rebelling against low expectations

What makes you happy today?

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ROSE WRITES: Routinely my mom asks me what makes me happy right now. Sometimes it’s a particular book I’m reading. Sometimes it’s a great thing that happened today. Sometimes it’s what I ate for dinner. These times always make me more grateful to God for His blessings. What makes you happy today? What blessings have God given you?


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are submitted by real rebelutionaries who are looking for godly answers to tough questions and lively conversation with other young adults. You can join the conversation by commenting below. If you'd like to submit your own discussion question, email us at [email protected].

169 comments

  • I’m really grateful to feel close to God. I know I don’t deserve the peace that comes with His presence, after all, i’ve ignored and even insulted Him countless times and He still welcomes me back to Himself every time. That kind of love makes me happy every time I see it. Thanks for the awesome question!

  • I thankful for the fact that the Holy Spirit speaks to us and works through us. Today I felt an urge to pray with my Dad before he left for work, so I acted upon it and asked if I could pray with him. I prayed first and then he prayed. After we finished my Dad said he appreciated me taking the time to pray for him. I am so glad that I did, and I am also very thankful for the beautiful day today!

  • I am thankful that I have assurance of salvation and know I have been REDEEMED by the blood of Jesus! Therefore he gives me joy, and “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” β–ΊProverbsβ—„

  • KING OF KINGS, HALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH, AND LORD OF LORDS, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH!! *Bass section sings very loudly “And HE shall reign forever and ever”* *Sopranos sing rather ear-piercingly (if that’s a word) “and HE shall reign forever and ever.” * XD

  • I am thankful for the amazing weekend I had at a youth group retreat and how much I learned from it!

  • Olivia, that’s totally cool!! I am going to another church with my youth group this Friday!! I’m pretty excited. They’re called teen tri-states, and there is preaching, singing, a craft contest, a bible quiz and FOOD. XD (and more)

  • Spring. Green things. The fact that it rained this weekend and we needed it. Planting things. Knitting. Learning German. The oppurtunity to give. I’m thankful today for the joy of spring and that I’m home ALL DAY!!!!

  • Uh, probably the fact that I actually got through math without having to kill my brain:) Also, that its still sunny out, even after the weather man said it would be raining!

  • HAHA! My brain has been killed several times by that sadly, popular monster.

  • I’d have to disagree. Something has to be drastically wrong for me to drink coffee. Like a nervous breakdown or something. I’m a tea snob all the way! One thing I inherited from my British relatives. Tea freakiness! πŸ™‚

  • My grandpa (he lives with my family) basically makes a pun about anything you can think of, so I’ve heard worse

  • Especially if your Grandpa is a farmer…like mine…CORN(ier) XD

  • I can say what DOESN’T make me happy, these HORRIBLE PUNS down below XD, but regardless, what makes me happy are my cats, everyday waking up to one of my cats is always joyful to me.

  • Alright, you’re right….at least not this time…but I wouldn’t say never.

  • If you think that this goofiness is bad, try coming to my thanksgiving with my Dad’s side of the family….
    The conversation will literally go something like this:
    Dad: “Let’s put a ping-pong-ball in the turkey!”
    Aunt Betsy: “Of course not! It would give a rubbery flavor!”
    Dad: “But it’s a known fact that ping-pong-balls make turkey better!”
    My brother and me: “We don’t want melted plastic in our turkey!”

  • And this is what i deal with, with my friends, all the time, XD though i’d go crazy if my family did it.

  • I hope you realize, im joking, my friends and i tell puns all the time, and i over react to them ._.

  • One time, I went to a youth retreat, and it was negative outside. We had to walk every where too!

  • Today, what makes me happy is that it’s going to be a BEAUTIFUL day outside, I’m almost out of school for the summer, my Bible, family, friends, theReb, the fact that I’m alive today… I have so much that makes me happy. πŸ™‚

  • The simple yet outrageous fact that Jesus loves me… And a little less seriously, the tea I had for breakfast was ON POINT. πŸ˜‰

  • The fact that I got up early today, having coffee while studying my bible, the kiwis and strawberries I had for breakfast, my older brother doesn’t have to go to work today, listening to my favorite band while I do school, doing math, being able to hear the birds outside from my room, getting to practice my guitar.

  • LOL Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. I love that song(can it be called a song?) so much!

  • Yep, it’s totally an EPIC piece, and of course, a Music Assassin such as I would like it! XD

  • I’m happy because I just finished taking the ACT test! I’ve been working hard for months preparing, so it was nice to see the hard work pay off.

  • I’m happy because Jesus saved me!

    Because last Friday I saw my Best Friend come to Christ!

    Because my first niece was born and is healthy.

    But most of all I’m happy because GOD IS AWESOME!!!!!!!

  • not this year. English ll was today. I was supposed to do a couple others too, but got out of them! yay! I’m so scared about my SAT’s and ACT’s. :-/

  • I have a baby boy cousin (who will be more like a nephew lol) due in May! I’m so excited!

  • β–Ίβ–Ίβ–ΊTotally!! They want to name him Jadon, which is found in the bible in Nehemiah 3:7 “And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.” Isn’t that so COOL!? β—„β—„β—„

  • Don’t be scared. It’s not that bad. Just practice a lot. It is in your interest to practice, practice, and practice some more!

  • I guess that I have a lot of things to be happy about, hmmm. The fact that I have friends, the fact that I’m doing a great Bible study with a friend of mine, the fact that I have food to eat and a house to live in, the fact that I have a good friend to talk to this evening and the fact that no matter how much I mess up Jesus will forgive and lead me.

  • I’m happy today because I had lasagna for tea, because my mum and I talked on the phone, because I love my studies, because there are bats living in the trees behind my flat, because I wake to annoying birdsong every morning (there’s a blackbid that mimics my alarm clock), because I have all ten fingers and toes, because grace is stll keeping me, and because I haven’t had a really bad dizzy spell in about a week πŸ™‚

  • Yay! I have about niece/nephew comming in September. It’ll be so fun to visit them!

  • Soooo many things; Jesus, sunrises, sunsets, my friends, mango, duck stickers, etc. Additionally, it hit me a second ago was the fact that I have the INTERNET and I can use it to have christian community with youth all over the world. Like, WHAT?????

  • Because this whole post is about what makes you happy, and mallory was listening to “Happy”. So it’s kind of ironic, sorry if it was a random, confusing comment! I do those a lot!

  • Today I’m happy because I only have 24 days before I graduate high school!!!! Thanking God that a new chapter in my life is about to begin and that a really good one is ending. I’m also happy because despite all the problems here in Houston, this world is not our home! God is Still God no matter what happens in this crazy world! There’s so much to be thankful for today guys. Mainly the fact that my family and I are okay and that our house is fine and that most of our friends are okay. Please continue to pray for the Christians here in Houston. Many Godly families have been hit hard these past few days. I’m happy because Jesus overcame this world! πŸ˜€

  • Hey, I was thinking about Houston as I read the news today… What are a few specific things we can pray for for the people in Houston?

  • Also, the fact that I got everything done today that needed to be done. Yay! First time in a while…

  • Well, I’m happy because school’s over for the day, because I have a wonderful family and friends, and because I know God loves me…and a thousand other things that I can’t even think about at the moment!!! I’m so glad God’s given me so many awesome things in my life – that he even decided to make me!!!

  • I’m doing the 100 happy days (except I changed it to 100 days of joy) challenge on Instagram and today is day 50. God has really been helping me learn to find joy in the little things and the not so little things! Today is our family yard work day, and even though I hate yard work, I’m joyful. πŸ™‚

  • But sometimes that outside work is glorious, isn’t it? I live on a berry farm, and there are some tasks that I have loathed as long as I can remember and will probably abhor for all eternity, but there are those days and tasks that are just wonderful and lovely to be outside and working and in the fresh air…. I adore springtime. πŸ˜€

  • I live in a neighborhood where the houses are approximately three feet apart, and pulling weeds and edging the driveway is about as exotic as it gets, haha…but yes, I LOVE being outdoors this time of year even if I would rather be playing softball instead of mowing!! πŸ™‚

  • I am happy today because of the beautiful world I live in, because I did the best I’ve ever done in sailing. But Most of all, I am happy because all my new friends on the Reb are happy too!

  • I’m happy because I get to go to church tonight, I was able to go school today, God is very wise and knows what’s best for me, the weather is very nice, my mom picked me up from school, I have awesome godly friends, my Jesus is alive! πŸ™‚

  • Uh… I live in a rural town in Missouri. We call the morning meal breakfast, the middle meal lunch, and the evening meal dinner or supper. Anything else is a snack. My question pertained to how you could have lasagna tea, although I’m now seeing that you simply meant you had your tea and ate lasagna with it.

  • Sorry I didn’t respond earlier!
    Please pray for those who have lost their homes and possessions. A family that goes to my congregation has lost their apartment after it flooded. They got about 2 feet of water in it. Almost all their furniture is ruined. Thankfully they put most of their important documents and things up on high counters so not everything is completely ruined. But there are so many others who have lost their homes or are still unable to leave their homes due to flooding. At least seven people have died. Please pray that God will comfort those who are hurting and that us Christians can find opportunities to shine our lights.
    Thank you for your prayers! πŸ™‚

  • I am happy because even though today is a very gloomy day, I am rejoicing because God made it. I am thankful for the light that is in this world so that I may see its beauty.

    I am happy for a new friend that I have made. He is truly a blessing and he is one of those good friends that are 1 in 1000. So, I thank God for my friend.

  • Today I am happy because both of my Grandmas are coming over, last night I took a couple short practice tests, and I remember stuff I learned this year and years before! Good music is on right now, and the day promises to be warm–that makes me very happy!! πŸ™‚ Thanks God!

  • i was thinking the same thing. Tea and lasagna don’t go together πŸ˜€ when I think of tea I think of Cornish pasty or something πŸ˜›

  • Really, I’m not too picky. I love black tea…. and green tea… and flavored teas from Panera!

  • My dad’s family is british, so I have grown up a tea snob. PG Tips, Tetley, and once in a while, possibly herbal tea. But usually only when I’m sick or really grumpy on a rainy day.
    Love Panera!! and hate green tea. I think I actually might be allergic to it.

  • We have breakfast, dinner, and tea then if we have something to eat before bed we call it supper. Sorry for the confusion! Would lasagna tea work though do you think?

  • I’m happy today because I had the chance to play soccer, good Christian music I like was on, I got to comment on the Rebelution for the first time today, and I get to spend the day watching TV shows with my family. Thank you God!!

  • And I forgot. I get to read as much as I want to since its the weekend. πŸ™‚

  • I am happy today because it is 73 degrees outside! This a warm change from the 50 degree weather we have been having. It was sunny all morning and now I believe it is going to rain. At the thought of rain I am also glad because I love spring showers.

  • Whoa whoa whoa… Josh?! You’re a real person? *mindblown* How have you been lately? πŸ™‚

  • I know right?! Lol. I was surprised when I could not find Guitar With Arms on my following list, but instead there were TWO ‘Josh A.’s XD πŸ˜›
    Btw, I hope you’re doing well. πŸ™‚
    -Ash

  • Hahaha yes I have transformed into a real human being! =P My parents decided that once I turned 17 I could become a human lol πŸ˜‰ I’ve been great, wrapping up my semester and getting ready for the crazy finals coming up. You? =)

  • Ah, I see. πŸ˜€ Well happy birthday! Huh, I just had a birthday too, but I’m 16 :p I’m making it. I’ve been super busy with school, which I actually don’t mind, but I’m so ready for summer break!

  • Haha thanks, happy birthday to you as well! Mind me asking what day yours is on? Mine is the 20th. =) Yeah, I’m ready for summer too, but I’m gonna have to work all summer which kinda kills it lol =P

    Congrats on getting another Reb article published =)

  • Thank you! Mine was on the 23rd. Oooh, sorry you have to work so much. What do you do?
    And thank you very much πŸ™‚

  • Haha that’s cool, so that means I’m exactly one year and three days older than you ;D My best friend Josh is exactly 6 months and one day younger than I am…anyways. I work at the bookstore of the university I dual enroll at. Do you work?

  • Haha that is kinda cool πŸ˜€ Oh, I would love to work at a bookstore.. do you like it? And other than interning as an editor for theReb, I’m not working currently, no.

  • It’s pretty cool! The pay is good and that’s what’s most important to me, lol πŸ˜‰ Do you want to do something related to writing/journalism/etc for a career or are you just interning for fun/unrelated reasons?

  • Lol. XD And good question… I actually don’t know. I like writing, but I don’t think I could/want to make a career out of it. So for now, I’m interning for the general experience πŸ™‚

  • Haha okay! Yeah, I totally get you. I’m trying out being a piano performance and electrical engineering double major, but I’m probably going to have to drop one of those in order to focus on the other. That’s the only bad thing about dual enrollment for me, I had to pick a major (albeit temporarily) at 16 =P

  • Oooh… I would basically die if I had to pick a major right now. I love piano and music too, but again, I don’t know if it would be worth putting all my effort into, even though it’s what I love.

  • Oh dear. That’s not good. *goes to find a black outfit so I can lament your death properly.. albeit a few months late, apparently*

  • *walks timidly to join the convo* Please excuse me for…um. interrupting your awesome convo, but I wanted to say.. Happy Birthday, Josh! You’re officially a human being! lol πŸ˜›
    I am sorry in advance if this sounds creepy. lol

  • I wish I could say the same thing…but I am not doing well. I got sick again, so yeah… I am not having a good day today.Plus, I am still having a hard time adjusting to life changes. :/

    Sorry, I did not mean to sound gloomy… Btw, do you still post on your blog? πŸ™‚
    -Ash

  • Aw I’m super sorry to hear that. =/ I do, but I haven’t in a while because I’ve been busy and stuff. I do have an article that should surface soon. =P When will you be done with school for the year?

  • I’m happy because I just came back from visiting the US and the American side of my family for the first time in thirteen years.
    I’m also happy because God miraculously provided for a house for my family a few weeks ago.
    I am happy because I just invented a new word. It’s called “plagiarism”.
    And also because Jesus is alive! Yippee!

  • I am sorry it took so long to reply back to you…. I didn’t mean to take this long…

    That’s good to hear… I’ll be waiting for the release of it. Let me know when you publish it.

    It’s complicated to explain in a public online chat…so I can’t explain without giving away private info. to the public to see. I’m sorry. :/

rebelling against low expectations

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