The Thriving Christian Artist

Imagine your life, a year from now, two years from now, ten years from now, uninhibited, free, all while fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. What If I told you the journey to that far off dream starts with one simple word, YES. Giving God your YES today can be the launchpad for an incredible transformation in your life that will change the world around you.How do I know this?Because that’s my story and the story of Maralee Gazelka, who had the pleasure of interviewing for the podcast this week.Maralee is a painter, speaker, teacher, and a member of my Created to Thrive Mentoring group. Over the last eight years, I’ve had a front-row seat to the major transformations happening in her life, all because she said YES to God.You can learn more about Maralee and connect with her online at www.https://www.maraleegazelka.com/Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist

Are you an artist who's Feeling Overwhelmed? Can't Find Clients to Buy Your Work? Feeling Defined by Your Past?If that's you, then today’s episode of 5-Minute Mentoring will be an encouragement to you because none of those issues are actually the real issue! In this episode, I share some practical tips on how to both spot and root out the “Stinkin Thinkin” in your life. Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

It’s possible to go from being a “Type-A-Do-It-All-Yourself” person with marginal results to being a thriving artist walking in God’s Kingdom.How do I know? Because that’s my story and the story of Trent & Kate Freeman who I had the pleasure of interviewing for the podcast this week. They are ceramicists, painters, and members of my Created to Thrive Mentoring group plus are experiencing major transformation in every aspect of their lives. Their faith is expanding, the provision is flowing, and their art, business, and family are being totally transformed as they mature in the Kingdom.Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

One of the greatest revelations the Lord has ever shown me is that we are not designed to just wait on Him to move and do everything for us.  In reality, He designed us all as His sons and daughters to walk WITH Him in this great adventure called the Kingdom of God. But this leaves us with a really good question and that is “how do you practically partner with God in your life as an artist in His Kingdom?”Well, I’m going to tackle that topic in today’s episode of 5-Minute Mentoring.Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

I have a really special interview to share with you in this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist Podcast. Shanon Roberts is an artist, an influencer of creative people, and a member of my Created to Thrive Mentoring group.Shanon participated in our first-ever Artist Rise Up Masterclass series last September, and her life was absolutely transformed. Her creativity was awakened, she connected with who God had called to be as an artist, and she began to embrace God’s divine design for her life,I can’t wait for you to hear this interview.Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

Have you ever wondered how to choose the best mentor for you as a Christian artist?The other day I Googled the phrase, "Artist Mentor," and there were over 73 MILLION entries for that search.  Tons of artists are looking for somebody to lead them, guide them, and to show them the way, but finding the right mentor in a crowded sea of search hits can be daunting.Add to that finding someone that can walk with creatives in a way that's healthy, helpful, and encouraging while also being Christ-centered and Kingdome-focused, and the search feels simply overwhelmingSo in today’s episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I share five characteristics of really what makes a great mentor in your life.Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

I spent many years living a life that felt extremely disconnected and segmented, but I honestly didn’t know there was another way to live. All the areas of my life were lived out of distinct but separate “baskets”  including my spiritual life, my art life, my family life, my work life, and even my financial life. Each was a part of who I was, but nothing ever seemed to come together into one cohesive flow. And then thankfully, everything changed.Life changed for me when I began to understand that God’s design for my life and His purposes for me were best achieved in the context of a fully connected holistic life. As simple as that may seem, it was a HUGE shift that most Christians never make.In this podcast episode, I’m sharing all about this journey and learning to live holistically - spirit, soul, and body - the way God intended.Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christi

Happy New Year, and welcome to my first podcast of the year AND the decade!I believe that it’s going to be an incredible, incredible year, and I just wanted to start off this year with a little series. You're going to be noticing “a thread” moving through the podcast this January. I’m really trying to help you get started, get on the right path and get on a focused on everything that God has for you.In today’s episode, I really wanted to jump into this whole concept of taking yourself seriously as a Christian artist.  Is this the year you are finally going to do that thing you’ve been talking about, or are you going to keep going around the same old bush, doing the same old thing, expecting different results?”I’ll be talking about the four main roadblocks to taking yourself seriously as an artist and leave you with a few insights and hints on how to make this year your breakthrough year!Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet enc

A fish in a bowl doesn't know that it is wet. Surrounded always by its watery environment, it knows no other reality. We, too, suffer the same. Inescapably we are all shaped by the waters we swim within. Whether we realize it or not, we all inherited a religion, a framework for existence, a container that shapes our world.Yet, inevitably, there comes a time when the fishbowl cracks, when the safety we knew can no longer contain us when our world crumbles, and the questions arrive. Today’s guest, Joel McKerrow, addresses this very topic in his new book, Woven. Joel shares a bit of his story with us and the inspiration for this book with us in this episode. Joel shares that this “crumbling” is not something to be feared,  but that it may actually be a door beginning to open. A necessary movement in our spiritual and life journey. It is the whisper inside, 'There must be more than this.'  You can connect with Joel online at www.joelmckerrow.com, on Instagram @JoelMcKerrowPoet, and on Facebook @ Jo

Was 2019 all you hoped it would be?If not, I promise 2020 can be your best year yet if you follow this simple strategy I've developed for Christian artists.It's a simple process that I use every 90 days in order to take a deep look at five core areas of my life, My Spiritual Life, My Artistic Life, My Art Business Life, My Personal Life, and  My Relationships.In each of these areas, I ask myself three key questions; What’s Working, What’s Not, and What’s Next?  I've been using it for years, and it takes all the guesswork out of where to put my attention each day.Got Questions? -We’ve Got Answers!I’ll be answering a new question every Friday so if you have a question you'd like me to answer on an upcoming episode; I need to hear from you.  Click Here, and you can Record your message below and who knows, we just might feature it on an upcoming episode!Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect wit

In this week’s episode, I sit down for another conversation with my good friend Teri Johnson, Teri is the owner and founder of Keeping It Personal. She helps female entrepreneurs who want to thrive in everything that they are doing, not only personally but also professionally.The world today is buzzing, flashing, “alerting” us everywhere. Information is literally just a click, tap, or “hey Google” away. This era has been dubbed “the most connected” in history.  And yet, somehow, as entrepreneurs and business owners, it’s easier to feel disconnected, stuck, and overwhelmed than ever before.That’s Teri founded Keeping it Personal.  Her goal is to bring faith-based women entrepreneurs, business owners, and sales professionals together from every city across America. Teri helps folks go from being “connected” to actually connecting through meaningful conversations and authentic collaboration.  Teri has a great history of helping others walk through transformation, and in this episode, she’ll be sharing her person

Are you Brave Enough to Be Bad At Something New?Have you ever struggled with allowing perfectionism or fears of not being good enough to be the major roadblock in your life that keeps you from just getting started?In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring I’m going to tackle this issue and give you some practical tips on how to move past that roadblock in your art, your business, and your life.Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google Play or at http://www.MattTommeyMentoring.com/podcastGot Questions? -We’ve Got Answers!I’ll be answering a new question every Friday so if you have a question you'd like me to answer on an upcoming episode; I need to hear from you.  Click Here, and you can Record your message below and who knows, we just might feature it on an upcoming episode!Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/th

Are you living a life that is fully alive from the heart?Are you passionate and ready for personal transformation?In this week’s episode I sit down for another conversation with my good friend Mark DeJesus. With over 25 years of helping people walk into healing and wholeness, Mark has just released his latest book, “The Heart Healing Journey – Awaken Heal & Transform Your life.”In a world where many are just looking to get by in life, a remnant is crying out for more.  They desire to live free from a heart that is fully alive to God and awakened to the transformation that is available to them. Mark and I dive deep around what it means to walk out a healing journey not just as a one-time thing, but as a lifestyle. We also explore the notion of a life where we begin to gain victory over those things that have held us back for years as we create patterns in our life that really cultivate the presence of God and the Kingdom of God in our life.For more information on Mark, visit his website at www.MarkDeJesus.

We all go through seasons of difficulty in our life and as artists sometimes we feel even more susceptible because we lean into our intuitive nature so much. In this episode, we explore this whole concept of overcoming the challenges we face by embracing the truth of what God says in His Word on the subject.There are several scriptures that give us a clear pattern of how to respond when we go through difficultyMake a conscious decision not to fear (Isaiah 41:10)Turn to the Lord in Worship (Matthew 6 - the Lords Prayer)Ask the Father to show you His will for the situation and agree with Him (Matthew 6:10)When you ask, ask with gratitude as if it’s already done (Mark 11:24)Reframe your thoughts according to the promises in His WordGod Goes Before You (Deuteronomy 31:8)God will fight your battles (Deuteronomy 1:30, 3:22, 20:4)God surrounds you with Songs of Deliverance (Psalm 32:7)The Lord will raise up a standard against the enemy (Isaiah 59:19)We are more than conquerors (Romas 8:37)Having Done All, Stand (2 C

You know, I often wonder where Jesus would be hanging out these days if he were walking around on the earth. Fact is, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be around the religious people or in church services but rather in places where a demonstration of the Kingdom is needed most.That’s what I love about my friend, John Englezos. He’s a boundary-pushing poet from Australia whose work is focused on exploring the concepts hope, identity and wonder in really non-traditional venues like nightclubs, bars and other public spaces.Beautiful thing is… Jesus shows up when John shares his poetry and I love that.You can connect with John on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/JohnEnglezos on Facebook  & Instagram @JohnEPoetryConnect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

In this episode, I share an encouraging message I felt in my spirit. YOU CAN DO IT. No matter your thoughts, your experience, or your past you are called for a life of more. I just encourage you to sit back, soak it in, and let the Lord speak to your heart and encourage you today through this episode.Got Questions? -We’ve Got Answers!I’ll be answering a new question every Friday so if you have a question you'd like me to answer on an upcoming episode; I need to hear from you.  Click Here, and you can Record your message below and who knows, we just might feature it on an upcoming episode!Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/Please Note: The registration for the conference mentioned in this episode is closed. You can find all of our current resources at: https://www.matttommeymentoring.co

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing one of my long-time friends and a real door opener in the faith, Patricia Reeves. For those of you familiar with my story and my journey, you’ll recognize Patricia as one of the key people in my life that opened the door for me to begin raising this Army of Artists.Patricia founded The Art Of Living Ministries,  an army of local artists, musicians, stained glass, fine arts, photographers, who serve their community where needs arise. Their motto is, “ART HEALS!” and their mobile therapeutic art service (Van-GO!) has been bringing the arts to those in need of healing since 1994.  You can connect with Patricia online at www.ArtOfLivingMinistries.org on Facebook  @ArtAndOutdoorsConnect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/Please Note: The registration

Have you ever wondered how to find the provision that you need to do the things that God has called you to do as an artist?Well in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I talk about how provision flows in the Kingdom and how walking in God’s provision for your life and art was never meant to be a struggle, and most importantly, how you can begin to harvest the finances that God already has stored up for you. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google Play or at http://www.MattTommeyMentoring.com/podcastGot Questions? -We’ve Got Answers!I’ll be answering a new question every Friday so if you have a question you'd like me to answer on an upcoming episode; I need to hear from you.  Click Here, and you can Record your message below and who knows, we just might feature it on an upcoming episode!Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://ww

In this episode, I sit down for a conversation with my friend Paul Pruitt. Paul has been an entrepreneur his entire life, building successful multi million dollar businesses in different industries, including real estate, photography, and online businesses. He has had many highs and lows in his entrepreneur journey and has successfully re-invented himself many times through his extensive knowledge of branding, marketing and sales.You can connect with Paul on Facebook and Instagram @RealPaulPruittConnect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/Please Note: The registration for the conference mentioned in this episode is closed. You can find all of our current resources at: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/resources.html

In this episode, I take the time to answer a question from one of my listeners, Sharon, on how to overcome the cycle of taking one step forward and two steps back in life and come into a place of finding real traction in life.Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google Play or at http://www.MattTommeyMentoring.com/podcastGot Questions? -We’ve Got Answers!I’ll be answering a new question every Friday so if you have a question you'd like me to answer on an upcoming episode; I need to hear from you.  Click Here, and you can Record your message below and who knows, we just might feature it on an upcoming episode!Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartistGet encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/Please Note: The registration for the conference mentioned in this episode is closed. You can find all of our current resources at: https://ww