Challenges.

Sometimes we need to look inside of who we are by the decisions that we make, and focus on thinking before we make them.

So, It has been quite busy the past few days. With everyone home, everything is back to normal, and I am glad that the house is full again. I had two job interviews and I thought they went pretty well. I will find out about one of them by tomorrow and the other about three or four weeks from now, since it is not yet built. They are looking on hiring at least 90 people, so chances are I could get a job there as well.

So, I am enjoying life right now though. It is tough with the job hunt but it has paid off so far, and I am pretty confident in myself that sooner or later I will find something, even if it is not now, because I understand the messages that God has given to me. If I do not get these jobs, I take it as it is not in the will of God that I should be doing these things. I need not to worry about my future but to submit to God and stay confident that he will present the answers to me.

"Understanding the decisions that you make, will reflect on your mentality to either choose to have a good day or a bad one. Between the two, it is only up to you, to decide which one you want more, and to make that happen."

                                                            -Jacob Williams, July 2012 on Deciding your days

I love the fact that we have the free will to decide what we can and cannot do. It gives yourself the representation of who you are and what you can be. Anyone can do anything, if they set their mind to things they really want to accomplish. Nothing has ever been done in this world that came easy, everything we do is fought with a challenge. If you don't challenge yourself in the things you do, then how well do we know how much heart and determination we put into things that we want to accomplish?

I will admit that in a young age I didn't like challenges. I disliked them with a passion. I wanted everything to come my way in an easy manner. I wanted things always to go my way, even though they didn't. I was lucky enough to have a great family to support me in the things that I do and proud of the things that I have already accomplished. We are all faced with challenges, even if they are subconscious ones.

It makes me sad for people who say that they have no friends and that do not trust anyone because of a mistake or they are being let down all the time. I can try to understand the struggles that one can go through, because I have dealt with some of them in my life, but the key is to present yourself positively in light of all these challenges that you are faced with.

People love the positives that surrounds them. It makes others want to spend time with you more. If you can't approach things positively, that is okay. No one in this life is perfect. But don't try to bring others down when you have a bad day, just because you have had a bad day. Ask others for the help but don't represent yourselves to others in a negative way. Just ask for help, and people will help you in that moment.

On a side note, this post was suppose to be published back in Jan. 2012, and accidently did not publish it. So a few updates on the matter.

I have already found a job, It is overnights, and It is a job for now. I can say that I have really relied on trying to take each challenge of each day of my job and tackle it with positive light as I can, and not to try to rely on others to make my day better because I know for myself, that it is only me who can decide to have a good day or a bad one.

 Recently, maybe a week or so ago, I came into work and got unexpected news, even though I strive to be a  hard worker, not to be better than others but knowing that I can do what I can do for myself on a business outlook so that customers keep coming back, I received a plaque for being the employee of the month. I can say that I was shocked. This is something that i solemnly believe that we can do if we accept a challenge for ourselves.

I remember seeing another employee get one of these way back, somewhere in December and remember thinking 'Man, I want to achieve something like that so that my work ethic stands out to my managers', and at the same time keep a relatively positive attitude and try not to keep a acting attitude of being better than others-- but rather, doing things that I think are best for myself, for the outlook of business too.

"Sometimes in this life, it's not about being better than everyone else, but knowing what is best for you, once you realize that, you will start to see change around you and in yourself."
                                                                 -Jacob Williams, April 16, 2013

I have really been following that quote a lot lately. At the beginning of work yesterday, not the very begining but about ten or fifteen minutes into my shift the manager pulled me aside and spoke with me about being asked about a job offer to work, in which he said is more money. I was pretty excited about that. This is a great example that hard work really pays off if you really see things as a challenge everyday and work hard enough to try to tackle them everyday. You may not get a few things, but as long as you know in your heart that you strive to do the things you want to accomplish and you know that you have done your best-- and not looking at the things that you didn't get done or couldn't tackle, that positivity that you surround yourself is going to attract your heart, your motivation in trying harder everyday. It is very true when they all say that 'Hard work pays off'. Because it does.

Keep challenging yourselves. Have confidence that you can do things. Don't doubt the things that you cannot control, but have the wisdom to accept the things that you cannot change. Leave the Glory to God. Because--really, it is all about Him.

God is Love.

-J.

Balance.

Having the mentality to have balance in your lives will go a long way for you in the problems that you face everyday.

Every once in awhile-- people are going to have bad days due to them. It is just the way of things. But there are ways to prepare for that. One of the best ways to prepare for the battles that you face is having a great sense of balance in your lives.

If you realize that there are more to life than just getting through a day and drag along, then you probably have some sense in balance with your life. If you live life being the change that others want to see in you rather than the change that you want to present yourself with unto others, you will have to answer for the battles that you will fight, some sooner rather than later. It is not the work that becomes you nor does the money that you make. What counts more in this life, the money you make or the time you spend? That is the big question at hand. People rather make more money than to spend more time doing the things that actually counts more to you, and mean more to you. Money may be a way to live, but how can one ever live, if they do not fully have the time to do the things that make us feel alive? My opinion is that the time you spend here is worth millions more than the money you make.

"If you realize that the key to life is building yourself in the light of understanding what your individuality is, and the bridges that you build with every relationship you have, the more you can distance yourself to the stress that money causes."

                                                                                       -Jacob Williams, Money is Stress: July 2012

Having a sense of balance in things can really set the battles that you have on an easier ground. People think that they fight their battles alone. While this is not entirely true, you do not fight battles alone, because God is there with you, lifting you past the battles that he knows that you can get past. I may not be there for my friends battles in life, but it is only because I know, that God is with them, lifting their hearts to make them stronger. If must have a lot of happiness in life on one in of the balance. You do not always need happiness to conquer these battles that you fight each and every day, but having the majority of your balance shifted towards the happiness in all things in your life, will make things a lot more easier for you to handle as they come. If you do not have enough happiness in one side of that balance, I can tell you that you will struggle no matter what the consequences are. Happiness is the key to all things, but one most know that happiness is not in everything, which is why you need to balance things. 

Suicides usually happen because they are more depressed, and on one side of that balance there is more negativity going on. If you eliminate that negativity, you wont have much negativity to deal with. People will help you get out if you seek the support using the right approach to people. Approaching people negatively will only make things worse. Sure, you will get help, but more out of the fear of your friends and your family than the love from them. 

"Money is not what makes a person, it is their heart and character that does." 

                                                                 -Jacob Williams, Money is temporary, but life is not. July 2012

People are dependent on money. If you make money your whole lives, you are missing the point why God gave you life in the first place. Do not allow money to dictate your lives, and cause you the unnecessary stresses that it causes to others. Sure, you need money to make a living, but you do not need money to live. You need air, blood, a heart and mind to live. Otherwise you do not exist. I think it is crazy that so many people put so much stress over something that doesn't count in your life. If you die, how much you make is irrelevant to how much that you have done. You may earn money by doing, but it is what you did that counts, not what you earned. People will remember you more by the things that you do, than the money that you earn.

"The amount of things you can buy with money is almost endless, because one thing money cannot buy is more time."

You will always feel rich in the things that money can never buy. Cause it can't by love, and it cannot buy moments or time. Allow those become the factors in your joy and pursuit of happiness. Only you know the answers to your own solutions, because it is only you who knows yourself better than anyone else ever can. Good things take time to think about, so think, but do not stress. Think about the things that you want in this life. Take notice that the fact that Rome was not built in a day, and things take time to develop in every aspect of your lives. Hold on to what you have now, your happiness, and get rid of the things that try to overtake the balance in your happiness, because you will always need majority of it to overcome some things.

"If you notice the feelings of joy and peace that instills you deep inside your heart, then also you must also know that it takes someone with heart to fight the battles that they have."

                                                                  -Jacob Williams: Having heart conquers all things, July 2012

Finally, Never let money take away from the time that you have. Make other things more important than money draining the time that you want to have. Because in the end, you will regret not spending your time wisely in the things that you do, and will be bitter that your world was created around making money rather than spending time.

God is Love

J.

Change.

Love is more than a word, more than a quality and emotion-- it's universal.

To start out, I had a pretty decent week. Some time to really focus on myself and figure things out, and what I want to get out of in life. Going back to Church last Sunday was pretty fun. Something I really missed. The Pastor is a former baseball player for the Seattle Mariners. I am not sure the time of when he played, but he is really cool, and passionate about talking about Christ.

I also got to visit Mojo again. It was just grand to spend time around him again, chatting up with JerriLynn and Sid. Playing with the other dogs that they have there as well, not all of them, but most of them. I have a very hard time accepting the fact that puppies like to lick people, and that I have not really had a dog in such a long time since Mojo. But, I know I have been telling myself that I really need to dust the cobwebs of my camera and start taking more pictures soon.

 The Job hunt is looking up for the time being, that I have an interview on the eleventh, so that is a good thing, I am still confident and very optimistic that I will find something soon. Other than that, it has been a long and rough search putting applications in, but only time will tell, and I trust God with his direction in life.

For tomorrow, I am going back to Church again, going to really try to make this a regular thing as much as I can. I have definitely been more productive than I usually am, which is also a great sign of things turning around, it really has helped me a lot mentally. Anyways, thought I would finally continue on with the topic at hand here.

Love is an amazing thing. Even the most perfect man in the world taught it. Christ gave his life out of love for us, so that we would be able to have eternal life with him. Love is a huge thing. So many different ways to show love to others. You have love for animals, friends, family and a significant other. You have love to do things for other people, for yourself and for the fun of things.

"People talk about how tough it is to love, but the truth is, love is pure and simple. It is what Christ shows and teaches to us, it is what few Men know and all Women wish for."

                                                                                     -Jacob Williams, on Love, July 2012

 Love is a universal thing. People like to describe it as a feeling, or characteristic that one has. I like to describe it as one of the greatest things that God has given to us. To truly feel the affliction of joy and happiness in our hearts. Love is always kind and never deceitful. It is not that Love hurts, it is the people who cause the hurting. Because in our hearts, we are not perfect, but in love and blind from the things that surround us, we dismiss the possibility of imperfection. We all do that, because the joy in the feeling of being in Love. 

But every now and then, there is heartache, that is in the result in being in Love. Love doesn't hurt. The key word is being, not doing. Love doesn't cause hurt. It is the action of one, or the mentality of one that causes it. You are hurt in result of being in love. People often say that it is better to love than never have gotten the chance to love. I absolutely agree with that.

Love is the strongest word in the dictionary. It makes us do things that we never thought we were capable of doing, or things that we thought we never would have said. Love can change perspective, but it is in yourself that changes, not Love. Love doesn't change a person, You change because of the result of being in Love. Most decisions that we all make, on a daily basis are subconsciously made.

"People have the perception that they can change you, but the truth in reality is, it is only you that has the full ability and control to change yourselves. It starts by understanding what you need to change within yourselves. But, it usually takes someone with heart to do it."

                                                                       -Jacob Williams, July 2012 on Change

Change is hard for a lot of people to grasp onto, even myself. I do not embrace every single change as I should, because it is great to live life putting God first and you second. I work on that every single day, even though I know that there is nothing I can do, but to trust and fully believe in Christ, with all my heart and all my mind. Change is what takes this world by excitement. It turns your expectations into things that you do not fully expect to happen. The world is fair because not everyone gets what they want. There are people who do, and some who are born into that. Everyone lives life a bit differently. If the unexpected never happens, then life would be as boring as watching Golf on Sundays.

"Be the change that you want to be, not what others want to see, because they will respect you more for becoming what they did not expect to see, and you will be happier for becoming the change that you did for you, and not others."

                                                 -Jacob Williams, July 2012 on Changing for yourself not others

A lot of people change for others, not in the result of others, but for others. Because we make these decisions on our own to be the change that we decide to be. Changing for other people will only make others happy for a limited time. If you do this change for yourself, if there is any that you see that you must change, then the better you will become in your pursuit of happiness. Everyone in this world deserves to find happiness in their heart, to be happy for themselves, because we are all different. This life is not about being better than others, because it in your heart that you are truly individual in all your decisions that you make. The truth is, no matter where you go, no one is better than you, and you are no better than them. Because we are all human beings, and for that, we all make mistakes. So, be the change that you want to be. Do not allow others to force you to change for them, but let them understand that you are only changing because it is for yourselves and not others. I already know, that no one is perfect, and I do not expect perfection from others. This is why I do not judge others. Just because I do not judge others doe not mean that I am any better than any of you, it just means that I have a different perspective on things. Everyone has the free will to live their lives the way they want to. 

God is Love. 

J.

Morals.

The things then heighten your wisdom in knowing right and wrong.

So, It has been awhile since I wrote my last post. I spent the last two nights off-- to celebrate what America is and what it stands for. All the troops that sacrifice their lives daily, so that we do not have to. If everyone would put in sacrifices with their lives, this country would not have the problems that they have.

I love America, and I feel blessed to be part of a great and beautiful Nation. Every once and a while, I feel that I have been lucky to be placed where God wanted me to be. Sometimes it is beyond comprehension to understand the true freedom of free will, being placed in a country that practices the right, even though that it is only to a certain extent. Thankful that we are able to have religious freedom, because without Christ, I do not know where I would be today.

America, the land of the free, and the home of the brave. We stand for the people, and by the people. We embrace life, and build dreams. We are given a chance to pursue our destiny, educate our children and continue in prosperity. A place where you can believe, a place where you can hope, a place where sacrifices are made, where love is our symbolic approach in continence to live, fight and progress. We are not the richest and the smartest. But we are the bravest. We are who we stand for. Because we understand that United we stand, and divided we fall. We let freedom ring, from the cascade mountains that surround the beautiful forests of the west. We let freedom ring, over the Rockies to the heart land of America. We let freedom ring across the the rivers that flow through the Mississippi valley to the magnifying hills of Georgia. We let freedom ring, from the city lights of New York to the palm trees in Florida. We let freedom ring, because we are the people, with a choice and direction, to gain progression and teach children a better life of morals. We let freedom ring because we are unique, we are different, We are, The United States of America, the symbolic stance for Liberty, the light of embracing and giving our future a beautiful and hopeful life. So, let us embrace any change and fight any challenge, because only it is us who understand the mentality and the individuality. It is only us who can choose our progress by the choice of our people. It is only us, that we can do what we can, and make a living for it. Let us live, for who we are, and what we are, because we are the American Dream. The only Dream. The dream with insight of understanding and helping others. The dream of an ultimate goal. The goal of a world, silent as the stars that are so separated from the skies. Yet because of their light of working together brings us sight in our darkest times. We are a nation, for the peace and for the distribution of peace. Look to your left, and see who you have, look to your right, and understand who you have. Hold hands and embrace life, because we have free will, to decide to continue down a path. A righteous path. An Amazing, God Loving and spirit fighting country. Let the blood that flows through your vessels feed your heart the joy and happiness that is a constant reminder of what we can become. Let us choose and give hope. Let us fight and remain victorious. Let us show the world, that we stand for life and not for death. Let us show to the world, why we let freedom ring across the lands where our forefathers have fought. Let us show the world that we can help, we can save, we can love, we can change. Because America, we are unique to be able to choose our paths and our creeds. Unique to lead for the people and by the people. So, Let us show that the world can follow the justification of this quote. United we stand, and divided we fall. Together we can, be the red in our bloods that keep us alive. Together we can be the blue that stretches itself around our world. Together we can be the white in showing that we stand for peace, freedom and life. America, this is your time. Embrace it, because this is, the American Dream.

                                                         -Jacob Williams on the American Dream, July 4 2012

Parts of this written speech was compiled together from my thoughts of what we should stand for. America is no longer the American Dream that we wish for it. We are no longer in control of our destiny because we let others decide our fate. We are Americans. Have we forgot that it is by our individuality that we choose to lead this nation, rather than a representation. America should not falter, and should not fail. And we have not yet. But as an American, ask yourselves after reading above, is this the American Dream, that you have kept in your hearts locked up with a key that was taken from you. If we can make change, let it be by us, the people, the love and joy, the rights and freedom to chose not to vote for either, Obama nor Romney, but for the better of America. It is time that we elect someone who believes in the American Dream. It is time to elect the peoples Champion. Let us make this change, let us make this path and let us show the world, that they can do the same to achieve the things, that this world has never seen. Do not allow power to change, but the equality in all men to remain. If you believe in a better America, I urge you to go, and vote for the tea party. Let us be the voice that the government hears. From the insufferable justice that we have continued to face. Let them hair the cries of those who are out of jobs. Let them hear the words "We want the American Dream. We have the hope, we have the right, and we have the free will, so Americans use it. I love you all my American brothers and sisters. Let us have change and build bridges to a brighter country. And lastly, let us have the courage to be leaders, so that the world can follow, but let them also decide if they want, The American Dream.


I am not saying, that we are in the darkest of our times, but we will be if we do not choose to stand up for the reason America, became America. Before we can lead or change we must have a great insight on ethics and morals. We need to know the difference between right and wrong. Those who have faith, and trust in the Lord, he asks us not to worry, and let Christ worry about you. The Bible will without a doubt tell you right from wrong. We are all sinners.We continue to sin because Christ knows that we cannot be perfect, no matter how hard we try, we all fall short of Glory.

Those who do not have faith, who are not part of any Church, it is not I who judges you, but it is God, the creator of heaven, earth and everything in it. He loves you, more than I could ever love anyone. But you have the free will to chose what you want to believe.

Our Morals build our Character. The more we know about what is right, and the less we do that is wrong, the more wisdom in things that we gain. Not everyone comes from a home that is built on light. But find those who have a broken home, help them. You may not be their parents. But as an American we can instill a responsibility for gaining progress in our violence and decisions. We can teach because we have a mouth. They may not listen at first, but acknowledge the reason that they have ears. It has been proven that if you talk to someone that you are not related to, the more the person will be willing to listen. We have the responsibility in our actions that reflect on others as examples. That is why we have our eyes, so that we can see the right from wrong. We can learn and study from it. That is why we have our minds. You do not have to be perfect, but you are more responsible for things if you want to reach a goal to live and cheerish a life that includes the progression of an American Dream.


"Everyone talks about knowing the difference between right and wrong. Just because you do something right, doesn't prove that you will never be wrong. Because most of the time it takes doing something wrong to understand whats right."

                                                        - Jacob Williams, July 2012 on Right and Wrong.


Every once in awhile we make mistakes. We do something wrong and that is okay. We learn to grow from our mistakes. We have consequences for every choice that we make, good or bad. People who fight through the things that try to bring you down will only make you stronger as a person, and as a human being. More people would be able to love others if they understand that in this life it is not about perfection, but wisdom.


"The man who has everything really has nothing, but the man who has wisdom has everything."

                                                              -Jacob Williams, July 2012 on Wisdom

Having the wisdom to know right and wrong will get you farther in this life mentally than someone who already has everything. Someone who has everything really has nothing, other than more to lose. This is a reason why Christ says so much about the poor. You do not have to be poor to have such great wisdom. Bill Gates gives a lot of money to other people that need it, who did not finish college but I can tell you that this man probably had a lot of wisdom knowing right from wrong. Steve Jobs on the other hand had everything, greedy with money and died of cancer. Steve Jobs has achieved many great things in his life technology wise. Did he die because he was greedy, no. He died because of cancer. He had a great mind for things, but the difference between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs is the wisdom between the two. Bill Gates still has his life, gave away money and donated for research and cancer projects. He had the wisdom to know that his money could have the possibility to save millions rather than kill millions and have no scientific breakthrough. However, Steve Jobs gave money to his family after his passing. These two are very respectable men in America who have done great things. In my eyes, they are great people, but it proves the fact that knowing the difference between doing whats wrong and right can make you a better person inside, and can reflect well on others as great examples.


I would also like to share a quote with you that I made back in 2009, right around the time I started to write quotes.

"People think hard about doing things easy. But people often miss how easy it is to pray about doing something hard."

                                                                                                    -Jacob Williams, 2009.



I also want to say a few things before I let go. I want to thank all of the troops who have supported and sacrificed so much for this country. Because of you, we have the insight and the confidence to change America for the better. Because of you, we are home, living life the way that we should be living. Because of you, we feel safer and feel that we truly have something worth fighting for. If we all gave as much as sacrifice you all deal with every single day, this country would truly be living the American Dream, and would not have the problems that we have. I thank you all for the service that you give to us, so that we can all experience the joys and freedom that this Country was founded on. God bless you, and God Bless America.


God is Love


J.

Character.

The Things that define you, with ones perspective. 

I remember going to grade school here in Washington learning about the keys to perseverance. People judge others too often based on appearance rather than actually sitting down and getting to know them. It is sad that we often judge people like judging a book by its cover. 

Your character truly shows who you are. If you don't worry about what other people think of you and just be you for who you are, your Character will outshine and people will take notice. I honestly think first impressions are not everything, even in the dating scene. I think it is overrated. It is always best to really sit down and get to know someone, be worry free and just be who you are. If people don't like who you are for who you are, then they probably don't deserve you.

"Trust is not an emotion neither is honesty. If you are looking for both, look at ones Character."

                                                                                                -Jacob Williams, July 2012 on Character

The reason I say that trust is not an emotion, is simply because it is not. It is more like quality that you have, just like being honest. I've learned that being honest is basically the key for everything. It heightens your Character more than anything else. Your work in this life also shows some of your character, how strong you are when you face things, or do things, how hard you worked for things. 

"If you can be the act that sets everything else apart, people will start noticing that there is act in ones Character."

                                                  

                                                                                                    -Jacob Williams, July 2012, showing any act of Character

If people took notice that judging others is a bad thing, and took time to actually get to know people, maybe others would not be so self-conscious about having to deal with the fears of having others reject them. The days when people would be friends before relationships were so much better. The dating market nowadays is useless. Men go out to ruin the trust of other men who are just searching for someone to be with, but it is hard to do that when the men who have a lack of decency to treat a woman right just ruin a mans chances at dating. Not that I am pursuing the dating market, really have just been hearing about how much trust is broken and how woman just swear off dating of all men.

Now, I am not saying here that I am not sensitive to the matter. Trust is a huge thing, and it is the foundation of every relationship that you will be in. But give a guy a chance out there and be honest with yourselves. Because no one is perfect. And your expectations should never be of perfection. I believe that if he treats you more than you think you deserve to be treated you are one lucky person. 

Everyone forgets that. Those people with faith, know that the only one that never lets them down is Jesus Christ, and that is basically because he is perfect, even at times when you ''feel'' that he has, he is only telling you that you have not seen what he really had in store for you in the first place.

"Showing your Character is better than telling someone that you are different than everyone else. It's better to act than it is to tell."

                                                                                        -Jacob Williams, July 2012 on Proving yourself through act not words

People are going to notice things better by your actions than by your words. If you care about someone, your words may help them, but it is by your action that they will remember you most by. 

I know this is my shortest post, but I promise I will be back with a longer post soon!

God is Love,

J.

Unique.

Being the same makes a world boring, being different makes everything else interesting. 

So, a subject on being unique. I have many things that really stand out about me. First of all, my ability to speak amazingly with the disability I have is awesome. I am definitely very unique. The disability that I have? Hard of hearing. 

So, let me take you guys back a little bit. . . 

Five years after I was born, I had a slight loss of hearing. I did not suffer any illness or had any diseases that was relevant to my hearing loss. I remember going to the doctors as a child. Any child who remember how much of a drag going to the dentist was at a young age, should imagine what it is like for a child who is on the way to a world of deafness have to deal with going to these appointments. Going to the dentist is nothing compared to going to the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor. So much pain. And there is no medicine for this pain. I hated it so much. Getting my ear cleaned was horrible. They would take a sharp object and just try to scratch the wax out of my ear because of irritation. My mother can even recall how much of a pain these moments were for me. I am just glad that the cleaning process is not even remotely close to how it was when I was just a little child. 

Maybe because I could shelter in and hold the pain better, and I built tolerance for it? Who knows? So, the doctors would do test after test to figure out what caused the slight decrease in my hearing. They never found out what did, and to this day they still do not know. 

Growing up in a mainstream school, where I was the only deaf kid in every class that I went to, it was pretty hard, but the friends I made while I was living there at the time understood. I spent many of my young years hating on people because I was different, and I hated it. Always looked at life a bit negatively, but I was still a very positive little kid, who played baseball, and other sports, had a great base of friends.

In 2003, many things in my life changed. I was leaving my best friends behind, going to a state I never really even heard about (Nebraska.) and wasn't excited at all about this move. Just having to go somewhere else, make new friends and blend in, hoping someone else would be there hard-of-hearing like me.

So being in Nebraska was new. Flat lands, bunch of corn fields and a very conservative town. Columbus is what they called it. I kind of liked it, but missed the mountains. Call me crazy, but over the course of my life...living there, I never really had so much support that really changed the course of my life. 

When November rolled around, I was already two months into a new school. I remember this day. It was very bright for a day in Autumn. When you live in Washington, fall is so much colder (well.. back then.), and very cloudy from where I was living. There were barely any clouds in the sky. I know this because I was sitting in the English class room in my middle school, with the blinds up and the sunlight shining through the windows. 

My hearing started to go slowly, and I just thought maybe it was because wax was building up in my ear or a problem with my hearing-aid. So I went to the office because I thought maybe my battery had died out on me. My mom took me home, checked my ear, and to her surprise, my ear was not bad, it was not fully super clean, but it was clean enough. Changed the batter and could not hear a thing. In that moment I didn't cry, because I was too in shock to really understand what was happening to me. 

This was the first time I saw that my stepfather was really sad about what happened to me, and my mom just kind of knew that this day was going to happen, but you can't really prepare for these things. I wasn't prepared one bit, I didn't even know Sign Language. 

The doctor confirmed that I lost all of my hearing. The decibels that they were playing in the headphones were off the charts.. (not literally, but more like hearing jet engines so close to you.) So, new to the world of deafness, I spent two months at home, doing school work from home because it was a new place, it was not until that December I returned and went to classes. The people were really supportive. I had help and it was amazing. 

I later got something called a Cochlear Implant. That bought me back me from the brink of a whole world of deafness, back into the beautiful life of sound. I missed hearing what the T.V sounded like, or the music. I missed listening to the birds chirp and people voices. Missed hearing the bell ring just before school got out. 

On January 26, 2004 I finally got all this back. The surgery was successful. But I was very weak and very impatient about getting my hearing back, which would happen a month later. I finally got it hooked up and my mom bought her friend a long and they got to witness me hear a the sound of a clock. I never heard a sound of a clock that far away. It was just so amazing. One of those moments that are breathe taking. Ever since I had this Cochlear Implant, my life changed. I started to see people where just trying to help me and not change me. It made me regret the way I lived life before. But that didn't matter, and I didn't make that matter, because I left the past, in the past and moved on. My speech over the next two years developed so much better that people just started forgetting that I was deaf in the first place. I am not fully monotone, although there are times that I am. The case was unique to doctors, how fast I was progressing and adapting to the Cochlear Implant was phenomenal to them. 

"People like to say that I have a limit to do the things that I can do. It is not that we are limited, it is that we choose to live life knowing that the things we can do, are unlimited."

                               -Jacob Williams, January 2010 on Deafness, Hard-of-Hearing and limits.

And I loved being different. It wasn't for the attention, or that I am special or that I am unique, its because I was at peace for the first time in my entire life with my hearing. Moments like that, never leave  your heart. 

"Most of you will say that the sun sets, but it is only those with true and unique insight that point out that it really is just their world that is spinning."

                                                                    - Jacob Williams, July 2012 on being unique.

I write a lot of quotes, this one is not my all time best, but I will tell you it is one of the smartest ones. People will see things for how they are. People really never stop and look at things to see what truly is happening in that moment. In the case of the sun setting, is really true. It is not really the sun that is moving, it is the earth that is spinning. But in our eyes, for the perfect illusion, that is what we see, because we choose to see it in that way. It is also easier to say "sunset" than "World is spinning." 

Never be afraid to show the world that you are different. Because if you are all just the same, being different will lose it's meaning. It is not about being special, or being better than others. It is about showing people the things you can do are unlimited. My deafness is a gift that God gave to me, to show people that I am uniquely happy in the way I live, the choices that I make to live life optimistic rather than hate, and following Christ. I am a walking reminder that my hearing today, is beyond comprehensions of the mystery work that God uses every day in our lives.  

"The Possibilities are only possible, if you take a chance with the possibility to walk with Christ." 

                                           -Jacob Williams, on taking a chance with Christ

I love all of my friends, all of my family, and everyone who supported me in this life. It is not because of you that I struggle, it is because of you, I am stronger. I love you guys all. 

God is Love.

J.

Moments.

The things that change the course of your life and make every day something different.

Today was a bit different than my usual Sundays. Instead of staying home, doing applications and reading some of the Bible, woke up at 6 am and got ready for Church. The church that I attend was quite amazing. Learned a thing or two, and definitely felt great after. Nothing like feeling the holy spirit in presence. Something I really have not felt in a long time. Maybe because Utah is a dark place. :)

Joking aside, being able to worship God on Sunday and to sing again was nothing short than amazing. Sat in the second row to the front.. in front of new people that I have never met in my entire life, but to overcome my nerves and to praise the Lord was more important to me in that Moment. In that moment, I felt more alive than I ever did since attending the Burean Church in Nebraska.

After Church I went along and spent the day with my second mom Pam. I got to spend time with her sons family. It was really a joy to do that on a day like this. I thought it was a much needed break from just really being productive and putting a lot of applications out lately. I spent most of the time playing with the kids. Nothing brightens up the day than kids do.

They had these weird nerf guns that shot small green discs (made of foam). But it shot further than any other nerf gun I have ever scene in my entire life. This was pretty close to being more enjoyable than shooting paintball guns. For the majority of the day, that is what I did.

Pam's son: Rory, wanted to feed his snake so we drove deep into the heart of Yakima and pulled into an almost empty Petsmart. We spent quite some time there, because there were three kitties in the adoption department, and Pam got two of them, that was just for 80 bucks. Pretty good deal for having them sprayed and neutered. Pam was definitely excited, and will pick them up tomorrow

After going home, I went with Pam order McDonalds for the family for lunch. I really have been great with not eating fast food since I moved here, and I have already lost tons of weight.. (Not literally tons, but you get my drift.) So we watched Rory feed the snake just before we ate. It was pretty cool, it was not a live rat that we fed to the snake though.

About an hour later I was drifting into sleep watching Disney with most of the kids. I also at that time wasn't feeling quite right. Started to progress to not feeling well at all. Everyone was planning on going to see the movie Brave, which I really wanted to see but my stomach got the better of me.

So I decided to go home and take a nap, to try to feel better, so this pretty much sums up my day. It was really nice to actually rest and have time to clear my brain before the week starts, and that I would be returning on doing more applications. July 4th is around the corner though, so I may go do something with some friends. I also need to hang out with my childhood friend who is leaving to the Air Force soon.


Anyways, Moments. Something I really want to share with people today. Moments are very important in this life, more than people understand. A lot of people take that for granted. I don't think that moments are the single most important thing in this life, but it definitely is up there.

There are many precious moments in life. It could just be sharing the birth of a child with your wife, getting married, road trips, just other simple but amazing things that happen in your life. Not all moments are precious.

Some are going to be bad. It matters what you do in these moments. Some make  you weak and that you need help, some give you strength to get you through them and make you stronger. You're going to fall down  a lot in life, and some people are going to be watching you for that. Seeing how well you test your self in the that moment. Watching to what approaches you will take. Whether if you are going to get up, shake up the scratches and scars and build yourself to outlast the things that God knows you can get through, or if it is asking for help and have them walk with you in the crisis you are in every step of the way.

But every now and then, there are moments where you just need to lie there. And because God knows that you can get through them, you eventually will. In that moment that you choose to lie there and collect your thoughts, seek the approach on how to get better, you are also wasting away another moment. Not that it is bad to waste a moment, sometimes it is good to prolong one. So that you can look back at how you were, and what you did when something happened to you. You can see how much of a stronger person you have become. Anyone has the will to become stronger. We will always remember the moments more than we ever will remember the days.  Although, logically we also do remember days  we will always remember moments more. So you better start living it up, doing what you want to do and doing what you need to do, because the change starts with you and ends with you.

"If you do not make memories now, you better reason with yourself and start making them, because if you don't, you will be laying there on your death bed regretting everything you knew you could have done."

                                                                      -Jacob Williams, 2012 on making Memories

No matter where you go in this life, you will always deal with problems. As human beings, making mistakes is something that really brings us back into reality. It is who we are, because we are not perfect, and we never will be as we continue to live our lives here on earth. My perspective has changed a bit about life here on earth. I love and embrace life in what it gives to me in each day, because every day is a new one. Always with new challenges and new circumstances.

We all love doing things the hard way. We love trying to better ourselves into becoming better than others. But the truth is, the man who won a world cup in soccer is no better than the man who sits on the streets begging for food. The only thing different is the way they chose to live their lives. If you start looking at the fact that we are all human, and we all sin, we truly are not better than anyone else, and that no one is more worthy than the other. 

That is why having a relationship with Christ is the best thing you will ever do. It is also the best decision that you probably will ever make in this life. Christ was someone who went out and helped those who were rejected and kicked out of churches more than the ones who were in the Church.

It makes me sad that Churches choose to excommunicate people because this and that. I can see Christ going outside and just picking the individual up and bringing him closer to Christ himself. I am not saying that Church is bad, it is good and refreshes your mind, gives you a different perspective on things, but trusting in Christ, believing in him and knowing for a fact that nothing you can do can save you but only Christ himself.. Leaving the Mormon church really set me free.

God was not lying when he said that the truth will set you free, and it did. The feeling of freedom is not being a slave to sin. Although because we are humans and we do make mistakes, we are slaves to sin. That is why we NEED Christ. And why ONLY he can save us, not by our works but by our faith. 

Since Christ knows your intentions of your hearts (That they are harden, sinful and deceiving) he died for your sins because he knew that was the only way he could save you, and that his blood is suffiecent for you.

There are many religions today that are different than Christianity itself because they set themselves into showing examples of work. They need to work their sins off so that they can get a better place in heaven and such. Because they are doing it, their intentions show to Christ that they fully do not believe that His blood was sufficient for them. Which is sad, because he dealt with so much pain and suffering for you to have a free gift of Salvation, by faith and not of works that you are saved. 

Because we are human, we choose to figure out a solution to a problem the hard way. We are ignorant and selfish for putting ourselves first when the easiest way to do that is by prayer. Putting God first. Asking him for the strength to make you stronger when you feel weak, asking him for forgiveness for the things you do wrong and for the power to forgive others when you have wronged them. 

"It is usually in the heart and minds of the strong willed people, who choose that only they can make a difference in changing moments that count, but those who stand with Christ, are likely to change more."

                                                                        -Jacob Williams, 2012- on Making Change count with Christ

God is love.

J.