Personal Blog Post: Sharing My Journey of Faith
Growing up in the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 1970s, my childhood was far from conventional. Labelled as "dysfunctional" by today's standards, my family's struggles were simply a part of our everyday life. Little did we know that these experiences would later be categorized under this specific term. However, amidst the chaos, Jesus miraculously entered my life, bringing about a profound transformation.
My life underwent a significant change when someone assisted me in discovering the indescribable love that Jesus embodies for the very first time.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. The love I experienced in that moment has been my source of strength and endurance for more than five decades, guiding me through both the joys and sorrows, as well as the various ups and downs of life. I firmly believe that my life took a different course when I first felt the overwhelming love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and my work is the same. I am a Christian songwriter because I want to assist you in creating songs that can capture the incredible truth of this phenomenon. The main principle of Nashville Christian Songwriters is to spread the message of Jesus' love to every individual on Earth, and all our podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs are created with this purpose in mind.
What is your personal story of faith?
Perhaps you experienced God's love during your childhood in church, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you were deeply hurt by a significant loss. I have spoken to numerous Christian songwriters who have endured immense pain, abuse, or divorce and have expressed their desire to learn how to convey their suffering and how God helped them through it. According to James Finley, God doesn't shield us from hardships, but rather miraculously supports us through them.
However, the question remains: how can we effectively convey our personal experiences and stories through powerful and 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 stories? I have three suggestions that I believe will assist you in considering the most effective ways to capture your testimonies in songs that will resonate with listeners and provide them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
It is a common experience for people to feel lonely or lost at times. By sharing a story that others can relate to, you can create a connection and invite them into your song. It is important to incorporate elements of our shared experiences so that listeners can relate and become invested in your story.
If there is nothing in your story that captures our attention and resonates with our own experiences, we will lose interest. Our acquaintance, Becky Norquist, who is a former student of NCS, went through the heartbreaking experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. She now channels her emotions and faith into her music and ministry, specifically catering to families who are grieving. However, 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 mood rather than getting caught up in
The idea was initially shared by Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music, and it has stuck with me ever since. At first glance, it may seem contradictory, but it's actually not. The initial point is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to refrain from including irrelevant details in your song that won't benefit the listener. If you delve too much into specifics like locations, time periods, dates, names, or other unnecessary details, there's a chance of losing the audience's interest.
By identifying the shared themes and emotions in your narrative that resonate with me, you engage me in your story. If the specific details do not align with my own experiences, it may deter my interest. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to strike the right balance of providing sufficient details without overwhelming the reader, focusing on your personal feelings during the difficult period and then shifting the focus towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that depicts the ways in which God has achieved victory in your life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own story that may not resonate with others. To assist in writing a song, it can be helpful to study examples of songs that evoke a particular emotion and observe how the songwriters engage listeners without simply listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you're still emotionally wounded and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to write a sincere song that reflects your personal testimony. Expressing your anguish too explicitly in your lyrics might be seen as self-centered, unless you're composing a typical country song where you pour out your sorrows. If that's your intention, then by all means go ahead and do it, but be aware that it won't be a genuine testimony, rather just a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to understand that they likely have their own struggles and challenges to navigate. If you simply unload your own pain onto them, they might not be inclined to listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they provide a safe outlet for you to express your dysfunction and hurts. It's crucial to think about how your lyrics will affect your listeners and what kind of emotional space you're inviting them into. 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 message based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song solely focused on your childhood experiences, it might be more impactful to explore positive themes from the Scriptures that highlight the transformative power of God in overcoming negativity. There are numerous ways to share your testimony, so it would be beneficial to explore alternative approaches before delving into personal pain in your music.
In summary, a testimonial song is a song that showcases how God has overcome challenges in your life. It is important for your emotional well-being to have a cathartic release. It may be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it is crucial to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial songs. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over difficult experiences and His ultimate victory in your inner being, regardless of the path taken to reach it.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which spans over eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve into the art of composing songs that convey personal testimonies and much more. While many individuals seek out free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are prepared to take your songwriting skills to the next level and have a deep desire to establish your ministry, you can use the provided link to arrange a complimentary phone call with no strings attached. This call will help determine if our program aligns with your needs and aspirations. You can schedule your free call by clicking here.
Please feel free to share this article with your friends. If you have any thoughts or comments, please leave a reply. Don't forget to save your name, email, and website in this browser for future comments.
In this code, we are using the getElementById method to access an element with the ID "ak_js_1" in the document. Then, we use the setAttribute method to set the "value" attribute of this element
Categories:
– Filed Under
– Follow us
– Browse More Posts
– Popular Posts
Tags:
– Get Started
– Popular Podcasts
– Features
– About
– YOUR COURSEs
Sign up now to receive our Free Pro Songwriters Top 10 Tip Sheet.