ISSUE #023
One of the most common lies I hear from artists is that their season for creating has passed—that they’ve somehow missed their chance. Maybe you’ve felt that before. Perhaps you’ve looked back over your life and thought, “If only I had started earlier…” But here’s the truth: God’s creative calling on your life is not bound by time, age, or circumstance. Romans 11:29 reminds us, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” That means what He placed inside you will never expire, diminish, or be taken away.
This week, I want you to be encouraged that no matter your age, your past experiences, or the paths you’ve walked, God can use it all to shape the art you’re creating right now. Your journey has prepared you for this very moment. So lean in with hope and expectation! May this week be filled with intentional reflection, creative breakthroughs, and meaningful connection with the Creator who put that beautiful imagination inside you.
I’m cheering you on always!
In His love and creativity,
Matt Tommey
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God is Raising Up an Army of Artists This Fall…
All over the world, God is stirring the hearts of creative believers to rise up, connect, and shine His light through their art. This fall, we’re launching small groups for artists—simple gatherings in homes, studios, and churches where artists can walk through The Created to Thrive Foundations Course™ book together, encourage one another, and grow in both faith and creativity.
Imagine artists just like you meeting regularly to pray, create, and share stories of God’s goodness—forming a global network of Kingdom-minded creatives. This is about more than community; it’s about a movement. Together, we can see artists equipped, healed, and mobilized to reveal God’s glory in the earth.
👉 Ready to be part of what God is doing? Learn how you can host a group this fall by visiting: matttommeymentoring.com/smallgroup
CONNECT
Scripture: “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” — Romans 11:29 (NKJV)
God’s calling on your life as an artist is permanent—it doesn’t come with an expiration date. The same hands that shaped you also embedded within you a divine creativity that is waiting to be expressed, no matter how many birthdays you’ve celebrated. When you embrace this truth, the fear of being “too late” or “too old” begins to fade, replaced by confidence in His eternal timing.
Prayer:
Father, thank You that Your calling on my life is unchanging and unstoppable. Forgive me for believing the lie that I am too old or that my time has passed. Awaken fresh creativity within me today and help me step boldly into the artistic purpose You’ve designed for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Action Step: Each morning this week, declare aloud: “God’s gifts in me are alive and my best days of creativity are ahead.”
CLARIFY
Clarity starts when you stop comparing your timeline with someone else’s. God’s purposes unfold uniquely for each of us, often in ways that defy cultural expectations. Instead of worrying about when you should have started, shift your focus to what you can do today to align with the creative assignment God has given you.
Take time this week to reflect: How have your past experiences—career, family, struggles, or even detours—actually prepared you for your artistic expression now? God wastes nothing. What may look like delay could actually be divine preparation.
Action Step: Write down three ways your life experiences uniquely equip you for your creative calling today. Keep that list near your workspace as a reminder.
CREATE
Creative practice is not about catching up; it’s about showing up. Every day you pick up the brush, pen, clay, or camera, you’re stepping into the eternal rhythm of God’s design for you. Don’t let the thought of being “too late” paralyze you. Instead, see each moment in the studio as fresh opportunity to create with Him.
Scripture reminds us in Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will complete it.” Your creative journey is not unfinished—it’s unfolding. Even if you’re just starting now, you’re right on time.
Action Step: Dedicate one uninterrupted block of creative time this week—whether it’s 30 minutes or 3 hours—and focus on simply enjoying the process without pressure for outcome.
CULTIVATE
Your story matters, and sharing it with your audience can be one of your most powerful tools. Collectors, followers, and friends love hearing how you stepped into your creative calling, especially if you once believed it was “too late.” Your vulnerability encourages others and deepens their connection with you and your art.
When you cultivate relationships by telling your story, you invite people into your creative journey rather than just showing them finished pieces. That kind of connection not only inspires but also builds trust—the foundation of strong community and sustainable sales.
Action Step: Share a short post or video this week about your creative journey and how God has been faithful to call you, even in unexpected seasons.
LISTEN & WATCH
EPISODE: You’re Not Too Old To Pursue Your Creative Calling
Do you feel like you’ve missed your window to pursue the creative calling God placed in your heart? That nagging voice saying you’re too old, too inexperienced, or too late can be loud. But what if it’s completely wrong?
In this episode, I unpack the powerful truth of Romans 11:29—that God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable. I share biblical and real-life examples like Moses, Sarah, and Grandma Moses, who discovered or stepped into their calling later in life. You’ll see how your past experiences haven’t disqualified you but actually prepared you for this moment. Plus, I’ll walk you through the 5R’s framework (Recognize, Repent, Replace, Reinforce, Rejoice) to help you renew your mind and silence lies that hold you back.
Key Takeaway: Your artistic calling doesn’t expire. Whether you’re 35 or 85, God’s timing is always perfect, and your best creative days are ahead.
TECH TIP FOR THRIVING
Platform: MailerLite
MailerLite makes email marketing simple, so you can build deeper connections with your collectors and fans. One of its most powerful features is the ability to create landing pages with free resources that encourage people to join your email list.
This week’s tip: Use a MailerLite landing page template to offer a freebie—like a short “Prayer + Art Journaling Guide.” This not only blesses your audience spiritually but also helps grow your email list with people genuinely interested in your art and message.
WORSHIP
This week’s theme reminds us that God’s creative calling is never too late—and “More Than Able” puts that truth into song. With its powerful declaration, “You’re not done with me yet,” this worship anthem invites us to trust God’s timing, even when we feel behind or unqualified.
As you listen, let the lyrics wash over you and reaffirm that the same God who called you is still writing your story. He is more than able to finish the good work He started in you, and your best creative days are still ahead.
FEATURED ARTIST: Susan Fleming
Mixed Media, Spiritual Depth, and the Healing Power of Art
📍 Website
For Susan Fleming, art has always been a way to connect creativity, nature, and the Spirit. A mixed media artist with a B.A. and M.A. in Visual Arts and a career in fine art education, Susan has spent her life cultivating imagination and expression. Her journey as an exhibiting artist, however, took on fresh meaning when she joined the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program during COVID.
“The program gave me hope, inspiration, and something to look forward to every day during that long two-year lockdown.”
Susan’s work emerges through an intuitive process, without predetermined outcomes. Using a mix of charcoal, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylics, pastels, collage, and even digital sketches, she layers mediums to create abstract, stylized, and sometimes realistic compositions.
“I pray my art endeavors emotionally engage the viewers’ inner spirit and encourage personal healing, hope, and inspiration.”
After moving from Arizona to the Carolinas during the pandemic, Susan found her art evolving in new directions, with a deeper openness to spiritual imagery. Co-laboring with the Holy Spirit, she creates from the subconscious, aiming for emotional and spiritual resonance rather than simple duplication of what she sees.
Her commitment to prayer and devotion shapes not only her art but also her titles: “I wait on the Lord to show me and confirm the titles to my work after it is created, and during my readings is when most of them come to fruition.”
Recently, Susan was invited to be a Solo Exhibitor at Teravarna Gallery Online, an opportunity she describes as a profound blessing. “The way in which they rewrote my personal bio and art statement made me feel that they really understood my spiritual goal of sharing my art with the world.”
For Susan, art is both deeply personal and deeply communal. She has witnessed how it touches others at gallery shows, and she continues to wait on the Lord for new venues and opportunities. Her advice to fellow artists reflects her own journey:
🎨 “Just start working, even if it’s just fooling around with media. Take small steps, pray, and pretty soon things will flow and doors will open.”
Through devotion, strong boundaries, and sensitivity to the Spirit, Susan Fleming is living her calling—offering healing, hope, and beauty through the layered language of mixed media art.
Apply to Be a Featured Artist
Would you like to be considered for one of our artist features? We love sharing the work from our friends around the world who create unique, beautiful and inspired art, regardless of creative medium. And just a reminder, your work does NOT have to be overtly faith-based to be considered. Interested? Just complete this application: https://forms.gle/vmtyk6wg3hSuUAhi9
Resources for Christian Artists
If you’re ready to grow as an artist in your faith, art and even business, then check out these affordable resources for artists just like you.
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