Personal Blog
Sharing My Experience of Finding Faith
I discovered my faith in Christ during a challenging upbringing that is now referred to as "dysfunctional." However, during the tumultuous times of the 1960s and '70s, my family and I simply saw it as a normal part of life. We had no idea that there would be a label for the hardships we faced, but miraculously, Jesus entered my life and made a difference.
My life went through a significant change when someone guided me to experience the incomprehensible affection of Jesus for the very first time.
The photo was taken by a photographer named Laura E
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. Throughout the course of more than five decades, this very love has provided me with the strength to navigate through the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, as well as the positive experiences. The essence of my personal account is that the direction of my life was permanently altered when I first experienced the love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and the motivation behind my work is the love of Jesus. As a Christian songwriter, I strive to assist others in creating songs that can convey this incredible reality. The fundamental principle of Nashville Christian Songwriters and all our various platforms, such as podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the message of Jesus' love to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith?
Perhaps you experienced God's love during your childhood in church, or maybe you found Him as an adult while battling addiction. It could also be that you endured a devastating loss that shattered you. In my conversations with many Christian songwriters who have shown interest in our coaching programs, I have encountered individuals who have experienced significant trauma, abuse, or divorce. They are eager to learn how to express their pain through their music and how God has supported them through it all. As James Finley puts it, "God does not shield us from hardships, but miraculously sustains us through them."
However, what is the best way to express our personal experiences and beliefs through powerful and impactful songs? However, how can we effectively convey our personal stories and experiences through impactful
Throughout our journey in life, we experience both pleasant and challenging moments. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories through Christian songs, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? I have three suggestions that I believe will assist you in considering the most effective ways to capture your testimonials, enabling listeners to appreciate, find solace, and gain inspiration from them.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared element within your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are emotions that everyone can relate to at times. By creating a story that people can identify with, you can effectively engage them in your song. It is important to incorporate elements of our own experiences into your story so that listeners can connect and resonate with it. This allows them to fill in the gaps with their own narrative and ultimately develop an emotional attachment to your song.
If there is nothing in your narrative that captures our attention and reminds us of something we have personally experienced, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a former student at NCS and a close friend of ours, went through the heart-wrenching experience of having five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry are centered around supporting grieving families, but she also incorporates enough universal themes in her songs so that anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – can relate and remain engaged with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or sentiment rather than depicting specific elements or
The statement that stuck with me was made by Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music. It may seem contradictory at first, but it actually complements the first point. The initial point is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to refrain from including unnecessary details in your song that don't add value for the listener. If you delve too much into specific locations, dates, names, or other particulars, there's a chance of losing the audience's interest.
To engage me in your story, it is important to identify the shared theme and emotion that I can connect with. If the specific details of your story do not align with my own experiences, it may hinder my ability to relate. While it may seem challenging, it is possible to strike a balance between providing sufficient detail and overwhelming the listener. The key is to focus on conveying the emotions you felt during the difficult experience and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a type of song that highlights the ways in which God has brought about victory and success in your life.
It's important to consider the specific details that are unique to your own experiences, which may not be relatable to others. To help with this, you can look for examples of songs that capture the emotions you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage listeners in those emotions rather than simply listing specific details.
Thirdly, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
When you're still deeply affected and in pain from a devastating experience, it can be challenging to authentically express it through a testimonial song. Sharing your emotions too openly in your lyrics might be seen as self-centered, unless you're aiming to write a melancholic country song that revolves around personal sorrow. If that's your intention, go ahead and pursue it, but be aware that it won't be perceived as a genuine testament, but rather as a sorrowful country tune.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own challenges and difficulties to handle. If you unload your own problems onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why professionals like therapists and journals exist – to provide an outlet for your dysfunction and emotional pain. It's important to think about how your lyrics will impact your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you inviting them into? How will they feel after hearing your song?
In my opinion, Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have done an excellent job with their uplifting praise song "My Testimony" by conveying a Scripture-based message that resonates with a wide audience. Instead of writing a song solely focusing on your childhood experiences, it might be more effective to explore positive themes from the Scriptures that showcase God's healing power in overcoming adversity. There are numerous avenues to express your personal testimony, so it would be beneficial to explore alternative approaches before delving into a narrative centered around pain and hardship.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is a reflection of how God has overcome challenges in your life. It is important for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It may be helpful for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to distinguish between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis is a way of releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's victory over the difficult experiences you have faced and the ultimate triumph in your soul, regardless of the path you took to get there.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, we offer an extensive eight-week online coaching and mentoring experience where we delve deep into the art of writing testimony songs and much more. While many individuals are interested in free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and have a strong desire to develop your ministry, we invite you to click on the provided link to schedule a free phone call. This call does not come with any obligations and serves as an opportunity to determine if our program is suitable for you. Take the first step and schedule your free call today.
Feel free to share this article with your friends.
If you have any thoughts or comments, please leave a reply.
You can save my name, email, and website in this browser for future reference.
In this code snippet, the document's element with the ID "ak_js_1" is being accessed using the getElementById method. The setAttribute method is then used to assign a new value to the "value" attribute of
Sections:
1. Sections
2. Stay connected with us
3. Explore additional posts
4. Groupings
5. Keywords
6. Frequently viewed posts:
7. Begin your journey
8. Well-liked audio programs
9. Attributes
10. Information about
11. YOUR COURSEs
12. Register now to receive our complimentary Pro Songwriters Top 10 Tip Sheet