The Journey to the Beautiful Life

By Sandy Dennis

Are you living the life of your dreams? Is your life a celebration, splashing over with peace, joy, and victory? To make this a reality, join me on The Journey to the Beautiful Life. Gracing the pages of this book are 70 unforgettable paintings, inviting you to escape and slip away into a world that is beautiful, peaceful, and yet enchanting. This life enriching book contains over 200 powerful writings and heartwarming stories, selective scriptures, and more than 450 thought provoking quotations empowering you to live the abundant, Beautiful Life God designed for you. So come with me on an exciting journey - a journey that will change your life forever

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490842738

Sandy Dennis

An award winning artist, Sandra graduated summa cum laude from Walsh University. She has been a school teacher, art instructor, youth minister, and Bible teacher. She uses her paintings and writings to beautifully illustrate and reveal God’s truths.

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Copyright © 2014 Sandy Dennis.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1 (866) 928 - 1240

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978 - 1 - 4908 - 4273 - 8 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/05/2014

Every effort was made to trace the ownership of all verses and quotes. In the event of a question arising from the use of any verse or quote, we regret any error made and will be pleased to make the necessary corrections in future editions of this book.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved; Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group; Scripture quotations taken from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org); Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, New Century Version, copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission; Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved; Scripture quotations noted KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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Contents

You’re an artist!

The Great Train Ride

Help! - I’m on fast forward

The King has one more move!

My God is bigger than you!

Color your world

It’s a command - not a suggestion!

Warning! Warning!

It all started with…

Nearer, my God to Thee

It’s party time!

Each day - a little bit of heaven

Just put the stone in your pocket and walk away

A quiet resting place

Wanna be like God?

The 7 words I long to hear

The most beautiful word in the Bible

The Lord is my Shepherd

You’re a masterpiece!

How big a slice of life do you want?

A fly won’t land on a hot stove!

What are you saying - spiders or pearls?

More! More!! MORE!!!

A reward lasting forever and ever…

I didn’t look good in blue

Find hair number 1,283

A gallery of your life

This I know

Innocent man puts himself behind bars

The Path to Peace

All you need is love!

Just drop him in and screw the lid

Want to bring glory to God?

Stun - gun him!

With you all the way

I’m the believer; God’s the Performer

Turning dreams into reality

Just don’t give up

Dress to win

Kissing God

A place saved just for you

When I sits, I sits loose

Soaring like an eagle

Don’t let your crown fall!

The warmth of Home

Impossible - but true!

The iron did swim!

God’s tattoo is a picture of you!

Fear has amnesia

It’s all yours - but only for a day

One place you definitely won’t want to miss!

A Too Much God

Newsflash: Praise causes an earthquake!

How can you possibly lose?

Come, sit awhile…

He thinks I’m beautiful!

Don’t swallow the bullet!

Don’t go alone!

Enter into His Peace

He makes the impossible possible!

Enter into a New Life

What did you do with your 24 boxcars?

Dream on…

Fill your canvas with Joy Marks

With God, there’s always hope!

The Golden Promise

Don’t be a gravedigger!

Take it all the way to the top

Make your world beautiful!

Do you ever think about what you’re thinking about?

Uh - oh, he gave his brush away

How many grains of sand are there?

What’s your grade on gratefulness?

Don’t lose your joy

I think myself happy

His eye is on the sparrow

He lassos and then laughs

The only way in…

A black and white or Technicolor day

Shut down the factory!

Come… I’ll give you rest

Testing 1,2,3… testing

My God Jar

God doesn’t own a cookie cutter!

The Path

Beauty for ashes

From paralyzed to playing ball!

Just ride the wave!

Picture this…

What a Shield!

Someone’s madly in love with you

Demon goes AWOL

He has no hands but yours

Enjoy the journey

See you soon!

What are you planting?

Waiting for you to come Home

Don’t host his party–ever!

Don’t run off

A glimpse of heaven and hell

My peaceful hideaway

Up please!

Wow - All that belongs to you!

Stress free in a stressful world!?

Keep Him always on your mind

Check out this resume!

Beacon of Hope

Outcast becomes ambassador

Me - reign as king?

Take the ride of your life!

The only person who can keep you from happiness

Coming home to Him

Follow the Leader

Step into the Promise Land!

I said that to me!

Get the percentage right

It all started out with a pickup…

Living in Lala Land

I want to be like a 2 year old!

I can make you wretched!

For keeps

I win –every time!

He loves you to brag on Him!

Penned from a prison!

Another new day with You, Lord

Dying tomorrow? –What would you do today?

And the winner is…

If you really believe, hop in

A Land of No More

Don’t be caught with it!

No wound - no pearl

Entangled in grown up things

Down with a case of ungratefulness?

A love note from the Father

Needed: a change of identity

Need a 180 degree turn?

God, You’re awesome!

What’s your wattage?

Sounds like a winner!

Just tell them you’re on medication

In Daddy’s arms

If He’s not finding fault, why are you?

What a gift!

So simple but so true

Stop sucking your lemon

Sweet Fellowship with Him

A light in a dark cave

Quit crawling - you have wings!

It was utterly useless

My cup runneth over with Hope

Be sure you lay your eggs

I don’t have to be the cream of the crop

You have worth

All is well

Wow - what a Father!

A little seed that wouldn’t give up!

When, Lord, when?

My cup runneth over with Faith

Don’t be his pack mule!

We have the same switch!

He longs for you

Hope yours isn’t a snake!

It’s motion activated!

Choose this day whom you will serve

Don’t kink the hose!

Have a cover that’s a bestseller

The Keeper of the stars

Are you living your life in full color?

Take a reality escape

His mysterious ways…

He’s my Daddy!

And now for the mental traffic report…

Silent Night

Be sure you’re not wearing grave clothes

My cup runneth over with love

Need a sunshine grabber?

Rescue them one by one

You’re my Strong Tower

Uh oh - there’s a brat!

That time thing - it’s your choice

Got fruit?

He rescued me from the claws of the lion

If my teacup could talk…

A never fail cure for the blues

May I have this dance?

Are you running a low grade fever?

Don’t sweat - It’s a fixed fight!

There’s a place you can go…

Peter gives the rest of us hope

Perfect Peace

Just touch the hem of His robe

Reach for the moon!

What amazing love!

He got rich in a time of famine!

In Your Secret Place I’ll dwell

A billboard that walks and talks

You can never escape from me!

The Cage

Find Happy!

If my snowman could talk…

A trudge, a walk or a dance?

Resting in the arms of Jesus

What did you do with My Son?

The Journey

to the

Beautiful Life

Y ou’re an artist!

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While on vacation, I saw an artist set up with an easel, a canvas and a palette of paints. With brush in hand, she was creating her own world on the canvas before her. In this journey of life, you too, are an artist. Set before you is a blank canvas of your life. With brush in hand, you’re painting your world. With every thought, every word, and every action, you’re creating your life. Because of this, you exist in a world of your own making. Ultimately, you decide if your life is full of happiness or sadness, peacefulness or chaos, forgiveness or anger. If someone could view the painting of your life, what would they see? Tranquility? Confusion? Soft, soothing shapes? Sharp, cutting edges? Bright, vibrant colors? Muddied, dark tones?

I saw an engraving on a tombstone I have never forgotten. Etched in stone were the words: His life was a masterpiece. Do those words describe your life? The brush is in your hand and the outcome is whatever you choose. With the help of God, the Master Artist, you can make it come about. So take your canvas and create a beautiful masterpiece!

I came so they can have real and eternal life,

more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

John 10: 10 (The Message Bible)

Ask where the good way is, and

walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 6: 16 (NIV)

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You create your own universe as you go along.

Winston Churchill

T he Great Train Ride

I t’s the great train ride. Peering through the windows, you can see the train is packed with many people. Some of the passengers are scared and anxious. They spend their journey nervously pacing back and forth, worrying the train might derail. Down deep, they don’t trust the engineer to take care of them. Some of the travelers spend their time in the baggage section, comparing luggage since their possessions need to be the biggest and the best. Other passengers spend most of their time angry. The train is going either too fast or too slow. Nothing seems to please them. And the train rolls on.

Some passengers spend their whole time complaining because they didn’t get the seat they wanted, so their trip is full of murmuring and discontent. Some passengers are depressed. The train ride wasn’t what they expected. Because of this disappointment, they spend most of their time with their heads down, staring at the dark, gray floor. The view from the window is spectacular but they choose to look down and let the darkness color their journey. And the train rolls on.

Some passengers spend their time in a semiconscious state, idly killing time, not realizing this is the only train ride they get, and it will soon be over. Other passengers are feverishly racing down the center aisle, seeing how many train cars they can conquer. They keep nervously looking back, fearing that others will get ahead of them. And the train rolls on.

But wait - here’s something different. There are some passengers who are thoroughly enjoying the trip. They’re having the time of their life! They take in all the beautiful scenery. They make it an adventure going from box car to box car to see what excitement awaits them. New places to see, new people to meet - life is exhilarating! Every moment of the trip is savored. Life is flowing in a grand and glorious fashion. And the train rolls on.

The train is filled with so many people. Which passenger are you?

For the despondent, every day brings trouble;

for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

Proverbs 15: 15 (NLT)

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If you want to be happy, be.

Leo Tolstoy

We either make ourselves happy or

miserable. The amount of work is the same.

Carlos Castaneda

Happiness is not a station to arrive at,

but a manner of traveling.

Margaret Lee Runbeck

Happiness is to be found along the way,

not at the end of the road,

for then the journey is over and it is too late.

Robert R. Updegraff

Learn to make the most of life, Lose no happy day;

Time can never bring thee back, Chances swept away.

Unknown

Everyone only goes around the track once in life,

and if you don’t enjoy that trip, it’s pretty pathetic.

Gary Rogers

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather,

always bring your own sunshine.

Anthony J. D’Angelo

Stop worrying about the potholes in the road

and celebrate the journey.

Fitzhugh Mullan

H elp! - I’m on fast forward

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T here’s a beautiful passage in the Bible which says, Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 NLT) What a comforting verse. Sometimes I feel as if someone pushed the fast forward button on my life. Life is swirling by. That’s when I like to imagine coming to this little church in the woods. To me it’s the shelter of the Most High, where I can rest in His Presence and hear the still, small voice. The Bible declares, How lovely is Your dwelling place… A single day in Your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! (Psalm 84: 1, 10 NLT)

So come, step out of your hectic world and enter this secret place - a place where you will be hidden away in the palm of the Almighty.

He will hide me in His sanctuary.

Psalm 27: 5 (NLT)

I said, "I wish I had wings like a dove.

Then I would fly away and rest.

I would hurry to my place of escape…"

Psalm 55: 6, 8 (NCV)

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My candle burns at both ends; it will not last the night.

Edna St. Vincent Millay

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When I’m weary and distressed, I will go to him for rest.

My Savior, my Savior; To his loving arms I’ll fly…

A. A. Payn

T he King has one more move!

T here was an international chess champion touring one of the beautiful art galleries in Europe. The tour guide stopped the group at an interesting painting. It was a picture portraying a young man playing the devil in a game of chess. The devil was laughing and the defeated young man was in anguish, his face buried in his hands. It was titled Checkmate.

The chess champion was intrigued by the painting. As the rest of the group left and continued the tour, the chess champion stayed behind. Later the tour guide returned to find him still there, intently studying the picture. The chess champion told the tour guide that the title of the painting needed to be changed. He went on to say that the painting was titled incorrectly because the king had one more move!

In life sometimes the devil tells you there is no way out. It’s an impossible situation and there’s nothing you can do. He’s got you in checkmate. Never accept that verdict. The Bible says you’re more than a conqueror and nothing is impossible with God. Remember, the King has one more move!

No, despite all these

things, overwhelming victory is ours

through Christ, who loved us.

Romans 8: 37 (NLT)

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The fight is on, but be not weary:

Be strong, and in his might hold fast;

If God be for us, his banner o’er us,

We’ll sing the victor’s song at last!

Mrs. C. H. Morris

M y God is bigger than you!

T he story of David and the giant Goliath is one of my favorite Bible stories. Every time I read it, I marvel at David’s courage to fight Goliath when all the other soldiers fled from him and were greatly afraid. (I Samuel 17:24) How did David get so bold, so brassy? Simple. He knew his God. He could look Goliath straight in the eye and say, My God is bigger than you!

The difference between David and the rest of the soldiers was all they could see was the giant; all David could see was his God. They saw the bigness of their problem - Goliath; David saw the bigness of his God.

These are 6 powerful words to live by. No matter what kind of giant you’re facing today - whether it’s a financial problem, a sickness problem, whatever kind of problem it is - look it straight in the eye and say, My God is bigger than you!

Our help is in the name of the Lord…

Psalm 124: 8 (NIV)

With God we will gain the victory,

and he will trample down our enemies.

Psalm 60: 12 (NIV)

"So no weapon that is used against you will defeat you…

These are the good things my servants receive.

Their victory comes from me," says the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17 (NCV)

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But He never gives in,

And we two shall win, Jesus and I.

Anonymous

C olor your world

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I was taking a walk in the middle of winter. I do believe it was the dreariest and gloomiest day I had ever seen. The atmosphere was heavy with fog. One continuous cloud of lifeless gray covered the sky. The once flowering bushes were now bare twigs. Melted snow formed muddy puddles everywhere. Dead leaves clung to the cold ground. As I looked around, brown and gray seemed to be the tones for the day.

As I walked, it brought back memories of a time I was painting in the Smoky Mountains. The weather conditions were similar. As I stood before my easel with brush and palette in hand, I decided not to accept the weather conditions of the day. I would splash beautiful colors all over my canvas - no grays would be used! I would paint the world I desired - not the world I saw. The drabness of the day would not touch my canvas. It was my choice and I chose to see color and beauty. Instead of painting the dead brown shrub, I painted a beautiful flowering bush. I wanted to see a deer so I painted a deer on my canvas. I would not let the circumstances and my surroundings dictate my painting. I would make the decision. I simply decided what I wanted in my world and then painted it.

A similar analogy can be made with life. If your life is filled with drab browns and dull grays, do something about it. Change your palette of colors (your thoughts) and your paint strokes (your actions). Use some good linseed oil (your attitude) to help the paint flow easier. The Heavenly Father, the Master Artist, can help you change your life painting. So instead of crying and complaining how you hate brown and gray, grab a paintbrush and color your world!

I have learned the secret of being

happy at any time in everything that happens…

Philippians 4: 12 (NCV)

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Once out of all the gray days of my life I have looked into the

heart of reality; I have witnessed the truth; I have seen life as it

really is - ravishingly, ecstatically, madly beautiful, and filled to

overflowing with a wild joy, and a value unspeakable.

Margaret Prescott Montague

I t’s a command - not a suggestion!

I