On His Own

While attending a rodeo roping a couple summers ago I witnessed a horse roll and lose his rider. The cowboy was unhurt and in fact continued to chase his calf on foot! The horse casually strolled toward the exit of the arena as I took his picture. This painting evolved from that horses' quiet demeanor and dejected low head carriage. I don't know why this horse is alone or how long he has been on his own (probably not long because only one rein is dragging.) I DO know that I am never alone.

John 16:32 Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

Viewing Heaven From a White Horse

This mare lives in a pasture down the road from me and from a distance she appears all white, when in reality she is a paint and has a bit of pigment in her skin, but not much. She is blued-eyed as well and therefor she sunburns easily just like us blue eyed people do! I like photographing her because the shadows contrast so nicely on a sunny day.

This painting and others are available for purchase from my eBay store. Search "debbie lincoln" at the eBay home page.

Revelation 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.

Courage to Go in New Directions

Wow - I'm pooped! Going off in new directions is exhausting! I used to paint totally abstract designs YEARS ago when I was still playing at being a hippy and the kids weren't here yet. I set my paints aside (with a few exceptions) until the kids were grown and I had a little more time. Now that we have sold our business, too, I have even more time and I LOVE IT! Time to experiment, time to go in new direction, time to be courageous!

This 24 X 36 painting turned out a whole lot better than I expected and I have already listed it on eBay - for straight sale first - auction later. Search "debbie lincoln" at the eBay home page to find it and others, or contact me through e-mail.

Hebrews 3:6But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

God's Country

Everyone thinks where they live is "God's country" and Texans are no different. But somehow I think that those who live in the mountains have a more valid claim on that description. Mike and I love exploring the Rockies and this summer journeyed to the Tetons as well. In south/central Colorado there is a National Park campground that is 10,000 feet high and has a lake that never fails to thrill me. It's getting crowded now and we actually almost didn't snag a campsite this year - for the first time in 7 years of camping there. Bear Lake is its name and it's in the middle of the Sange de Cristo Mountains surrounded by the San Isabel National Forest near Cuchara. THAT is God's country, for sure, and the only way we have survived these past 5 years of heat and drougth in Texas was knowing that we would be there for one sweet, cool week in August.

Knowing where I'll spend eternity is also a good way to get through the pains and tribulations of this earthly life.

2 Corinthians 5:1[ Our Heavenly Dwelling ] Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

By the way, Heaven is mentioned in the Bible at least 606 times.

Animals are fun to paint, but difficult for me. We have 3 white kitties and I can't tell them apart anymore. This is the liveliest one though - a 6 month old female that was given to us (along with her brother) by my daughter's sister-in-law. She followed me around the front yard a couple days ago while I was photographing my horse (for the millionth time) and insisted that I pay attention to her - until she paused to scratch an itch.

Both animals of the earth and man were created by God on the sixth day. The Bible says we were to "rule" over them, and most theologians have interpretted that to mean "care for and use wisely." My life would be very sad without my critters in it.

Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

SOLD

My daughter has a dog named Walker. He's half Cocker Spaniel and half King Charles Cavalier. He looks mostly King Charles, and he's a little dog, but boy, does he know how to play AND he can swim all day. We took him camping with us on the Frio River 2 summers ago. Merideth and I snorkeled and Walker swam with us. And swam. And swam. I do believe that dog would swim until he drowned, if we let him. I painted this when we got home, showed it in a gallery in New York and sold it. I had to promise Merideth that I would paint another one for her - guess we need to go camping again!
Isaiah 48:18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

It's Smart to Bring a Spare

Mike and I spent the entire month of June 2007 wandering around Colorado, Wyoming and Montana with our 2 dogs and the RV. One experience that I really enjoyed was the rodeo in Cody, Wyoming. I am trying new painting subjects and techniques, but my favorite still is cowboys and their horses.
This painting was inspired by a cowboy exercising his horse and leading a second one behind the grandstand at the rodeo. The late afternoon light was perfect and I quickly envisioned the Wyoming landscape in the background, using one of my many reference photos. The title, “It’s Smart to Bring a Spare” was easy to conceive, since we have experienced the aggravation of flat tires while RVing! Planning ahead is always smart both for traveling and for where you’ll spend eternity….

This painting is available for purchase in my eBay store. Search "debbie lincoln" in the eBay home page to find it and others.
Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Kiss My

SOLD

Every time I visit Laurie, whether in person or her website, I am inspired by the color and vibrancy of her paintings, and I come home with a determination to break out of my rut of muddy, earthen colors and try new palettes. Yesterday I broke out of the mold – how long I can stay, I have no idea, but at least I did it.


This painting I am calling "Kiss My ---". I have two very fat horses and they come when I call - sometimes. Obviously this one ("Easy" is his name) chose NOT to come. Georgia, my border collie mix, does come, though! But she still has to look at where Easy is headed...
Laurie and I are alike in many ways – we could have been sisters. We went to high school together and knew one another well enough to say “hi” in the halls, but didn’t “hang out” together. We were both known as being “artsy” - and smart. Not necessarily good attributes for girls who want to be popular, but we survived. We didn’t get back together again until our 30th High School reunion in 2000. I was going through a reawakening of my spiritual values and was seeking old friends – she was already there, I think, and we connected. Funny how approaching 50 opens gates that you thought were firmly locked or at least blocked. I wish we had been friends through all those years, too.
John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

September 13, 2007

Two days ago was the first anniversary of the selling of Kwik Kar - the business Mike and I owned and operated for 11 years. It's hard to believe that a year has passed already and I am evaluating what has occurred in that year's time. A lot actually.
We bought a new RV and took off for new campsites in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.
My youngest child, Merideth was married. That's huge.
I gave away Jack, my favorite old horse, to a treasured friend who could care for her and her special needs. She had her last baby in April and was put down 3 weeks ago. Her offspring, PJ, is bred to have a baby in March, 2008. Life goes on. (Ecc 3:2)
We sold all the cows (FREEDOM!).
We have helped Ben spruce up the house he bought in Euless last year.
I have painted and attended workshops and painted and eBayed and painted.
Our church has grown to 72 members (Woo Hoo!). It had 7 regular attendees when we joined in 2000, and now we average 45. What a joy.
Texas has come out of the drought. As I sit at my desk this morning, I see lush green pastures with 2 very fat horses and it’s hard to remember that the prickly pear were nearly dead this time last year.
I am fifty-five years old and wouldn’t be anywhere else on earth or in life.