Personal Blog
Sharing my Experience of Finding Christ
My journey towards Christ began during my challenging childhood, which is often described as "dysfunctional" by society today. However, back in the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 1970s, we were simply living our lives without realizing the significance of our struggles. It was during this time that Jesus miraculously entered my life and transformed it.
My life went through a profound change when someone assisted me in discovering the incomprehensible love that Jesus has for everyone.
The photo credit goes to Laura E. Partain
In a split second, my entire life was completely shaken up. This love that I have experienced has been my source of strength for more than five decades, guiding me through all the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, and even the joyful moments. I can confidently say that my life took a new direction when I first felt the immense love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my presence and the motivation behind my work is this. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist you in creating songs that can beautifully articulate this incredible truth. The central principle of Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our platforms, including podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the message of Jesus' love to people across the globe.
What is your personal story of faith? Perhaps you experienced God's love while attending church as a child, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you have been deeply hurt by a significant loss. Many Christian songwriters who have faced severe challenges, such as abuse, divorce, or tragedy, have reached out to us to join our coaching programs. They are eager to learn how to express their pain through music and how God has supported them throughout their struggles. According to James Finley, God doesn't shield us from hardships, but rather provides us with miraculous strength to endure them.
However, the question remains: how can we effectively express our personal experiences and stories through powerful and impactful songs?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the positive and negative aspects that come with it. However, when it comes to expressing our personal experiences in the form of Christian songs, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? In this regard, I have three suggestions that I believe will assist you in considering how to accurately portray your own testimonials in a manner that will resonate with listeners, offering them solace, restoration, and optimism.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are emotions that are universally understood. To engage people in your story, it is important to make them feel a connection and relate to it. By incorporating elements of our own experiences, we can better understand and appreciate your story.
If your story doesn't capture our attention and resonate with something we have personally experienced, we will lose interest. A friend of ours, Becky Norquist, who is a former student of the NCS, went through the heartbreaking experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Through her music and ministry, she primarily focuses on supporting grieving families. However, she also incorporates broader themes into her songs, allowing anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – to connect and remain engaged with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
One day, Dave Clark (a well-known songwriter and publisher from Lillenas Music) shared a valuable insight that has stayed with me ever since. Although it may seem contradictory at first, his point was actually quite straightforward. The initial step in songwriting is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. However, the second point is equally important: avoid including unnecessary details in your lyrics that do not contribute to the listener's understanding or enjoyment of the song. If you delve too deeply into specific locations, timeframes, dates, names, or other particulars, there is a risk of losing your audience's interest.
By identifying the shared theme and emotion in your narrative that resonates with me, you encourage me to engage with your song. If the specific details in your story differ from mine, it may alienate me. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to achieve. You can acquire the skill to strike a harmonious balance between providing sufficient or excessive details, all while focusing on your personal feelings during the challenging experience, and ultimately shifting the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
… a testimonial song is a song that demonstrates how God has achieved victory in your life.
It is important to recognize the unique details in your story that are personal to you and may not be relatable to others. To help with this, it can be beneficial to look for examples of songs that align with the emotions you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage the listeners in those emotions rather than simply stating factual information.
To begin with, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally affected and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be difficult to create an authentic song that reflects your true feelings about it. Expressing your pain too heavily through your lyrics may come across as self-centered, unless you are aiming to create a classic country song that portrays sorrow. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but be aware that it wouldn't be considered a genuine testimonial. It would be categorized as a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to acknowledge that they likely have their own challenges and difficulties to face. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they provide a safe space for you to express and process your personal struggles and pain. It's crucial to think about how your lyrics will affect your listeners. What kind of emotional state are you inviting them into? How will they feel after hearing your song?
In my opinion, Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have successfully created an uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a message rooted in Scripture. Instead of writing a song solely focused on your childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to explore Scriptural themes that highlight the transformative and healing power of God, overriding any negative aspects. There are numerous ways to express your personal testimony, so it would be wise to consider alternative approaches before sharing your pain with others.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is one that depicts how God achieved victory in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It may be beneficial for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to recognize the distinction between the two types. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the hardships you have faced and his ultimate victory in your spiritual journey, regardless of the path you take.
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 much more. While many individuals seek free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and have a deep desire to establish your ministry, you can use the provided link to schedule a free phone call. This call is completely optional and carries no obligations, but it will help you determine if our program is suitable for your needs. To schedule your free call, click here.
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