Personal Blog
Sharing my Journey of Finding Christ
Growing up in the chaotic era of the 1960s and 1970s, my childhood was far from conventional. It was later labeled as "dysfunctional" by society, but back then, it was just the way things were. Little did I know that Jesus would eventually enter my life and bring about a significant change.
I underwent a profound change when someone assisted me in discovering the indescribable love that Jesus has for me.
The image was captured by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely altered. It is this very love that has supported me throughout more than five decades, during both the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, and even the pleasant moments. The essence of my story lies in the fact that the course of my life was forever transformed when I experienced the love of God for the very first time when I was eighteen years old.
The reason I continue to exist is because of this. It's the motivation behind my actions and the reason I pursue a career as a Christian songwriter. My goal is to assist you in creating songs that can effectively convey this incredible truth. The main principle that drives Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our various platforms, such as 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 while attending church as a child, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's possible that you have been deeply hurt by a significant loss. In my interactions with numerous Christian songwriters who have shown interest in our coaching programs, many have endured immense pain, abuse, or divorce. They seek to learn how to express their suffering through their music and how God has supported them throughout their struggles. As James Finley puts it, "God doesn't shield us from challenges, but miraculously sustains us through 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 highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal experiences and faith through Christian music, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? Here are three helpful tips to consider on how to capture your testimonials in a way that resonates with listeners and provides them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared theme or element in your narrative that numerous individuals can relate to.
It is a common experience for individuals to feel lonely or lost at times. By allowing others to relate to your story, you are creating a powerful connection that draws them into your music. It is important to include elements of our own experiences in your narrative, as this allows us to emotionally invest and connect with your song.
If your story doesn't capture our attention and bring up memories of our own experiences, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a former student at NCS and our friend, 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 included enough universal themes in her music that anyone who has experienced any kind of loss can relate to and continue to engage with her songs.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
The statement I am about to share with you was originally said by Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher from Lillenas Music, and it has stuck with me ever since. At first, this statement might seem contradictory, but it's not. The first point emphasizes the importance of finding a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point advises against including unnecessary details in your song that don't contribute to the listener's understanding. If you delve too much into specific locations, times, dates, names, or other minutiae, you run the risk of losing the listener's interest.
When you are able to identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that I can connect with, you are encouraging me to be a part of your narrative. If the specific details you provide do not align with my own experiences, it may deter me from fully engaging. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to strike a balance between providing sufficient or excessive detail in order to focus on the emotions you experienced during the difficult period and then shift the focus towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
A testimonial song is a song that demonstrates the ways in which God has achieved victory in your life.
It is important to recognize the unique details in your own story that are specific to you, as they may not resonate with others. To enhance your songwriting, it can be helpful to seek out examples of songs that evoke certain emotions and observe how the songwriters engage listeners without solely focusing on recounting specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you're still emotionally wounded and in pain from a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to compose an authentic song that reflects your experience. Expressing your pain through lyrics can sometimes be perceived as self-centered, unless you are writing a country song that allows for emotional vulnerability. If that's your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but remember that it won't be a genuine testimony but rather a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it is important to recognize that they likely have their own struggles and difficulties to manage. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they may not be inclined to listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they serve as outlets 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, 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 rooted in Scripture. Instead of writing a song solely focused on your childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to explore positive Scriptural themes that showcase God's healing power over any negative aspects. There are numerous approaches to sharing your testimony, so it would be worthwhile to consider alternate methods before expressing your pain to others.
In summary, a testimonial song is a song that reflects how God has overcome challenges in your life. Expressing your emotions through music is crucial for your overall emotional well-being. It might be beneficial for you to write such songs for yourself, but it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials focus on celebrating God's victory over the difficulties you have faced and the ultimate triumph in your soul, regardless of the path you took to get there.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and takes place online, we explore testimonial songs and various other subjects. While many individuals are seeking free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you desire to delve deeper into your songwriting and have a strong inclination to develop your ministry, you can use the provided link to arrange a free phone call without any obligations. This call will help determine whether this program is suitable for you. Book your free call at this location.
Spread the word about this article by sharing it with your friends. If you have any thoughts, feel free to leave a comment below. Also, remember to save your name, email, and website for future reference when you want to
The code retrieves an element with the ID "ak_js_1" and sets its attribute "value" to the current time in milliseconds.
Categories and tags are used to organize and categorize content on a website. They allow users to easily browse through related posts and find more content that interests them. By following a website, users can stay updated with new posts and receive notifications when new content is published. Popular posts are those that receive a lot of attention and engagement from users. Getting started with a website or podcast involves exploring the available features and