The Dare Dreamer Movement by Julene Fleurmond

Have you ever felt the pressure of molding your actions – yourself – to the expectations of others?

When you’re not in your purpose, you might feel that squeezing, gnawing discomfort inside. The wrangling tension in you may be a signal that you’re not doing what you are meant to.

I’ve been feeling that way lately – the effects of kneading some of my actions to please others, or acting the way I think they expect me to. I’ve reasoned to myself that helping others is the right thing to do, but at the same time am abandoning the tasks God has given me.

One of the things I’ve been learning to do is live above the expectations of others, or the temptation to please and impress. When my actions are motivated by service in love and a desire to please God, not simply catering to man, then living becomes more purposeful:

“…do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:22-24 (New International Version)

There are times when we have to leave our comfort zones to reach higher heights, or months of painful pruning, and these may cause feelings of helplessness or ill feeling that are good and inevitable for our growth. There will be periods when we must become servants to others before our own dreams come to fruition, (as Joseph experienced). Other times when we check with others for approval in our every move, feel down when our work isn’t acknowledged, or measure our efforts against those of others, we are doing nothing but suffocating our own purpose.

There is a reason you and I were made the way we were, and have dreams that may not exactly “fit in.” When God created you, you were made to bring something unique to this world, to live out your purpose. As long as we stay within the realm of His standards, we are worshipping Him when we exercise our unique talents the way He meant for us to.

When we surrender our hearts to God, His dreams for us become the ones we begin to feel passionately about. Follow the God-given beat of your heart, the natural rhythm of personality, ideas, passions and quirks that flowed from within, the rhythm only God could orchestrate. Dream not in self-ambition but for His way which is good and pure. Imagine if your actions only flowed from what God is conducting, the unique purposes and hopes that He shares with us in love, undefiled by expectations and stereotypes – it will be music to His ears.

Don’t to worry about being “normal” or fitting in. Don’t snuff out the nuances that make you unique, but embrace them; the world is waiting for your gift. They may not understand it at first but He does; trust His opinion – it’s the only one that matters. It might be a lonely road, but the times when we’re playing out our purpose only for Him might be the most special of all.

Let’s strive today to start living our lives for an audience of One. There’s a joy in being “different” if you are being you, the way God intended.

I wouldn’t be able to describe the sacrifice that took my debts and gave me life undeservedly any better then in Isaiah 53:

1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

– Isaiah 53 (NIV) From BibleGateway.com

Have a blessed and Happy Easter!

Meet eight-year-old Ruby Marigold Booker, the main character in the Scholastic book series “Ruby & the Booker Boys” by author Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton. Ruby is creative, fun, sassy, smart, and shows her style and individuality by sporting mismatched shoes and coming up with new adventures to undertake.

The series follows Ruby’s fun experiences and lessons as she navigates her eight-year-old world. Her character is relatable for all little readers especially African American girls who can see themselves in a character that looks like them and can be inspired by a positive example of a black family reminiscent of “The Cosby Show.”

Watch the video below of Barnes talking about why he started the series:

I love the essence of the Ruby books and it would be great to see more books from the series. If you have a little reader in your life or know of someone who does, consider supporting the series by purchasing the books, especially book 3 and 4. If they’re not in your bookstore you can have them ordered or order online. The books are pretty affordable and they are worth bringing joy to children who may not have seen a role model like Ruby.

If you are or happen to know any educators (teachers, librarians, principals, etc.) you can visit the author’s website to find out how to schedule a classroom visit.

Click here to be a fan of Ruby & The Booker Boys on FaceBook.

The new reality show Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution that airs on ABC Fridays at 8pm ET has quickly become one of my favorites. The show, produced by Ryan Seacrest, follows Jamie Oliver, chef and TV personality, as he is sparking a battle against childhood obesity and the unhealthy food in schools around the country. He entered a school in what the CDC says is “the most obese city in the U.S.” trying to change the way school meals are made and also is working with a local family to change their eating habits.

Currently I’m pursuing my master’s degree in public health and we’re discussing nutrition and health education so the topic is right up my alley and something I’m passionate about. I like how celebrities like Seacrest and Oliver are behind the show which makes it more appealing to the wider public than if it were just a news report or documentary, and I definitely reccommend the show for anyone to watch.

Check out a clip from the show below:

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Almost three months after the earthquake in Haiti the men women and children are still in great danger and need of help. The many who survived the devastation are still without homes and in harsh conditions with pouring rains and the upcoming hurricane season.

A Home in Haiti is an organization that is raising funds to buy waterproof tents to distribute on the ground in Haiti. Read about some of the efforts on the founder Shaun King’s blog and visit http://ahomeinhaiti.org help provide shelter and hope for the people by donating funds or sending tents today. You can watch the video below to learn more about this great project.