Personal Blog
Sharing my Journey of Finding Christ
My childhood was filled with hardships and challenges, which are now referred to as "dysfunctional" by society. However, back then, it was just the reality of growing up in the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 1970s. Little did we know that our experiences would later be labeled with a specific term. Despite the difficulties, Jesus played a significant role in transforming my life.
My life underwent a profound change when someone assisted me in establishing a deep connection with the indescribable affection of Jesus for the very first time.
The image was captured by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. This love that I experienced has been my source of strength and support for more than half a century, carrying me through both the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, and all the positive experiences as well. I firmly believe that the course of my life was forever altered when I first experienced the overwhelming love of God at the age of eighteen.
This is the reason why I continue to exist and pursue my passion. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist others in creating songs that can capture the essence of this incredible reality. The fundamental principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our various platforms, including podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the love of Jesus to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith?
Perhaps you experienced God's love during your childhood church experiences, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you have been deeply affected by a significant loss. I have had conversations with numerous Christian songwriters who have faced immense pain, abuse, or divorce, and they have expressed a desire to learn how to express their struggles through their music and how God has provided them with strength during those difficult times. According to James Finley, God doesn't shield us from difficult circumstances, but rather miraculously sustains us throughout them.
However, the question remains as to how we can effectively express our personal experiences and stories through impactful and memorable songs.
Throughout our lives, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing these experiences in Christian songs, how can we effectively capture our own testimonies? In this regard, I have three suggestions that I believe can assist you in conveying your personal stories in a manner that resonates with listeners, providing them with comfort, healing, and hope.
Begin by searching for a shared element or theme in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are common emotions that everyone can relate to at times. The most effective way to connect with others through your story is by providing them with a way to identify with it. It is important for us to hear similarities between our own experiences and yours. This allows us to insert our own personal narratives and ultimately develop a strong connection with your story.
If there is nothing in your story that captivates us and reminds us of a personal experience, we will lose interest. A person we know, Becky Norquist, who is an alumnus of NCS, went through the difficult experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. She has centered her songs and ministry around supporting grieving families, but she has also incorporated enough universal themes in her music so that anyone who has experienced any form of loss – all of us – can relate to her songs and remain engaged with them.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
The statement was originally made by Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music, which stuck with me. It may seem contradictory at first, but it's not. The initial point is to choose a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to avoid including unnecessary details in your song that won't benefit your listener. If you delve too much into specific locations, times, dates, names, or other specifics, you may end up losing the listener's interest.
When you identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that I can personally connect with, it allows me to become engaged in your narrative. If the specific details of your experience don't align with mine, it might discourage me. However, it is not an insurmountable challenge. It is possible to find the right balance of providing sufficient details without overwhelming the audience, in order to focus on conveying the emotions you felt during the difficult times and then shifting towards highlighting the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
… a testimonial song is a type of song that highlights the ways in which God has prevailed in your personal experiences and journey.
It is important to recognize the unique details in your own story that are not relatable to others. One way to improve your songwriting is to look for examples of songs that evoke emotions in the listeners, rather than simply listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
When you are still emotionally wounded and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to authentically express it through a testimonial song. Sharing your raw emotions in your lyrics may be seen as self-centered, unless you are creating a sorrowful country song in the style of crying into your beer. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but be aware that it is not a genuine testimony but rather a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to acknowledge that they likely have their own struggles to deal with. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they might not be willing to listen for long. This is why professionals like therapists and personal journals exist – they serve as outlets for your own dysfunction and pain. It's crucial to think about how your lyrics will affect your listeners and the emotional space you're inviting them into. What kind of emotions will they experience after hearing your song?
I believe that Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have done an excellent job with their uplifting worship song "My Testimony" by conveying a broad yet scripturally-based message. Instead of writing a narrative song about your childhood, it might be worth considering exploring positive biblical themes that showcase God's healing power over any negative experiences. There are numerous ways to share your testimony, so it would be beneficial to explore alternative approaches before delving into your personal pain.
Ultimately, a testimonial song is one that depicts the ways in which God has prevailed in your life. The release of emotions is crucial for your emotional well-being. It may be beneficial for you to write these songs for personal catharsis, but it is important to recognize the distinction between the two types. Catharsis involves unloading emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the hardships you have faced and His ultimate victory in your inner being, regardless of the path taken to reach it.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and takes place online, we delve into the art of creating testimony songs and explore various other topics. While many individuals seek out free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and have a deep desire to develop your ministry, you can use the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call does not come with any obligations and serves as an opportunity to determine if our program is the right fit for you. Simply schedule your free call by clicking here.
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