Personal Blog Post
Sharing My Journey to Finding Christ
My upbringing was far from perfect, characterized by the challenges and chaos of the 1960s and 1970s. Little did we know that our experiences would be labeled as a "dysfunctional" childhood later on. However, amidst the turmoil, Jesus miraculously entered my life and brought about a profound transformation.
My life underwent a profound change when someone assisted me in experiencing the inexplicable affection that Jesus possesses for the very first time.
The photo credit for this image goes to Laura E
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. This enduring love has been my source of strength and support for more than five decades, guiding me through the many challenges and successes, as well as the joys. The turning point of my life occurred when I experienced God's love for the very first time at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and motivation in my work is derived from this. This is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist you in creating songs that can effectively convey this incredible truth. The fundamental principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all our platforms, including podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the message of Jesus' love to all individuals worldwide.
Do you have a personal story to share?
Perhaps you experienced God's love during your childhood church experiences, or maybe you found Him later in life as a way to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you went through a devastating loss that left you broken. Many Christian songwriters who have faced immense hardships such as abuse, divorce, or loss have reached out to us, seeking guidance on how to express their pain and how God has provided them with strength throughout it all. According to James Finley, God doesn't shield us from adversity, but rather miraculously supports us through every challenge we face.
However, the question remains: How can we effectively express our personal experiences and stories through impactful songs?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal experiences in Christian songs, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? Here are three suggestions that may assist you in considering how to artistically depict your testimonials in a manner that resonates with listeners, providing them with solace, restoration, and optimism.
Initially, attempt to identify a shared element within your narrative that can resonate with a large number of individuals.
Loneliness and feeling lost are common emotions that everyone can relate to at times. By allowing people to connect with your story, you are giving them a reason to become invested in your song. It is important for your audience to find elements of their own experiences in your lyrics, so they can personally connect and develop a fondness for your music.
If your story doesn't capture our attention and resonate with something we've personally experienced, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a friend of ours who attended NCS, went through the heartbreaking experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry are dedicated to supporting grieving families, but she also includes enough universal themes in her songs that anyone who has experienced any type of loss – which includes all of us – can connect with and continue to follow her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
The idea that songwriter and publisher Dave Clark (from Lillenas Music) shared has stuck with me. It may seem contradictory at first, but it's not. The initial point is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to avoid including unnecessary details in your song that don't contribute to the listener's understanding. If you delve too much into specific locations, times, dates, names, or other particulars, you might end up losing the listener's interest.
When you identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that I can personally connect with, it allows me to become engaged in your narrative. If the specific details of your story do not align with my own experiences, it may deter my interest. While it may seem challenging, it is possible to achieve this. You can learn to find the right amount of detail that focuses on your personal emotions during the challenging times and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that highlights the victory of God in your personal life.
…a testimonial song is a musical expression that demonstrates the way God has overcome obstacles and brought success into your life.
It is important to understand that there may be certain details in your story that are unique to you and may not resonate with others. To overcome this, it can be helpful to look for examples of songs that embody the emotions you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage listeners by evoking emotions rather than simply listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still experiencing emotional pain and distress from a traumatic event, it can be challenging to create a genuine testimonial song about it. Expressing your pain too intensely in your lyrics might be seen as self-centered, unless you are aiming to write a traditional country song that embraces sadness. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but understand that it may not truly reflect a personal testimony, but rather a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own challenges and struggles to handle. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they may not be willing to listen for long. This is why therapists and journals exist – to provide a safe outlet for expressing your difficulties and pain. It's crucial to think about the impact your lyrics will have on your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you creating for them? How will they feel after hearing your song?
In my opinion, Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have successfully created a lively praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a broad message rooted in Scripture. Instead of writing a song that focuses solely on your childhood experiences, it might be more beneficial to explore positive biblical themes that highlight God's ability to heal and overcome negativity. There are countless ways to share your testimony, so it would be wise to consider other approaches before delving into your personal pain in a way that may overwhelm the listeners.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is a song that showcases how God has overcome the challenges in your life. It is important, and even necessary, for your emotional well-being to have a sense of release. It might be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to remember that there is a distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the difficulties you have faced and his ultimate victory in your soul, regardless of the path you took to get there.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and takes place online, we delve deep into the art of writing testimony songs and provide additional guidance and support. While many individuals are looking for free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are eager to enhance your songwriting skills and have a strong desire to develop your ministry, you can click on the provided link to arrange a free phone call with no obligations. During this call, we can determine if this program is suitable for you. You can schedule your free call by clicking here.
Feel free to share this article with your friends. If you have any thoughts or comments, please leave a reply. Also, remember to save my name, email, and website in this browser for future comments.
In this piece of code, the getElementById method is used to select an element with the id "ak_js_1". Then, the setAttribute method is used to set the value attribute of that element to the current time in
Under the given category, you can find more posts to explore. We have various categories and tags to help you navigate through our content. If you are just starting out, check out our popular podcasts and features. Learn more about us and what we offer. Don't forget to sign up for our free Pro Songwriters Top 10 Tip Sheet and start your course today.