ISSUE #022
This week, I’m thrilled to delve into a topic that can transform your creative journey from scattered to sacred: the power of boundaries. Too often, we imagine that creativity thrives only in limitless freedom, but the truth—rooted in both spiritual wisdom and artistic practice—is that boundaries channel our creative anointing. As we explore how boundaries bring clarity, protection, and momentum to our work, I pray you’ll see them not as restrictions, but as holy guardrails for divine expression.
I write to you with a heart full of encouragement: God has entrusted you with a creative calling that matters deeply. That calling deserves intentional space—time, energy, focus—to grow into its fullest expression. This week’s guiding Scripture, 1 Corinthians 10:23 (“‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful.”), reminds us: our freedom in Christ empowers us to choose wisely, aligning our actions with what truly serves our purpose, our well-being, and the Kingdom.
I’m cheering you on always!
In His love and creativity,
Matt Tommey
PS – We’re looking for more Featured Artists for the weekly newsletter. You can apply via the link at the bottom of this issue. Do it! The world needs to see your art 🙂
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CONNECT
Your creative impulses are a sacred gift, and boundaries are spiritual tools that nurture their flourishing. Just as God set boundaries around creation—separating land from sea, light from darkness—He calls you to honor the rhythm of your gift with structure, not to contain it, but to cultivate it.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the creative call You’ve placed on my life. Teach me to set boundaries that protect my creative time, my energy, and my focus. Help me see these guardrails not as limitations, but as ways to steward Your gift well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Spiritual Action Step:
Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight one area where your boundaries feel weak this week (time, yes‑es, content, environment). Pray for wisdom to strengthen that boundary with kindness toward yourself and obedience to your creative calling.
CLARIFY
1 Corinthians 10:23 reminds us that although we’re free, not everything benefits our creative purpose. Boundaries help us filter what is helpful from what is merely permissible. When you clarify priorities and honor what fosters flow, you align with God’s intention for you to bear fruit in your artistry.
Reflection:
Consider: what activities or distractions are currently draining your creative energy? What small boundary could you set this week to protect your core creative work—your “yes” that matters most?
Practical Action Step:
Commit to identifying one non‑essential task you can say “no” to this week. Use that margin to say “yes” to your art with renewed focus.
CREATE
Creativity thrives in sacred rhythm—space held by boundaries invites God’s inspiration to move. Like rhythms in music that make melody memorable, boundaries bring clarity to your creative voice.
Imagine your creativity as a river needing banks to run deep and strong. Without them, it spreads thin. Boundaries strengthen your creative flow.
Studio Action Step:
Start using your “Creative Flow Tracker” Notion page. Track Time Started, Project Name, Distractions, and How You Felt Afterwards—you’ll begin to notice patterns and sacred rhythms emerging.
CULTIVATE
God invites us to steward our gifts — including how we connect with our audience and community. Boundaries help us cultivate deeper, more meaningful engagement—not burnout.
Marketing/Connection Tip:
Set a boundary around your outreach. Maybe choose one dedicated “connection hour” each week for social media, emails, or community engagement—and honor it as non‑negotiable.
Outreach Action Suggestion:
Schedule one post or email this week that shares not just art, but a behind‑the‑scenes moment about your boundary journey—inviting others to see and be inspired by holy guardrails in action.
TECH TIP FOR THRIVING
Platform: Notion
Purpose: A flexible digital workspace to capture ideas, organize tasks, and reflect on your journey.
Tip: Create a Notion page titled “Creative Flow Tracker.” Add these columns:
- Time Started – when you begin working
- Project Name – what you’re working on
- Distractions – what pulled your focus
- How You Felt Afterwards – your emotional or spiritual state post-session
This simple tracker becomes a powerful tool—revealing trends, honoring rhythms, and helping you refine the boundaries that deepen your creative practice. Notion link
LISTEN & WATCH
This episode flips the script on boundaries—showing how they don’t stifle creativity, but sharpen it. Drawing on decades of experience and Scripture, Matt Tommey shares that boundaries are sacred guardrails—time, energy, content—that channel creative flow. “If your creative calling was important enough for God to give it to you, it’s important enough for you to set boundaries around it.” This teaching shifts boundaries from burdens into blessings. Psalm 16:6 whispers its truth: “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” Start honoring those guardrails, and watch your art flourish.
INSPIRE
Here’s an inspiring real‑world story about art, resilience, and the power of creative resurgence:
- Daniela Oliver de Portillo, a San Antonio artist, emerged from a 12‑year artistic hiatus during the pandemic and launched “Hidden Blooms”, hiding handmade ceramic vases with cyanotype flowers in public spaces—inviting finders to take them home as gifts. Despite limited funding and deep personal hesitation, she reignited her creative voice and offers her art as a shared blessing. expressnews.com
Her story illustrates how boundaries—time off, creative pauses—can serve as holy rest that allows your artistic voice to resurface stronger than before.
WORSHIP
This week’s worship highlight is a live performance of “I Know a Name” by Brandon Lake and CeCe Winans. This powerful song lifts high the name of Jesus as the boundary-breaker and life-giver, reminding us that every limit we face bows under the authority of His name.
As you listen, let the words wash over you: His name brings peace in chaos, healing in brokenness, and clarity where there’s confusion. Just as our creativity thrives within God-given boundaries, this song anchors us in the ultimate boundary—belonging to Christ, whose name defines our freedom.
FEATURED ARTIST: Ellen Field
Erasing, Obeying, and Painting with God’s Vision
📍 Website | 📱 Instagram
For Australian artist Ellen Field, painting is more than brush and paper—it’s a partnership with God that has reshaped her creative journey and opened doors for others to encounter His presence through her work.
Ellen spent 18 months in the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program, a season she describes as life-changing. “In that time I learnt so much about the process of creating art with God,” she recalls. Though her circumstances later shifted, she continues to stay connected through podcasts, teaching, and friendships she built with other artists around the world.
Working primarily in watercolour and gouache, Ellen paints the landscapes, flora, and birdlife of her beloved Australia. Her hope is that her art will encourage others to pause and recognize God’s magnificent craftsmanship all around them. “The thrill of seeing a blank piece of paper change into a beautiful picture that inspires others fills me with joy,” she says.
One of the most powerful lessons Ellen has learned is obedience in the creative process. She shares: “Once, after spending many hours sketching a large image, I felt God prompt me to erase it. I was reluctant, but as I obeyed, God gave me a new vision for that piece. It was far better than what I had planned. That moment—and many others like it—showed me the power of letting go so He could lead.”
Her art has also touched viewers in deeply personal ways. During an exhibition at a local hospital, a woman purchased one of Ellen’s paintings, explaining that she was awaiting important test results. The painting gave her peace and confidence that the news would be good. Stories like these affirm Ellen’s conviction: “I believe God is using my art to show Himself to others, and this fills my heart with incredible joy.”
In her current season, Ellen is prayerfully pairing Scriptures with some of her paintings, seeking to share both a visual and spiritual message. Her encouragement for other artists is simple but profound:
🎨 “Ask God into your studio space and don’t be afraid to erase what you intended to create, so He can replace it with what He wants you to create. Even mistakes can become something beautiful with God.”
By being real with clients, listening deeply, and creating with the Holy Spirit, Ellen continues to use her art as a bridge between heaven and earth, inviting people to encounter beauty, hope, and God’s gentle voice.
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.
