Christian Songwriter's Network

Our church just had its 14th anniversary celebration, and the message was entitled "Stretch". The pastor encouraged us all to go beyond what we are comfortable with, and actually use the potential we have been given. The last thing we want to have hanging over us on our deathbeds is all the things we could have done.

So in a bold effort to live this out, I have started recording myself singing some of my melodies/lyrics a capella. I am starting to post them on SoundClick and hope I get interest from composers who might want to add some music to them. I figure, at the very least, it'll help me to get over my fear of copyright infringement. Or perhaps my total fear of other people hearing me sing and saying it's worse than drunken karaoke or something.

I mean, seriously, I have been talking about doing this for a couple years, and all I've been doing is TALKING. What the heck is keeping me from really getting my songs out there? Um...FEAR, fear, and more fear. Fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of imperfection; fear that I'm not as good a writer as I think I am, fear that people will say mean things like they do to those poor people on American Idol, fear that I will do all this work and still not get anywhere with it. Once I get past that, there's the fear that I WILL have something good and people will want more--I almost fear the success more than failure. There's the fear that I might have to step further out of my comfort zone to pursue this calling that has pressed on my heart for several years now. So far, I have been safe in my little fearful corner, merely thinking and talking about trying. But I strongly suspect that once I start taking some big steps, bigger risks and challenges will come along and I'll never be able to squeeze myself back into this little corner again.

Then what? Then I'll have to learn to seriously trust God, instead of just saying I do but running back to my little corner at every little bump in the road. The funny thing about faith is that a lot of the time it feels like a catch-22--you need to trust God to experience His power, but you have to experience His power before you can trust Him. Heck, most days I barely trust myself, so what would I know about trusting in an invisible being? Even if that invisible being is all-powerful, all-loving, ever-constant, ever-faithful, and always looking out for my best interests? But then I am reminded that at the end of my life I don't want to be thinking about all the things I could have done, and all the songs I could have written. So I will take the first baby step and see where it goes from there...

You can find me on Soundclick by searching for band name "Daughters of Jubal"

Dear Mlshiira
I am so glad you finally took this step. I have been rooting you on, even though i may not always have said as much. The important thing is that you are finally sharing your songs. Do they have to reach a million gazillion people?
I always pray "just one" and i encourage you to do the same. Lord, let one song touch one soul. If one is saved all of heaven rejoices. now wouldn't you like to know there is a party going on!!!!
continue on, one step at a time!
Many blessings to you in your ministry!
your sister in Christ Jesus
ang