The Thriving Christian Artist

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296 - 5-Minute Mentoring: Overcoming Habitual Sin & Negative Patterns of Living Oct 22, 2021

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Is there an area in your life that's become a stronghold for sin? It might show up as a negative coping mechanism or an addiction that you just can't seem to shake.

I've been there. For many years, I dealt with patterns of pornography and religious performance. Both worked together to prevent me from getting to the fullness of God's plan for my life.

Until I finally, by God’s grace, broke free.

In this episode, I break down exactly how I was able to break free from these habitual sins and negative patterns. I'm giving you the same Biblical blueprint I used to let God work His grace in me.

I call them the Four Steps to Freedom.

It doesn't matter what your challenge may be. Jesus didn't die for you to be going to Heaven and yet be continually tormented in sin. He came to set the captives free.

Today, I can look back at the struggle—and the toll these patterns took on my life—with gratitude for the grace of God. I can tell you that there IS hope…if you grab hold of His hand and walk through the steps to freedom.

I wrote about this in my first book, “Unlocking the Heart of the Artist.” You can grab hold of the newly revised 10th anniversary edition at Amazon.

Unlocking the Heart of the Artist: A Practical Guide to Fulfilling Your Creative Call as an Artist in the Kingdom

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1460930258/

Connect with me online:

https://www.matttommeymentoring.com
https://www.instagram.com/thethrivingchristianartist
https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist
https://www.youtube.com/mjtommey to watch the podcast on YouTube!

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Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

295 - How to Hear God's Voice: A Conversation with Taylor Jensen Oct 20, 2021

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If you believe that God can create through you, that He can speak to others through the medium of your artistic talents and ability, then you're going to want to listen to this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist podcast!
As artists who desire to partner with God in creating Prophetic Art, discerning God's voice is something that we must do - but that doesn’t mean it’s easy!
In this episode we discuss all the details about hearing God's voice with my friend and guest, Taylor Jensen. We’ll ask the hard questions, like

What are the different ways we hear God's voice?
How do you discern if it's God's voice versus your own?
How does God speak specifically to you and through you?

And if this is a brand-new experience for you, how do you even get started?
Believe it or not, this is actually a pretty controversial subject - people have a lot of strong feelings about it!
Taylor is no stranger to that controversy, as he regularly speaks on how to seek and discern the voice of God. He also served for years as a missionary with Youth With a Mission (YWAM), going from desperate places like Colombia to Cambodia to… California! Our yearning to hear God’s voice is universal.
⭐ Listener Special ⭐
Taylor has a wonderful Bible study called He Speaks: How to Hear, Listen, and Understand the Voice of God. This four-week Bible Study is designed to help you discover the ways God speaks to His people throughout the Bible so that you can begin to hear Him like never before. And he's offering my podcast listeners a special savings of 20% when you purchase the study - just use the discount code THRIVING! Thanks to Taylor for this special opportunity!
Connect with Taylor online at
http://FireplaceFaith.com
https://instagram.com/taylorcjensen
https://facebook.com/taylorcjensen

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Connect with Matt online:
www.matttommeymentoring.com
www.instagram.com/thethrivingchristianartist
www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist

You can also watch this podcast on YouTube at youtube.com/mjtommey. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

294 - 5-Minute Mentoring: Prophetic Percolation Oct 15, 2021

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I'm a major coffee fanatic. On any given morning you're going to find me in my comfy chair with my journal, sipping a delicious dark roast blend.

As I savor the rich flavor and aroma, I appreciate that it doesn't just start in the cup. The journey from the tree to my coffee cup is a process.

Coffee has to be grown, selected, dried, roasted, rested, ground, brewed – all before it becomes the heavenly beverage we're able to pour and partake in.

From planting to percolating, we can appreciate every single step. Even the leftover dregs are part of the process.

Just like that exquisite cup of coffee, creativity is also a progressive process:

Grown – cultivated from a kernel of an idea
Selected – not every idea is ready to be used
Dried – the Son removes unnecessary parts
Roasted – the Father's fire reveals the essence
Rested – the soul of the artist is expressed
Ground – the grinding of productivity is done
Brewed – water/heat of the Spirit transforms

It's what I call Prophetic Percolation. It's a prophetic picture for the process of creativity in Prophetic Art.

That’s what I’m talking about on today’s episode of 5 Minute Mentoring!

If you want more inspiration about the process of creating art with God, grab my brand new book:

Prophetic Art: A Practical Guide to Creating with the Holy Spirit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B098WHPBLS

Connect with me online:

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

293 - Forged in Fire: An Conversation with Lonnie and Abby Alverson Oct 13, 2021

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Wherever you are in your journey as an artist in business, you can be sure that sooner or later, you will be tested, as if by fire. You'll be given an opportunity to step out in faith, beyond the limits of your own knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.

It’s easy to say that we know that God will provide...but actually trusting Him enough to let go and step out in faith can be easier said than done.

That's why it's a joy to introduce you to Lonnie and Abby Alverson of Hearth and Home Forge. They're the real deal – a married couple, living and working together, as they run a fruitful artist studio in the Kingdom.

In this episode, find out how they trusted the Lord to transition Lonnie out of a 27-year corporate career into full-time dedication to detailed hand-forged metal work… in the midst of a global pandemic panic.

I find their journey has so much in common with how my wife, Tanya, and I had to step out in faith into artist entrepreneurship – learning to work as a team, both at home and in business.

Enjoy my conversation with Lonnie and Abby, and be sure to connect with them online:
Website: https://www.hearthandhomeforge.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearthandhomeforge

I talk much more about my journey into artist entrepreneurship in my first book, Unlocking the Heart of the Artist. Check out the newly revised 10th anniversary edition on Amazon now!

Unlocking the Heart of the Artist: A Practical Guide to Fulfilling Your Creative Call as an Artist in the Kingdom

https://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Heart-Artist-Practical-Fulfilling/dp/1460930258

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Connect with Matt online:

www.matttommeymentoring.com
www.instagram.com/thethrivingchristianartist
www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist

You can also watch this podcast on YouTube at youtube.com/mjtommey. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

292 - 5-Minute Mentoring: Walking with a Limp Oct 08, 2021

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In this world of glow-ups and the ‘Gram, it’s easy to think that everyone’s life is perfect, that nobody else struggles the way we do. But we know that the truth is, none of us is perfect. We all struggle - and those struggles have helped us become the people we are.

If you want to be a leader in the arts – to have influence and be a blessing in the artist community – then others have to know you've been through some stuff. You have to talk about the battle that comes with the blessing.

Our courage and willingness to be vulnerable, to acknowledge our weaknesses, and to share our struggles are actually one of our most powerful strengths as leaders, as artists, and as humans.

When Jacob wrestled with God, he refused to let go until God blessed him, just so he could walk away from the wrestling match with a limp.

When you wrestle with God, get ready to walk away with a new limp… plus a new name, new character, new reputation, and a new level of authority for your calling.

In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, find out what happens when you choose to embrace the hard-won struggles, when you can really own your limp and the name that goes with it.

Want to read about my own struggles as I’ve grown my art business? Check out the 10th anniversary of my first book, Unlocking the Heart of the Artist, on Amazon at the link below!

Unlocking the Heart of the Artist: 10th Anniversary Edition on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Heart-Artist-Practical-Fulfilling/dp/1460930258

Connect with me online:

https://www.matttommeymentoring.com

https://www.instagram.com/thethrivingchristianartist

https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist

https://www.youtube.com/mjtommey to watch the podcast on YouTube!

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

291 - Renewing the Arts: A Conversation with Justus Stout Oct 05, 2021

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As an artist in the church, do you find yourself in a peculiar place, navigating between two different worlds? Maybe you're a Christian with a vision for your work that doesn't fit in the "Christian art" box. You may also find yourself outside of mainstream support for the work God has called you to do.
There was a time when the church was the primary patron of the arts and culture. Now artists are invited to leave extreme creativity at the church door. Maybe it's time to bring back old school "patronage of the arts" with a new twist—creating support for artists inside the church that also creates more influence outside.
Today, I'm having a conversation with my new friend and advocate for the arts, Justus Stout, about the role of art and artists in the church and in the world. Justus leads Renew the Arts, an organization on a mission to liberate Christian creativity through patronage and sponsorships.
Wait, we're talking about artist sponsorship – even though I'm like the king of advocating artist entrepreneurship. Those are in conflict, right? Find out the real deal as Justus and I hash out our differences in this episode.
I talk much more about my journey into artist entrepreneurship in my first book, Unlocking the Heart of the Artist. Check out the newly revised 10th anniversary edition on Amazon now!
Unlocking the Heart of the Artist: A Practical Guide to Fulfilling Your Creative Call as an Artist in the Kingdom
https://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Heart-Artist-Practical-Fulfilling/dp/1460930258
Also connect with Justus Stout and Renew the Arts on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/renewthearts/ and be sure to visit https://www.renewthearts.org/
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Connect with Matt online:
www.matttommeymentoring.com
www.instagram.com/thethrivingchristianartist
www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist

You can also watch this podcast on YouTube at youtube.com/mjtommey. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

290 - 5-Minute Mentoring: The Power of The Room Oct 01, 2021

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Have you ever experienced the power of transformation by association? Years ago, someone told me, “Never underestimate the power of the rooms that you're in.” The rooms that you choose to live your life in really do matter.
If you find out you're the smartest person in the room, then the smartest thing you can do is find a new room. If you continue to stay in the same room, around the same people, doing the same thing that you've always done, then you're going to get the same results or maybe even worse… OR you can change rooms.
Find another room with people who can help you elevate what you see as possible. Spend your time around people who are further along than you, where you can be mentored and grow. That's the power of association and why I started Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program.
Come join us in one of the most powerful rooms you'll ever be a part of. It's the place where you can associate with other artists who love the Lord, who are also on a journey of transformation— spiritually, artistically, financially.
Now's the time to get in on our Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program. Doors to this room only open up a couple of times a year.
Click the link below for all the details and to enroll!
🌟 Created To Thrive Artist Mentoring Program 🌟
https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/CTTMentoring
Connect with me online:
https://www.matttommeymentoring.com
https://www.instagram.com/thethrivingchristianartist
https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist
https://www.youtube.com/mjtommey to watch the podcast on YouTube!

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

289 - Beautifully Broken: A Conversation with Michelle Ruschman Sep 28, 2021

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When I was a kid, the phrase “One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure” fascinated me. I imagined someone rifling through a trashcan and holding up a gold nugget in triumph. It’s entirely possible that I voluntarily took out the trash just for the chance to discover a treasure of my own.
My guest on the podcast today uses her creative gifting to literally turn trash into treasure - a process she calls “Beautifully Broken.” Michelle Ruschman, the Prodigal Artist, is a fused glass artist who takes broken glass and things that other people might discard and restores them into beautiful pieces of art. Michelle's work is connecting others with the notion of brokenness being a superpower and not our kryptonite.
It’s not unlike what the Lord does with every single one of us - He takes our broken pieces and fuses them together into something beautiful and meaningful. I’m excited to introduce you to Michelle today so you can hear her story of restoration and the power of God!
I first met Michelle when she participated in the Artist Rise Up Masterclass last September, and as it happens, we’re in the middle of the Artist Rise Up Masterclass + Art Challenge right now!
We’ve only got a few days left, but you can still join in the fun, fellowship, worship, and inspiration! The Masterclass + Art Challenge is free, but you do need to register at the link below so we can send you all the details!
Artist Rise Up Masterclass + Art Challenge
https://www.artistriseup.com
And be sure to connect with Michelle Ruschman online:
https://www.instagram.com/michelle_ruschman_art/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/319440555461918/
https://www.michelleruschman.com/
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Have you checked out my new books on Amazon yet?
Prophetic Art: A Practical Guide for Creating with the Holy Spirit
https://www.amazon.com/Prophetic-Art-Practical-Creating-Spirit/dp/B098WHPBLS
Unlocking the Heart of the Artist: A Practical Guide to Fulfilling Your Creative Call as an Artist in the Kingdom
https://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Heart-Artist-Practical-Fulfilling/dp/1460930258
===========
Connect with Matt online:
www.matttommeymentoring.com
www.instagram.com/thethrivingchristianartist
www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist
You can also watch this podcast on YouTube at youtube.com/mjtommey. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

288 - 5-Minute Mentoring: Changing Your Perspective Sep 24, 2021

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Have you ever gotten stuck in the “not enough” cycle? It happens to all of us - we burn dinner, we make a mistake at work, a painting doesn’t turn out the way we’d hoped, and suddenly we decide that we’re just not __________ enough. When it happens over and over, it’s enough to make you throw up your hands in defeat! There’s so much pressure!
But what happens when someone sees your work and gasps, “Oh, my goodness! This piece blows my mind!” or someone takes a bite of your cookie and sighs with pleasure. Suddenly, you see your work from that person’s perspective - and that shifts your own perspective a little bit.
When we get stuck in a rut, when we’re just not feeling inspired, or when we decide we’re “not enough,” a small but powerful perspective shift is what we need.
In the latest episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, we’re talking about how changing our perspective from “what we’re creating” to what we’re creating with God can change our entire reality and release the pressure valve of success.
And speaking of changing perspectives, we are having such a great time changing our perspectives of our own work and its role in the Kingdom in the Artist Rise Up Masterclass + Art Challenge! I love seeing so many artists sharing their work and taking on the daily challenges to stretch their comfort zones (and to win some awesome prizes!).
It’s not too late to join us - we’ll be hosting two more Masterclasses next week, and the Facebook group is buzzing with excitement! Come join us!
Click the link below for all the details and to register!
🌟 Artist Rise Up Masterclass + Art Challenge 🌟
https://www.artistriseup.com

Connect with me online:
https://www.matttommeymentoring.com
https://www.instagram.com/thethrivingchristianartist
https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist
https://www.youtube.com/mjtommey to watch the podcast on YouTube!

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

287 - The Transformative Power of God: A Conversation with Bobbie Blakely Sep 21, 2021

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We talk about the transformative power of God moving through our art, but He doesn’t stop there! So much of the transformation we experience is through relationships - with those around us, with potential clients, with other artists, and more.
That’s one of the reasons that I just love the story of my friend Bobbie Blakely, one of the most truly joyous people I know. Bobbie is a jewelry designer who uses her creative gifting to help others celebrate their victories in the Lord by taking what’s in their heart and putting it into their hands as wearable, meaningful art.
Oscar Wilde may have said that life imitates art, but in Bobbie’s studio, it’s the other way around. Her beautiful designs capture the stories and lives of her clients in a deep and powerful way.
Bobbie has been a member of our Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program for a couple of years now, and it’s truly been an honor to witness her own transformation as she has helped others by transforming their stories into art. I can’t wait for you to meet her and to hear her incredible story!
Oh, and by the way...we just kicked off the Artist Rise Up Masterclass + Art Challenge, but it’s not too late to join in the fun, fellowship, worship, and inspiration! The Masterclass + Art Challenge is free, but you do need to register at the link below so we can send you all the details!
Artist Rise Up Masterclass + Art Challenge
https://www.artistriseup.com
And be sure to connect with Bobbie Blakely online:
https://www.instagram.com/bobbieblakely/
https://www.facebook.com/bobbieblakelyjewelry
https://bobbieblakely.com/

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Have you checked out my new books on Amazon yet?
Prophetic Art: A Practical Guide for Creating with the Holy Spirit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B098WHPBLS
Unlocking the Heart of the Artist: A Practical Guide to Fulfilling Your Creative Call as an Artist in the Kingdom
https://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Heart-Artist-Practical-Fulfilling/dp/1460930258
===========
Connect with Matt online:
www.matttommeymentoring.com
www.instagram.com/thethrivingchristianartist
www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist
You can also watch this podcast on YouTube at youtube.com/mjtommey. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

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