ISSUE #035
My friend, this week I’ve been undone—in the best way—by a simple truth hiding in plain sight: before Jesus ever preached, healed, or performed a single miracle, He spent the vast majority of His life as a working artisan. Sawdust and rock dust on His clothes. Tools in His hands. Clients coming in and out of the workshop. No platform. No spotlight. Just formation. Obedience. Craft. Presence.
And the more I sat with the Holy Spirit on this, the more I realized:
The creative process that shaped Jesus is the same creative process God is using to shape you.
Your studio isn’t just “where you make stuff.” It’s where God forms you—just like He formed His Son.
Jesus grew up in the home of a tecton—a craftsman. He learned process, patience, attention to beauty, the weight of structure, and the humility of hiddenness long before He ever stepped into public ministry. And friend, the same Father who formed Jesus in the studio is forming you in yours.
This issue is an invitation to slow down, breathe deep, and remember:
Your creative life is not a side hobby. It’s sacred ground.
I’m cheering you on always!
In His love and creativity,
Matt Tommey
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From Ballet to Wearable Floral Artist
This week, meet floral artist Debbie Davies—a former ballet dancer and special-effects makeup artist whose story shows what God can do when every creative thread finally converges. From wearable floral art to gold-medal installations, Debbie’s journey is a stunning reminder that the Lord wastes nothing… and His timing is perfect. READ MORE
CONNECT
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” — Luke 2:52 (NIV)
Jesus spent 30 silent years being shaped—not on a platform but in a workshop. Those hidden years were not wasted years; they were holy years. And the same is true for you. Every time you step into your creative space, you’re stepping onto the same kind of ground where God formed His Son.
God is not rushing you. He is forming you.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for forming me through my creative process. Teach me to honor my studio as holy ground. Slow my spirit, quiet my mind, and open my heart so I can see what You’re shaping in me. Let my hands become an extension of Your presence as I create with You today.
Spiritual Action Step:
Before you begin your next session, pause at the doorway of your studio (or kitchen table, or porch, or wherever you create) and whisper:
“Lord, I enter Your sanctuary.”
Let that shift the entire atmosphere.
CLARIFY
Jesus didn’t grow by accident. He grew with intention—through repetition, process, and everyday obedience in His earthly father’s workshop.
This week, ask the Lord:
“What are You forming in me through this current season?”
Is it patience?
Confidence?
Trust?
A deeper ability to see beauty?
Courage to step out?
Grace to rest in hiddenness?
When you can name the formation, you can cooperate with it.
Action Step:
Write down one character trait or spiritual truth God is shaping in you right now. Then plan one simple action this week that aligns with that forming work.
CREATE
Jesus grew up learning to see what others missed—the details, textures, rhythms, and beauty hidden in ordinary things. That same divine instinct lives inside you.
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do for your creativity is to slow down enough to actually see.
Studio Action Step:
Spend 10 minutes in quiet observation before you touch a tool.
Look at texture. Shadow. Color variation. Negative space.
Let your eyes soften and your spirit listen.
This practice awakens creative flow faster than any technique.
CULTIVATE
The artisan’s studio wasn’t isolated—people constantly came and went. Jesus learned to see people with compassion, attention, and holy presence long before He began His public ministry.
You carry that same ability.
Whether it’s a collector, a follower online, a booth visitor, or one person who comments on your work—presence communicates honor. And honor opens hearts.
Connection Action Step:
Choose one person this week to be intentionally present with—online or in person.
Slow down. Listen deeply. Make them feel like the only person in the room.
This builds impact, trust, and long-term relationships—the heart of your creative mission.
The Core4 Focus Planner™
A 90-Day Undated Planner to Help You Stay Focused, Grow Spiritually, and Make Measurable Progress in Your Art
“This planner is my “tool of intentionality” and sits next to my Bible and journal. It’s also the perfect size to hang on to as a way to go back and celebrate the work that I’ve done. Thanks so much!” – Debby
WATCH & LISTEN
Episode: Jesus the Artisan: 5 Creative Principles for a Faithful Life
This week’s episode unpacks five powerful principles from Jesus’ forgotten years—from process and presence to hiddenness and holy craftsmanship. I share my own journey of realizing Jesus wasn’t only the Savior; He was a working artisan shaped by the same rhythms we live every day.
Key Takeaway:
Your creative process is not incidental. It’s intentional formation from a Father who trains His children the same way He trained His Son.
STUDIO TIP FOR THRIVING
One of the fastest ways to shift into flow (and silence distraction) is to establish a simple, repeatable setup ritual. This is how pros beat overwhelm and activate creativity consistently.
Try this five-minute ritual before every session:
- Clear your main workspace.
- Choose your primary tool/material for the day.
- Turn on one light source that feels inspiring.
- Take three slow breaths.
- Say aloud:
“Lord, I’m here. Shape me as I create.”
This tells your brain—and your spirit—“It’s time.”
Great for painters, sculptors, fiber artists, jewelers, potters, mixed-media artists, and anyone who needs a dependable on-ramp into creativity.
WORSHIP
There’s something deeply moving about hearing worship that echoes the very process God uses to shape us. Potter’s Hand is a beautiful reminder that we’re not just creating for God—we’re being formed by Him. Every lyric speaks to surrender, shaping, purpose, and the gentle way the Father molds us into the image of His Son. As you listen, let the Holy Spirit reaffirm this truth: your life and your art are clay in the hands of a Master Artisan who knows exactly what He’s shaping in you. Allow this song to wash over you as an invitation to yield, trust, and embrace the holy process you’re walking through.
FEATURED ARTIST: Debbie Davies
Some creative journeys feel like a straight line. Debbie Davies’ story is more like a God-woven tapestry—dance, theatre, special-effects makeup, floral design, and now her signature wearable floral art—all converging into something unmistakably Heaven-crafted.
Debbie began her creative life on the stage as a ballet dancer, training in Russian technique and traveling the world through theatre and performance. Later, she retrained in special-effects makeup, creating transformative looks for TV, stage, and events. Then, through a family need, she stepped into floral design with her sister Louise… and that’s when the threads began to braid together.
But the real shift—the clarity, the convergence, the sense of divine momentum—happened when she joined Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program.
“CTT changed my life,” Debbie says. “I learned to narrow my focus and see the incredible stepping stones God had placed along my path. It helped me refine my work, find clarity, and understand how beautifully every stage had been preparing me for what I’m doing now.”
Today, that convergence looks like this:
Debbie and her sister create immersive floral experiences through presentations, live demonstrations, workshops, and their unique wearable floral art—where painted designs and fresh florals meet on the human canvas for breathtaking, joy-filled encounters.
Debbie lights up when people discover their own creativity in her workshops. She recalls one Christmas wreath class where a woman—carrying deep grief and dread for the season—left with tears of hope.
“She told us she would hang her wreath on her door and, for the first time in years, look forward to Christmas,” Debbie shares. “God used something as simple as a wreath to begin healing. That’s when you realize how powerful creativity really is.”
Her journey with God deepened through loss—her father’s passing, her mother’s dementia—and through it all, the Lord kept leading her step-by-step. When she moved back to Liverpool, she feared losing her London networks. Instead, God opened doors she could’ve never orchestrated: working with her sister, traveling across the UK for speaking engagements, and in 2018, competing in the Chelsea Flower Show—where they won a gold medal. “Only God,” she says.
Debbie stays grounded through journaling, prayer, and continually looking back at God’s faithfulness. When she prepares floral art demonstrations—six large designs crafted live on stage—her question is always the same:
“Lord, who needs to be blessed tonight?”
Her encouragement for fellow artists is simple and powerful:
Trust God’s process. Don’t force a preconceived end. Listen, flow, and let Him lead.
Because when you follow His lead, every creative season is full of purpose—and every step becomes preparation for the next miracle.
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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.