Personal Reflection on the Blog
My journey towards embracing Christ began during my challenging upbringing, which is now referred to as "dysfunctional" by society. However, during the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 1970s, my family and I were simply living our lives without realizing that our experiences would one day be labeled as such. Nevertheless, it was through the intervention of Jesus that my life took a different path.
My life went through a significant change when someone assisted me in discovering the incomprehensible love that Jesus has for me.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a split second, my entire life was completely transformed. This powerful love that I experienced has been my source of strength and support for more than five decades, helping me navigate through the highs and lows, the successes and tragedies, and all the other blessings as well. I can confidently say that my life took a completely different path when I first felt the love of God at the age of eighteen.
I am still here because of this reason. This reason motivates me to do what I do. It is the driving force behind my work as a Christian songwriter, as I strive to assist others in creating songs that can effectively convey this incredible reality. This reason forms the foundation of Nashville Christian Songwriters, and all of our podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs are dedicated to spreading the love of Jesus to all individuals on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith?
Perhaps as a child, you experienced the love of God in church, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It could also be that you have been deeply affected by a significant loss. In my conversations with numerous Christian songwriters who are interested in our coaching programs, I have encountered individuals who have endured immense pain, abuse, or divorce and are seeking to learn how to express their experiences and how God has supported them through it all. According to James Finley, God does not shield us from hardships, but rather miraculously sustains us through them.
However, what is the best way to express our personal experiences and stories through powerful and impactful songs? How can we effectively convey our testimonies and make them into exceptional musical
Throughout our lives, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal experiences and faith through Christian songs, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? I have three suggestions that may assist you in effectively capturing your testimonials in a way that resonates with listeners, providing them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that can resonate with a large number of individuals.
Feeling lonely or lost is a common experience that most people can relate to. Making your story relatable is the most effective way to engage others and make them connect with your song. It is important for listeners to find elements of their own experiences in your narrative, allowing them to fill in the gaps with their own story and ultimately fall in love with yours.
If your story doesn't capture our attention and resonate with something we've personally experienced, we will lose interest. One of our friends and a graduate of NCS, Becky Norquist, went through the heartbreaking experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry are centered around supporting grieving families, but she also includes enough universal themes in her songs that anyone who has suffered any kind of loss – which includes all of us – can relate to and stay connected to her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
The statement about finding a common theme and avoiding unnecessary details in songwriting was made by Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher from Lillenas Music. Despite sounding contradictory at first, these two points actually complement each other. The first point emphasizes the importance of choosing an emotional theme for your song, while the second point advises against including irrelevant details that may confuse or disengage the listener. By focusing too much on specific locations, dates, names, or other unnecessary specifics, there is a risk of losing the listener's interest.
By identifying the shared theme and emotion in your narrative that resonates with me, you create an opportunity for me to engage with your music. If the specific details in your story differ from my own experiences, it may deter my interest. Although this may seem challenging, it is indeed achievable. You can acquire the skill to maintain a suitable balance of providing sufficient but not excessive details, focusing on your personal emotions during the difficult times, and ultimately shifting the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
A testimonial song is a type of song that showcases the ways in which God has brought victory and success into your life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your story that may not resonate with others. To assist with this, it can be beneficial to look for examples of songs similar to the one you want to write and observe how the songwriters engage listeners by evoking emotions rather than simply listing details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally wounded and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to authentically express your feelings through a testimonial song. Often, pouring your heart out in lyrics may come across as self-centered, unless you are writing a typical country song that resonates with sorrow and heartbreak. If that is your intention, then by all means, go ahead and express yourself, but understand that it may not be seen as a genuine testimony, but rather as a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it is important to recognize that they likely have their own struggles to contend with. If you simply unload your problems onto them, they may not be willing to listen for long. This is why therapists and journals exist – to serve as a outlet for your personal issues and pain. It is important to think about the impact your lyrics will have on your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you inviting them into? How will they feel after listening to your song?
I believe that Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have successfully created an uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a message based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song about your personal childhood experiences, it might be more beneficial to focus on Scriptural themes that highlight God's healing power in overcoming negativity. There are numerous ways to express your testimony, so I encourage you to explore alternative approaches before sharing your pain with others.
In summary, a testimonial song is one that reflects on how God has overcome challenges in your life. Expressing emotions and finding release is crucial for your emotional well-being. It may be beneficial to write these songs for yourself as well, but it's important to distinguish between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's victory over the hardships you have faced and the ultimate transformation of your soul, regardless of the path taken.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which spans over eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve into the art of testimony songs and much more. While many individuals may be seeking free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you have a deep desire to advance your songwriting skills and feel a strong calling to develop your ministry, you can follow this link to arrange a free phone call. This call will help determine if our program aligns with your needs and goals. You can schedule your complimentary call here, and there is no obligation to commit.
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