His Grace Magazine

Grace His

August 2019

Photo by Lynne Wood

Hopeville, Ontario

Serving from Coast to Coast

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Table of Contents His Grace Magazine

August 2019

"...My God, in Him I will trust."

Psalm 91:2

Poetry Page.........................................................................Page 3 Publisher's Corner...............................................................Page 4 Prayer Page.........................................................................Page 5 CD in Review......................................................................Page 6 Athletes for Christ...............................................................Page 7 Walking with Jesus.............................................................Pages 8, 9 Recipe Page.........................................................................Page 11 Racing with Christ..............................................................Page 12 Movie in Review.................................................................Page 14

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Poetry Page...

August 2019

His Grace Magazine

The Goodness of the Lord

Life is continually changing; One day earth will fade away.

But His Word is everlasting; Bringing Hope to a brand new day.

Consider the season of life, Cut through the noise of time.

Connect with this very moment; In brokenness, Beauty is found.

Embrace His love in your heart, That flows like a calming river.

Let His Goodness penetrate your soul; Dwell in His house forever.

Read: (Psalm 23:6)

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.�

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His Grace Magazine

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Publisher's Corner...

August 2019

Fruits of the Spirit

Owner/Publisher: Rob Wood

Goodness W

hen I was a kid, I can remember my Mom and Dad always telling and teaching us about being good and gentle with everyone we would come in contact with. By doing this, it taught us to respect people and their belongings and to be kind to one another. We were taught to do good things for other people; this has been such as blessing for us as we go through life.

All of the Fruits of the Spirit reflect the character of God, and goodness relates directly to morality.

Goodness is virtue and holiness that takes action. The result in our lives is characterized by our deeds, which is motivated by a desire to be a blessing to someone. Goodness is a moral characteristic of a person who is filled of God and His spirit. The Greek word ‘agathosune’, which is translated ‘goodness’, is defined as ‘uprightness of heart and life.’

Agathosune is the goodness for all

the benefits of others. It's not just goodness simply for the sake of the righteous.

People with agathosune will act selflessly on behalf of others. If we confront someone in a loving way about a sin that he or she may be committing, this demonstrates goodness. It also includes giving to the poor, providing for their children, visiting the sick at home or in hospitals, volunteering to feed people, and helping by cleaning up, and by praying for people. All of our expressions of goodness are as assorted as God is creative.

Goodness is not a quality that we can just assemble on our own. James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." This will certainly include life characterized by goodness.

By letting the Holy Spirit take control of us, we will be blessed by the spirit of goodness. As other people start to see our good works, they will all praise our Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

When we think of God, we know Him to be good and full of greatness. Good and goodness are very distinctive features in the Bible. Galatians 5:22 says,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness", with goodness being one of the indwelling Spirit of God. Also, Ephesians 5:9 says, "(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)."

It describes as being with righteousness and truth…

"The fruit of the light", where Christians have been made new in Christ. We are reminded every day that the Christian life can be hard, but it is also being filled with truth and having the likeness of Jesus, who is the source, and is perfect and good. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 says, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and work of faith with power." We see God Himself expressing His goodness in us and through us.

Goodness is so desperately lacking in this world today.

We see that when we put on the news or just go out for a drive. We truly need to just slow down, relax, and see if we can make someone's day.

Maybe they need someone to cut their grass or shovel snow from their driveway, or maybe they just need someone to talk to, or to help them through the day. Make it your quest to show some goodness to someone each day.

Prayer Page...

August 2019

His Grace Magazine

The Goodness of God

Father in Heaven, God of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things, graft in our hearts the love of Your name, nourish in us all goodness, and of Your great mercy keep us in the same;Â through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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His Grace Magazine

CD in Review...

Jesus Culture Living with a Fire...

he album, Living with a Fire is Jesus Culture's latest album. This is a very easy listening album, making it perfect for background music, for playing in your car or house when you have company, or just doing things around your home.

This album starts with "Move", which is a good, upbeat worship song. Other features include the title song "Living with a Fire", "Yes and Amen", "Beautiful Day", and "For No Other Reason". All of these songs are enjoyable to listen to.

Jesus Culture has been put in the same category as Bethel Music, Elevation Worship, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Darlene Zschech and Hillsong Worship as major contemporary worship music.

Jesus Culture worship leaders Kim Walker-Smith, Derek Johnson, Chris McClarney, Chris Quilala and Bryan & Katie Torwalt have developed a lot of songs that will allow the church to use as a form of worshipping.

"Living with a Fire" is Jesus Culture’s latest release, with songwriting and lead vocals being sung by their worship leaders.

This album is a soaring release of thirteen songs, with a length of 1 hour and 40 minutes. Two of their songs run over 10 minutes.

Just as their other releases, there are many good church worship

songs coming for the future. This album has many inspiring songs, especially the ones that start off slow and then burst into a kind of stadium loud chorus. Kim Walker-Smith’s leading song, "Not Afraid" is heavenly. Hearing her full amazing vocals over this exceptional faith-based song is enough to eliminate any bit of fear in us. Kim then amazes with the song, "Center of Your Love".

Kim slows the speed and then lets her voice rise on the piano based song, "How Amazing".

Katie Torwalt sounds wonderful in the song, "Defender".

Surrender all control to Jesus as Chris Quilala expresses worship.

Chris Tomlin’s song, "Yes and Amen" (this song was also on Chris Tomlin's album) has a blues tinge to it, co-written by Chris McClarney. He also contributes his voice to "Move", a song that will challenge us to get up and move beyond the church walls.

August 2019

The majority of all their lyrics are wonderful to listen to.

Listening to all of their songs on this album is very enjoyable, enlightening and inspiring. This is because while their music is playing in the background, no matter what you’re doing, you will feel the music feeding your soul all day and night. Living with a Fire is a very good album for the whole family to enjoy.

I do recommend this album; it is so pleasing to the ears and soul. If you haven't heard this album yet, pick it up today; I know you will love it as much as I do.

Living with Fire...

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

"Move" "Awe" "Not Afraid" "Living with a Fire" "Defender" "Center of Your Love" "Freedom" "Anointing" "Be Crowned" "Yes and Amen" "Beautiful Day" "How Amazing" "For No Other Reason"

August 2019

His Grace Magazine

Athletes for Christ...

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Damon Allen Four time Grey Cup Champion...

amon Allen was voted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2012. Damon quarterbacked in the CFL for 23 years. He played for six teams in all: Edmonton Eskimos, Ottawa Rough Riders, Hamilton Tiger Cats, Memphis Mad Dogs, B.C. Lions and the Toronto Argonauts. Damon retired from the game of football at the age of 44.

He holds plenty of professional football records in addition to his 72,381 passing yards, which makes Damon the second all-time leading passer in the history of the CFL or NFL. Damon also holds the following CFL records: Most passing attempts with 9,138 Most completions with 5,158 Longest pass completions at 109 yards

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time in his career that he won this distinguished award. Damon is also a two-time Grey Cup MVP and a four-time Grey Cup champion.

Damon was a very talented athlete, as he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the annual Major League baseball's draft. He ended up signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1993 and went to training camp with them in 1994, although he decided to return to football.

Damon Allen is very strong in his Christian faith and he enjoys sharing God's word with people Leading rusher among and groups. He gives all the credit quarterbacks with 11,920 to his Lord and Savior, Jesus In 2005, Damon, at 42 years of Christ, for protecting and keeping age was named the CFL's most him healthy and safe during his outstanding player. It was the first long and successful career.

His Grace Magazine

Walking With Jesus...

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August 2019

The Angel of the Lord The Pre-existence of Jesus Christ...

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e are continuing our journey on the Walking with Jesus series. After covering Jacob and Moses last month, we will now look at The Angel of the Lord being a protector and standing guard for Israel by a cloud during the day and by fire at night, as He opened the Red Sea to save the Israelites from the advancing Egyptian army in the Old Testament.

The Angel of the Lord as our Protector: God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, but they still needed His protection. So while they travelled, He travelled with them. Exodus 13:21-22 says, "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people."

As the Pharaoh changed his mind and led his army to pursue the Israelites, we see God's approach change, as He shifts from leading Israel and standing guard to standing between Egypt's army and Israel. The Egyptian army closed in on the Israelites as they ran to the edge of the Red Sea. God then placed Himself in the middle of the Egyptian army and the Israelites as a pillar of cloud. When Moses put his hand over the sea, God

separated the sea and created a wide path for the Israelites to escape from the advancing army.

When they were safely across and the Egyptian army started to cross the path, Moses put his hand over the sea. The sea came down, it covered the Egyptian army and they drowned. Exodus 14: 19-28 says, "And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through

the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians." Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on the horsemen." And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained."

Both pillars of cloud and fire were leading the Israelites. They were linked to the Lord, who is identified as the Angel of the Lord. This is another example where the Lord and the Angel of the Lord are used in the same instance. The Angel is the deliverer from bondage in Egypt, and Jesus delivers people from physical and spiritual chains in the New Testament.

Next month, we will look at The Angel of the Lord and Balaam.

August 2019

His Grace Magazine

Walking With Jesus...

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The book of Matthew Christ is King...

e are going to continue to look further into the book of Matthew. As of last month, we see that Matthew is focusing on viewing Christ as King. So let's start to study more of what Matthew has to say about Jesus.

Jesus always wants to help us to attain a healthy relationship with God, unlike the Pharisees, who were self-righteous, even with the way they acted towards Jesus. He does not dislike them; Jesus is moved with compassion and mercy. He can serve as our spiritual physician to all of us who are spiritually sick. Matthew 9:1-8 says, "So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men."

Jesus then shows mercy towards all the tax collectors and sinners, not that Jesus ever allows or accepts sins; Jesus will not and cannot ever accept sins of any kind. But Jesus does show mercy and compassion to anyone and everyone who is physically sick, just as He does for those who are spiritually sick.

Luke 15:1-7 says, "Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." So He spoke this parable to them saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

Matthew wrote this book especially to convince his Jewish people that Jesus was indeed their Messiah. Matthew did this successfully by showing how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law and prophecies. Messiah had a different meaning for Matthew, as well as for us today as we read

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the gospel. For the Jewish people, Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, who was sent by God for the Jewish people. For us today, Jesus is our Lord and Savior who died on the cross and rose three days later for us all. Matthew 1:23 says, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us."

Jesus came into this world as God born in the flesh. He had a plan for His chosen people and for the rest of the world as well. God's plan is seen in many ways. Matthew used more of the Old Testament scriptures than anyone else; he said that Jesus demanded behavior and attitudes that was superior to what Moses had taught in Matthew 5:2148. Jesus also chose twelve disciples as the representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel (see Matthew 10:1-4). Jesus then sent them out as His witnesses to Israel, just as God sent the tribes as His witnesses to all the nations (Matthew 10:5-42).

Matthew emphasized Christianity's extensive outreach to the world, even though it had been written for the Jewish people. Matthew began his gospel with Abraham, the first Hebrew (see Matthew 1:1-17), and then he introduced the Gentile wise men that came seeking Jesus at His birth, Abraham's ultimate descendant (Matthew 2:12).

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His Grace Magazine

Grace His

August 2019

New stories every month!

Interesting Christian topics, Great Movie, CD and Book reviews!

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Call 905-380-4489 wood.publications.2014@gmail.com or check out our magazine on-line @ www.issuu.com/His-Grace

Recipe...

August 2019

His Grace Magazine

Mac N’Cheese Taco Dish

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• 1 pkg Mac N’Cheese Dinner • 1 lb. Ground Beef • 1 pkg Taco Seasoning Mix • ¾ c Sour Cream • 1 ½ c Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided • 1 c Thick Salsa Sauce • Preheat oven to 400 deg F. • Prepare Mac N’Cheese dinner as directed on pkg.

• Cook meat with taco seasoning as directed on pkg.

• Stir sour cream into prepared dinner; spoon half the dinner mixture into 8” square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray • Top with layers of meat mixture, 1 cup shredded cheese and remaining dinner mixture; cover • Bake 15 min, top with salsa, ½ cup coarsely crushed tortilla chips and remaining cheese • Bake uncovered for another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

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His Grace Magazine

Racing with Christ...

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August 2019

Michael Waltrip Giving God all he has...

rom the time Michael was 12 years old, he felt God was with him and around him. Michael always thought that everyone felt the same way that he did, that God was right there beside you through the good and bad times.

When Michael grew up, he learned all about the Bible and so much more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He prayed and asked Jesus to come into his heart and to forgive him of his sins. He now continues to walk with Jesus every day.

Before each race Michael was in, he would pray and always say the same thing, "I want to give You all I have." Michael has a strong faith in God and it means everything to

Michael Waltrip was a two-time Daytona 500 winner, as he won the race in 2001 and 2003. Michael is the younger brother of Darrell Waltrip. He is the pre-race analyst for the monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and he is also the color commentator for the xfinity Series and the Gander Outdoor Truck Series broadcasts for Fox Sports.

He raced his last race during the Daytona 500 in 2017.

Michael wishes that you seek God for yourselves, open your Bibles and read it every day, then find other believers in Jesus Christ him. Michael knows God is right who will help you. Start your there beside him always, and this personal relationship with Jesus gives him an enormous amount of now‌you will find peace in your heart and life. peace.

August 2019

His Grace Magazine

The

LORD will Fight You

For You Need Only

Be Still

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His Grace Magazine

Movie in Review...

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Breakthrough “A Miraculous Story of Grace”

he movie, Breakthrough, is a very entertaining, touching and a very powerful movie that tells the real life story of a boy who fell through the ice after walking on the lake and had no pulse for over an hour. The doctors didn't think it was possible for the boy to survive. Then a miracle happened where he made a full recovery, revived from being dead over an hour. Each character, believers and unbelievers alike, has been taken on a tremendous journey in Breakthrough.

The movie opens with a boy drowning under the ice; then as the movie cuts into a mishmash of characters who are involved,

it goes back before the accident happened when John was a young boy and started rejecting his parents who adopted him and all of his school work. He only enjoyed basketball.

Joyce, John's mother, is very concerned about him as she tries to get him interested in blessing his food, eating his eggs, doing all of his homework, and replying to her kindness. But John is withdrawing more into himself.

While he is at the Christian middle school, he tells his teacher that he hasn't done any of the homework; all John cares about is being on his basketball team where he starts fighting with some of his teammates. We find out that John was adopted when his parents went to Guatemala on a mission trip. John is angry because he is hurt that his real mother abandoned him. Joyce overwhelms him with love because when she was younger, she became pregnant out of wedlock. She gave the baby up for adoption, which she blames herself for doing every day.

Joyce is also angry with the new pastor at her church. He had

August 2019

moved her women's prayer group out of the boardroom and then brings modern Christian music into the church. She also says that he has a bad haircut.

On the day of the accident, John and two of his friends started playing tag on the ice near their home. Then the ice breaks and John sinks all the way to the bottom. When 911 is called, the fire rescue and the police help John's friends, and the fire rescue searches for John's body. As everyone was giving up hope, one fireman thought he heard the chief telling him to go back to a spot under the ice. Tommy, the fireman, is convinced he heard a voice, but everyone tells him that they didn't hear or say anything.

The doctor waited for Joyce to arrive at the hospital to say her goodbyes to John before they made his death official. When she arrived, the doctor left her alone with her son. But Joyce said a powerful prayer to Jesus to save her son, in the name of the Holy Spirit. Amazingly, John miraculously had a pulse again.

Pastor Jason went that extra mile and spent a lot of time with John and Joyce at the hospital.

Breakthrough is a very powerful movie that is going to impact a lot of people’s lives in many different ways. It's a movie that is well written and well directed; a movie that will make you both laugh and cry. I hope you enjoy Breakthrough as much as I did.

His Grace Magazine

August 2019

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Testimonials...

His Grace, July 2018

Your Journey to God

Celia Deegan's Story "Help me." These two words burst out of the desperate heart of a four year old child and became the most powerful prayer I ever prayed.

A fog has claimed most of the details surrounding the event itself, but certain things have remained perfectly clear involving my first real encounter with the presence of God. I imagined nothing. The presence I felt that night is the same now and as real to me today at age 51 as it was 47 years ago.

Mine was a bad childhood from the very start. I was unplanned and unwanted pregnancy and my mother's opinion of me didn't change the day I was born. What I recall most about the first four years of my life is mostly just a complete absence of love and the acute awareness that my mother hated me. I was afraid of her. I was afraid to talk to her and I was most certainly afraid of the way she talked to me. I spent most of my time wishing that it was bedtime.

At least there alone in the darkness and under my blankets, I felt safe.

And sometimes, bedtime came earlier than usual and without supper. I never complained.

A four year old heart can carry the heavy weight of pain without complaining as a learned coping mechanism, but there were times when I couldn't hold back the tears nor deny the desperation of living

in a cold climate of hostility. I am sure that we are born with the ability to survive anything and I am also sure that the awareness of being hated is absolutely heartbreaking for any child.

I'm not sure that it was an actual panic attack but I am sure of one particular night when the ache inside my chest left me gasping for breath. I felt like I was going in and out of consciousness. The little I knew about life at that point left me with the impression that it was nothing I wanted to pursue.

This may have been the closest I ever really came to giving up completely before the panic struck.

Somewhere in there, as I struggled to breathe, I coughed out two simple words: "Help me..." I choked and I trembled and my little fists were tightly clenched around my blankets. Suddenly, in that moment, an incomprehensible presence of peace and love began to surround me. I began to breathe.

The tears stopped. My heart rate slowed as a sweet sense of relaxation came over me. I began to smile, which is something I don't ever remember doing a lot of before that moment. I felt a profound sense of comfort and warmth wash over me and it was then that I felt His presence right there in that room with me. An incredible sense of joy filled my heart. I couldn't see Him, but I knew He was there. And I was in a total state of awe. I didn't know

WOOD

Publications

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who He was but I knew He was real. I knew He loved me and I knew that I loved Him. This was my first real taste of true love, in its purest form. And in that moment, I knew that I would always be okay because something in that Divine Presence made me feel certain that I would never lose contact with what I encountered that night.

And I never have, not even once, in all these years.

In the days, weeks, months and years that followed, despite the storms that would come, I became a joyful child who rarely lost her smile. I'm not sure how it is even possible that a four year old could know in her innermost being that she had come to know and experience her Heavenly Father God, but I just knew. His ways are not our ways and the God I serve is able to open the eyes and the heart of a child to His presence. Of course He can, He's God! It no longer mattered who hated me because I had been touched with a love so incredibly Divine that no human love could ever compare to that. He became my purpose for living as I slowly came into the awareness of God, the Bible, the Church, other believers, etc.

The night I met Him left me with an insatiable hunger to know more, to pursue Him for the rest of my life and to seek out the hurting and the broken with the message of God's love.

Wedding & Anniversaries...

Jane & Steve

Jane & Steve: A 'classic' Guelph wedding day

J

ust two days after John Wills of John Wills Photography shot Jane and Steve's May 2010 wedding, he was submitting the story for The Ring's Reality Wedding Series.

Inspired by the energy of the couple and their wedding party, he explained, "The couple and wedding party had me laughing all day... It sure doesn't seem like work when you photograph incredible people like these."

stylist as she worked on the rest According to John, the mood of the wedding party. for Jane and Steve's wedding was relaxed and full of joy the John said Jane and Steve's wedding party were just as entire day, from Jane getting ready to the last guest leaving fun to work with. "They were supportive and so involved in the party. "They enjoyed every all of the photos... They wanted moment of the day, and I hope that the memories will to show this couple how continue to make special they were...." them smile."

The day stood out for John because of the love and joy that Jane and Steve expressed for each other, and for everyone involved. He said the couple's personalities shone through in every detail of the wedding day.

"The dress, the choice of attendants for each the bride and groom, the flowers, the choice of music in the ceremony... their personalities were embedded into it all."

Steve runs a family owned body shop in Guelph and is really into cars, so the couple rented a 1964 Rolls Royce for the day.

"They were truly themselves but dressed up a bit fancier the entire day."

In fact, Jane, who is a hair stylist by trade, couldn't resist lending a hand to their hired

Call 905-380-4489 wood.publications.2014@gmail.com or check out our magazine online @ www.issuu.com/His-Grace

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His Grace Magazine

August 2019

G GOD O D IS

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