Personal Blog Post
Sharing My Journey to Finding Christ
My upbringing was far from conventional, marked by the challenges and upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s. It was only later that society coined the term "dysfunctional" to describe such experiences. Despite the chaos, I found solace and redemption in the presence of Jesus, who played a significant role in transforming my life.
My life went through a profound change when someone assisted me in experiencing the incomprehensible affection that Jesus has for us, which I had never felt before.
The photo is credited to Laura E. Partain
In just a moment, my entire life was completely changed. Throughout the course of more than five decades, this love has been my source of strength during both the highs and lows, the successes and failures, and all the positive experiences as well. The impact of feeling God's love for the first time at the age of eighteen has permanently altered the direction of my life.
This is the driving force behind my presence and actions. It motivates me to be a Christian songwriter and assist others in creating songs that can capture the essence of this incredible truth. It serves as the foundation for Nashville Christian Songwriters and all our platforms, such as podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, which aim to spread the love of Jesus to people worldwide.
Do you have a personal story to share? 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 possible that you went through a painful and devastating loss that shattered you. In my conversations with many Christian songwriters who have shown interest in our coaching programs, I've discovered that a lot of them have endured significant hardships such as abuse or divorce. They are eager to learn how to express their pain through music and how God has provided them with strength throughout their struggles. According to James Finley, God doesn't shield us from life's challenges, but rather miraculously supports and sustains us in every circumstance.
However, the challenge lies in finding a way to express our personal stories and experiences through powerful and impactful music. However, finding a way to effectively convey our personal stories and
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 may assist you in considering how to capture your testimonials in a manner that resonates with listeners and provides them with solace, restoration, and optimism.
Initially, attempt to discover a shared element within your narrative that can resonate with a large number of individuals.
Loneliness and feeling lost are common emotions that everyone is familiar with. To make your story resonate with people, it is essential to create a connection that allows them to relate to it. By incorporating elements of our own experiences, we are able to immerse ourselves in your narrative and develop an emotional attachment to it.
If your story doesn't capture our attention and resonate with our own experiences, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a former student of NCS and a close friend, has personally experienced the heartbreak of going through five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry are centered around supporting grieving families, but she also incorporates universal themes in her songs that can resonate with anyone who has experienced any form of loss. This allows all of us to connect with her music and remain engaged.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
The concept of finding a central theme for your song was emphasized by songwriter and publisher Dave Clark. This is not contradictory to the first point; it simply means that it is important to have a clear emotional focus in your songwriting. On the other hand, it is advisable to avoid including irrelevant details in your song that may confuse or disinterest the listener. Going into excessive specifics such as locations, dates, names, or other unnecessary information can potentially alienate the audience.
By identifying the shared theme and emotion in your story that resonates with me, you allow me to be a part of your narrative. If the specific details do not align with my own experiences, it may deter me. While it may seem challenging, it is possible to strike a balance between providing sufficient details and overwhelming the audience, all while focusing on how you felt during the challenging period and ultimately shifting towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
… a testimonial song is a song that highlights the victorious presence of God in one's life.
… a testimonial song is a musical expression that portrays the triumph of God in an individual's life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own experiences that may not be relatable to others. To aid in your songwriting, it can be beneficial to study songs that resonate with you and observe how the writers effectively engage listeners in emotions rather than simply stating facts or details.
Next, 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 authentically express your feelings through a testimonial song. Sharing your raw emotions in the lyrics may be seen as self-centered, unless you are creating a country song that revolves around heartbreak. If that is your intention, feel free to pursue it, but it's important to recognize that it wouldn't be considered a testimony, but rather a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own challenges and struggles to cope with. If you simply unload your own pain onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why professionals like therapists and personal journals exist – they serve as outlets for processing your own dysfunction and hurts. It's 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 successfully created an uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a broad message based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song that solely focuses on your childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to explore positive themes from the Bible that highlight God's ability to heal and overcome difficult situations. There are numerous ways to express your testimony, so it may be worth considering alternative approaches before sharing your pain with others.
To summarize, a testimonial song is one that expresses how God has overcome challenges in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It might be beneficial for you to write such songs for yourself as well, but it's important to recognize the distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the difficulties you have faced and his ultimate victory within your spirit, regardless of the path taken to reach that point.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which spans over eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve deep into the art of writing testimony songs and much more. While many individuals are seeking free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and feel a strong calling to develop your ministry, you can use the provided link to schedule a free phone call. This call carries no obligations and serves as an opportunity to determine if our program aligns with your needs. Book your free call now.
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