5:07 AM — My eyes pop open.

An unusual time for a Sunday morning. No alarm. No buzzing phone. Just… awake. Wide awake. But I went to bed early, so it’s all good. There’s a purpose in this morning. There’s a ministry ahead. There’s music to prepare. There’s worship to lead.

And there’s gratitude waiting to be noticed.

5:10 AM — A hot shower.

Steam fills the bathroom. The water is perfect. Not lukewarm. Not hesitant. Hot. Reliable. Comforting.

The water heater is working.

What a blessing.

I think for a moment about how different this would be if I were relying on nothing but solar panels and batteries buried under 28 inches of snow that hasn’t begun to melt. No sun. No backup. No mercy.

But today? Hot water.

Thank You, God.

5:17 AM — Quietly slipping into the guest room to get dressed.

I don’t want to wake the family.

It’s 71 degrees. Cozy. Comfortable. Safe. I layer up slowly, grateful for the warmth. The gas-powered radiator system upstairs hums faithfully as it has for years.

No drama. No outage. No flickering.

Just warmth.

Thank You, God.

5:30 AM — Downstairs.

I grab my scarf. My keys. My coat.

I step outside to the elderly Expedition parked in the driveway. (My bride, as always, gets the only usable spot in the garage. As it should be.)

Ungloved left hand punches in the door........

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