Personal Blog
Sharing My Journey to Faith
Growing up in the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 1970s, my childhood was far from ideal. It was a time that is now labeled as "dysfunctional" by society. However, back then, it was simply the reality of life. Little did I know that Jesus would play a significant role in transforming my life and bringing me to the path of faith.
My life went through a remarkable change when someone aided me in discovering the incomprehensible affection of Jesus for the very first time.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, everything in my life was completely disrupted. This love that I have experienced has been my source of strength and support for more than five decades, guiding me through both difficult and joyful times. The pivotal moment in my life occurred when I was eighteen years old and felt the immense love of God for the very first time. This experience altered the course of my life forever.
The reason I continue to exist and pursue my calling is because of this. It is the driving force behind my work as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist others in crafting songs that can effectively convey this incredible truth. The fundamental principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our platforms – 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? It could be that you experienced God's love during your childhood church days, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. Alternatively, you might have been deeply hurt by a significant loss. I have had conversations with numerous Christian songwriters who have expressed interest in our coaching programs. Many of them have gone through immense pain, abuse, or divorce, and they are eager to learn how to convey their experiences and how God provided them with strength throughout. According to James Finley, God does not 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 testimonies? I have three suggestions that I believe will assist you in finding ways to capture your testimonials in a manner that resonates with listeners, providing them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To start, attempt to discover a shared theme or element in your story that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are emotions that are familiar to everyone. To make your story resonate with others, it is important to create a connection that allows them to relate to it. By incorporating elements of our own experiences, we can better understand and connect with your narrative. The ability to fill in the gaps with our own personal stories is what allows us to truly appreciate and connect with yours.
If there is nothing in your story that captures our attention and resonates with our own experiences, we will lose interest. A person we know, Becky Norquist, who previously attended NCS, went through the difficult experience of enduring five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her songs and ministry primarily cater to grieving families, but she also incorporates enough universal themes in her music so that anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – can find something relatable and continue to connect with her songs.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or sentiment rather than getting caught up in
I remember hearing Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music, say something that stuck with me. It may seem contradictory at first, but it's not. The first 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 may confuse or disengage the listener. If you delve too much into specific locations, times, dates, names, or other irrelevant details, there's a chance of losing the listener's interest.
When you identify the shared theme and emotional aspect in your story that resonates with me, it allows me to connect with your song. If the specifics of your story differ from mine, it might deter me. Although it may seem challenging, it is achievable. You can learn to maintain a balance between providing sufficient or excessive details, focusing on your emotions during the challenging times, and then shifting towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that presents how God achieved victory in your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that portrays the triumph of God in your life.
It is important to recognize the unique details in your story that are specific to you and may not resonate with others. One way to overcome this is to study songs that align with the emotions you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage listeners by evoking feelings rather than simply listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still feeling the emotional pain and trauma from a devastating experience in your life, it can be challenging to authentically compose a song that truly reflects your feelings. Expressing your pain through lyrics often comes across as self-centered, unless you are crafting a typical country song that revolves around heartbreak. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it. However, it's important to recognize that such a song is not a genuine testament to your experience but rather a melancholic country ballad.
When considering your audience, it is important to recognize that they likely have their own burdens and struggles to contend with. If you simply unload your own issues onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they serve as a outlet for your dysfunction and pain. It is crucial 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 impressive job with their uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" by conveying a broad message based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song solely about your childhood, it may be beneficial to explore positive themes from the Bible that showcase God's healing power over any negative experiences. There are numerous approaches to express your testimony, so it would be worthwhile to consider other avenues before sharing your pain with others.
In summary, a testimonial song is one that portrays how God succeeded in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It might be helpful for you to write those songs for your own personal healing as well, but it is important to distinguish between the two types. Catharsis is a way of releasing emotions, while testimonials rejoice in God's triumph over the hardships you have faced, highlighting His ultimate victory in your soul regardless of the path you took to reach it.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve into the art of writing testimony songs and offer much more. While many individuals are interested in finding free courses and webinars on Christian songwriting, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and feel a deep sense of purpose in establishing your ministry, we invite you to click on the provided link to schedule a free phone call. This call is without any obligations and is intended to help determine if our program aligns with your needs and goals. Take the opportunity to schedule your free call today.
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