ISSUE #025
This past week has been sobering. The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk reminds us that the enemy is not passive—he’s intentional about silencing voices of truth. But here’s the good news: just like the early church discovered, persecution does not stop the move of God; it multiplies it. What the enemy meant for silence becomes seed, and the voice of Christ continues to resound louder than ever.
As artists, this is our moment. God has given you a creative voice not just for personal expression but as a Kingdom weapon—releasing beauty, hope, and truth right into culture. Your brush, your clay, your song, your movement—they are not small. They are assignments from Heaven designed to push back the darkness and reveal God’s glory. My prayer is that this week you’ll rise up with fresh courage, create boldly, and remember: Heaven is backing you up.
May this week be filled with intentional reflection, creative breakthroughs, and meaningful connection with the Creator who put that beautiful imagination inside you.
Advancing God’s Creative Kingdom,
Matt Tommey
PS – be sure to listen to or watch my podcast this week… It’s a must for every artist who loves Jesus.
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LISTEN & WATCH
Episode: Wake Up, Artists – Your Voice Matters More than Ever
In this week’s episode, I unpack the bold message that God put on my heart in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. We talk about why this is not the time to shrink back, why your art is a weapon of light in God’s hands, and how to stand boldly in a culture that often tries to silence voices of truth.
I’ll share five key takeaways that will equip you to overcome fear, embrace pushback as proof of your assignment, and release your creativity with fresh courage and conviction.
Key Takeaway: Your art is not optional—it’s your assignment. Heaven is backing you up as you create.
CONNECT
Scripture: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” —2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
When darkness pushes against the people of God, the natural temptation is to shrink back in fear. But God calls us to the opposite: to stand firm, filled with His Spirit, creating from a place of power, love, and clarity. Your art carries His light, and it shines brightest in the darkest moments.
Prayer:
Father, thank You that You’ve not left me powerless. Thank You for filling me with Your Spirit, for giving me courage when fear whispers, and for inviting me to shine Your light boldly in this generation. Teach me to release Your beauty, truth, and presence through my creativity, even when opposition comes. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Action Step: Choose one Scripture that strengthens you against fear (like 2 Timothy 1:7) and post it in your studio. Let it fuel every creative act you make this week.
CLARIFY
When pushback comes, it’s not a sign that you’re off-track—it’s confirmation that your art is making an impact. Jesus Himself said the world would hate Him, and by extension, us. Resistance isn’t failure; it’s proof you’re advancing.
This week, take a few minutes to clarify: where are you experiencing resistance right now in your creative life? Is it internal fear, external criticism, or just the enemy whispering that your voice doesn’t matter? Identify it, write it down, and then align yourself with God’s truth.
Action Step: Journal one area of resistance you’re facing. Then write a bold declaration of truth in response. Example: “Fear says my art is insignificant, but God says my art is a weapon of light, revealing His beauty to the world.”
CREATE
The brush, the pen, the instrument, the movement—these are not hobbies; they are weapons. Every time you create with God, you’re making space for His Spirit to move. The early church used preaching, letters, and songs to spread the gospel. Today, God is using paint, clay, digital design, and music to do the same.
Don’t underestimate the studio as a battlefield where the Kingdom advances. This week, create not just to make something pretty, but to release something powerful. Ask the Lord: “What do You want to say through me today?” Then, obey and create.
Action Step: Dedicate one creative session this week specifically as a prophetic act of obedience. Invite the Holy Spirit into the process, and let your art carry His presence.
CULTIVATE
Artists are culture-makers. The enemy would love for you to stay hidden, fearful, and silent—but this is the hour to step out. Sharing your art is not about self-promotion; it’s about spreading light. When you release your work into the world, you’re giving God an opportunity to speak through it to someone who desperately needs hope.
Don’t wait until everything feels perfect. Share your art boldly and let it do its work. The pushback you may get is simply proof that the light is shining.
Action Step: Post one piece of art this week with a short caption that points to the hope, truth, or beauty of God. Pray over it before you hit “publish,” and trust God to use it.
TECH TIP FOR THRIVING
Platform: Teachable
Teachable is a powerful online course platform that allows you to share your skills, build your audience, and even create new income streams. You don’t have to be a tech genius to get started.
Pro Tip: Record a simple 10-minute video on your phone teaching one small art skill (like mixing colors, sketching texture, or sculpting a basic form). Upload it as a free mini-course. Use it to grow your email list and start blessing others while building your business.
INSPIRE
This week, I want to highlight the boldness of artist Sam Ryan, who recently created a large portrait of Charlie Kirk as a gift to his family after Charlie’s tragic assassination. It wasn’t just a painting; it was an act of honor, a tribute, and a declaration that light will not be silenced by darkness.
Sam shared the piece publicly, and the response was immediate. Over 22,000 people unfollowed him after the post. And yet, he stood firm. That kind of courage reminds us all that creating with conviction will sometimes cost us—but the Kingdom fruit is always worth it.
Friends, this is what it looks like to release art that speaks truth in love, even when culture pushes back. Sam’s example challenges us: will we stay quiet, or will we let our art be a voice for God in this hour?
WATCH
Be encouraged as you watch this powerful video featuring the song “Break Every Chain”, knowing God has created you for such a time as this, to create art that He wants to use to break every chain of the enemy and loose freedom throughout the world.
FEATURED ARTIST: Debbie Gallerani
Whimsy, grit, and God’s gentle guidance in the desert
📍 Tucson, Arizona • 🌐 debbiegalleraniart.com📸 Instagram: @debbieartworld
When you step into Debbie Gallerani’s world, you’re greeted by sun-washed desert color, playful jack-rabbit sculptures, and mixed-media paintings with a joyful wink. A lifelong cartoonist turned fine artist, Debbie embraces a style that’s delightfully whimsical and folk-art inspired—proof that your “secret sauce” is often the very thing you once tried to hide.
Watch Debbie’s Story Below…
“I finally stopped trying to be someone else and accepted that I’m a cartoonist at heart. Once I let that shine, the work came alive.”
From press-type to Palm Springs Life—then a holy pivot
Raised in Palm Springs, Debbie chased creativity wherever she could find it: illustration, hand-painted signage, silk-screening, and eventually production and design at Palm Springs Life magazine (“$5 an hour and I was thrilled!”). Years of commercial work honed her eye—but hours at the computer brought pain and a longing to make with her hands again.
A visit to her father, an oil painter, rekindled Debbie’s fine-art fire. The transition wasn’t instant—perfectionism and “is this real art?” doubts knocked loudly. But with prayer, courage, and community, she gave herself permission to blend her cartoon line, folk-art color, and desert motifs into something uniquely her.
Art, hospitality, and holy conversations
In Tucson, Debbie runs a cozy B&B—“La Casa de Artista (The Artist House)”—where musicians, poets, and painters swap stories over coffee and canvas. That same hospitality has opened kingdom doors: gallery guests became gallery partners, invitations multiplied, and Debbie’s work found a home in the very places that fit her voice best—mid-century-modern boutiques and desert-forward venues.
- Scottsdale gallery show via B&B guests who fell in love with her work
- Borrego Springs (CA): a mid-century shop invited her to a Christmas event…then full-time representation…then two solo shows
- Current: a three-artist exhibition inside a classic mid-century hotel
“God keeps steering me to the right people. My job is to keep my eyes and ears open—and say yes.”
Teaching that heals the artist, too
A season teaching high-school art became sacred ground. Debbie learned to break the process into simple, doable steps, calling out gold in students who were ready to quit. That same compassion now marks her studio practice and the way she encourages fellow creatives she meets through her B&B and shows.
Created to Thrive + a new way of walking
After joining our Artist Cashflow Bootcamp and Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program, Debbie found fresh clarity and courage in both mindset and method.
“Leaning into the Lord—and getting practical mentoring—shifted everything. I stopped striving and started partnering.”
Daily rhythms that keep her grounded
- Morning Scripture + prayer: “God meets me in the Word with exactly what I need.”
- Studio play: folk-art color + cartoon line + desert critters = Debbie’s signature joy
- Hospitality as ministry: art, conversation, and prayer with guests
A desert lesson for every season
Plumbing failures, summer slowdowns, and changing markets could rattle anyone. Debbie’s response? Flexible trust.
“Some seasons are harvest, some feel like winter. God is constant in both. When there’s margin, I ask, ‘Lord, what do You want to grow now?’”
Debbie’s encouragement to fellow artists
- Honor your wiring: your “quirky” might be your calling.
- Invite God into the process—every brushstroke, every decision.
- Be patient and faithful: God rarely shows the whole map—just the next step.
- Find your fit: place your work where your voice belongs (not every gallery is your gallery).
What’s next
Debbie’s exploring hand-painted handbags, considering teaching private lessons, and continuing to place her work in boutiques and venues that celebrate joyful desert design.
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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.