups?

Final baseball road trip to Simmons Field in Kenosha, WI.

Two people dressed warmly, wearing hooded jackets and blankets, are smiling at an outdoor setting.

Good morning! May each of us cultivate relationships with those around us in love and compassion. #MorningMug

A person is holding a white mug with "Adventure" written on it in a cozy living room with a fireplace and a TV.

#Wordle 1,406 4/6*

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The #OldGal also scored a 4 today. Will there be a #YoungPup 3?

I heard something fascinating in a podcast today that really made me think. The speaker suggested that we can engage with the world through the perspective of either a knight or a gardener.

The knight approaches perceived enemies with attack, driven by a desire to conquer and win at all costs.

In contrast, the gardener views perceived enemies as relationships to be cultivated with love, nurturing something new.

The speaker went on to emphasize that the way of the gardener isn’t rooted in naivety. Gardeners understand that cultivation is demanding, requiring faithful diligence and deep care.

It strikes me that too many of us who claim to follow Christ fashion ourselves as holy knights, when the call of the gospel is to be redeeming gardeners.