GCMA XChange April 2022

CHRISTIAN/COUNTRY/GOSPEL SINGER & RECORDING ARTIST RELEASES INSPIRATIONAL TRACK “WALKING IN YOUR WONDERFUL LIGHT”

• Title Track Available Via All Digital Retail & Streaming Platforms, • Serves As Early Introduction To Forthcoming Six-Track EP

Listen Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxXdmbbwFtc

RHONDA TOWNS on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter

Website: https://rhondatowns.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn4nlQjjSiA

Special Thanks To Our 2022 Partners

3437 Bobby Brown Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia 30344, USA

Reservation Code: Gospel Choice Music Awards

Click Here For Hotel Booking Site *** SPECIAL RATE AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 24TH — JUNE 27TH ***

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Joi Bryant is the Gospel music industry’s new thing. Recording artist, music producer, Apostle, Pastor, singer, actress, and co/author of the ABCS of Marriage: A Book of Love Letters, Biology professor, just to name a few of her accomplishments. In 2021 Joi is embarking upon what she calls her Giant Step and that is to solidify herself as a premier vocalist in the Gosple entertainment industry.

Boom Brothers Music Group (Bungalo/Universal Music Group) is proud to present to some and introduce to others Joi Bryant and her first ever music single entitled The Favor of God. Joi has been singing all of her life. She began singing in church at the age of four. She sang background and had a solo feature on A-Tone and Team Jesus’s CPR project. She also sang background vocals on A -Tone Bryant’s solo album, Heat Check. Joi has also sung background for Josina Epps of For Real, she has opened up for Peabo Bryson as a background singer for LaNesha Latimer, and she also sang at a 2009 birthday party for Stevie Wonder, who told her he “loved her voice.”

For Joi it’s not just singing, but the ministry, the love, and the life style that goes hand in hand with her walk with Christ. Her music gives the listener that good old fashion church music with a new millennium urban feel feeling. She is the mother of five amazing children, and she works alongside her husband ATone Bryant as Pastors and Founders of The Family Center of Love in Los Angeles, Ca. You can expect to see Joi at your next Church Conference, Women’s Day service, worship experience, or just out and about in the streets of Los Angeles doing mission work and yes singing. So look out for The Favor Of God by Joi Bryant…

Gospel hip-hop artist and music producer A -Tone Bryant is now expanding his music and media empire with the launch of his first solo album entitled “Heat check”. He has decided to move from behind the scene to the front of the pack. Growing up in South Central and Compton California, A-Tone always dreamed of changing the world with his music. At a young age he signed to Sony music group with his brother and they formed the duo, The Boom Brothers. The two went on to write, produce, and compose songs for Quincy Jones, Kenney “Baby Face” Edmonds, Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, Toni Braxton, Diana Ross, After 7, Tamia, Domino, Gospel greats Trinity 5-7 and many others.

You may ask, “Where in the world has A-Tone Bryant been?” And his answer will be simply all over the world and any place there is running water. When he is not traveling he is producing the music you have come to know and love. When he is not producing music, he has found great passion in movie making, motivational speaking and proclaiming the Good News. Yes the renaissance has returned and A-Tone Bryant is now leading the way.

Anthony A-Tone Bryant is a man driven by excellence and a serious undying passion for the art of creativity. He believes that music is the universal language and its vibrations can heal the soul. A-Tone believes that you not only listen to music, but you experience it, grow from it, and let it shape your life. The “Heat Check” record was written and produced by A-Tone and is not only a record but also a musical experience. Yes music… something seemingly lost in the world of R&B, hip-hop and even Gospel. But “Have no fear” music is back. A-Tone is not another pro-loopper but a MUSIC pro-ducer. He plays just about every instrument in the band room, however his favorite instruments are the piano and the Hammond organ.

After more than three decades in the music and entertainment industry one might consider A-tone as a musical sensei. He often tells people, “you have to endure The Storm” if you want to be great. He considers himself to be an “overcomer” Why? He has endured the struggle and mastered the faith process. The faith process is that passion that changes coal into diamonds and dreams into reality. A-Tone is the real deal; not just another dream but a man of great manifestation. He also believes that the music he creates is not just music but medicine.

His music: his music is street... his music is hip-hop ...his music is uplifting...his music is healing... his music is inspirational…his music makes you want to dance... and his music makes you believe you can...his music is the gospel… his is music is life.

His life: has been a journey... his life has been a light... his life has been a testimony and example to what happens to those who believe. His life has been amazing, powerful, and inspirational.

His journey: His journey has been long and arduous... his journey has had many ups and downs...his journey has been fused with walking the road less traveled... his journey has blessed him with wisdom, knowledge, and know-how.

His plan: His plan is to saturate the world with positive energy... to inspire others and help them reach the next level...to inspire other artist, writers, and producers to use their music as a platform for change.

His mission: His mission is to be an up lifter: to be an overcomer... to have no fear... to be every color… to help everybody find the passion and the fire that they once had for life, and the passion they had to create love, unity, and success for all people. “This is a Heat Check” “Some times you walk through the valley of the storms at night. Below zero is the plan some people call that life.

Half chilled to frozen even though I was chosen. My temperature was rising and the window was closing. But I got the juice” I believe I can and believe I will do the impossible, because I’m unstoppable, because I believe.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

I always referred to ministry as work done in and through the church. Being a radio host was entertaining to me and playing the music for the people was joyful, but one day the Lord placed on my heart that what I was doing wasn’t all that I was called to do. I AM MORE. These are the words I felt in my spirit one Saturday morning while hosting my former show Serenade of Love. I was playing the song “You don’t know” by Zacardi Cortez and the song began to minister to me. I started speaking into the mic about life and all the trials and tribulations that we go through. I can’t even recall what I said that day because the words were just flowing. I felt so much emotion in my spirit, and that was the day I knew there was more in me than music.

I prayed over the statement, I AM MORE and asked the Lord to bless me with a way to change my mindset to think more of ministry and less entertainment.

When Straight Talk first started, my purpose was to show up do interviews, tell jokes, and to make the people laugh. After a few months of working on the radio ministry, the Lord told me it was time to move forward.

Taking my years of media broadcast, I had an understanding of how the people who come to listen, watch, and follow you, also want to trust you. I didn’t have to change much in my ministry because my ministry is who I am. I am Riccardo Montgomery, I have a love for entertainment and I have a love for Christ.

Fear is not an option. That’s my motto, so when I heard the legendary Clark Sisters were premiering their movie on Lifetime, there was no hesitation to reach out and ask them to be on Straight Talk w/ Riccardo Montgomery. Receiving an email confirming their interview was so exciting. I felt on top of the world as it took me back to sitting with my grandmama at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi while we listened to the choir sing their song “Looking for a miracle.”

I have been blessed to have Gospel artists and teachers on the show like; Bishop Jason Nelson, Pastor Marcus Gill - Author and Evangelist, Pastor Charles Jenkins, Evvie Mckinney, Jonathan Traylor, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Jason Champion, Isacc Carree ...and many more.

The testimonies of the seasoned artists are teachable lessons for the independent artists such as: • Shericka Lockhart - Song: MORE • Clyde J - Song: GOOD GOD • S4L - Song: WAY UP • J Windsor - Song: HE THAT DWELLS (PSALM 91) • Jason Rutley - Song: BLESS MY SOUL and the list continues…

The ministry felt by the independent artist is so pure. It’s like blank canvas allowing God to lead the spirit of the song and the joy within. I truly love that the Lord has allowed me to be a part of the Gospel community, from singers, preachers, teachers, authors, and business owners. May the blessings continue to flow to all who use their work for the Lord.

Straight Talk ministry is my family. It’s not done for myself but for my wife and my children. A togetherness that brings us closer through music, prayer, and information. Y ou can listen to the Straight Talk w/Riccardo Montgomery podcast available by downloading Google Podcasts, Spotify, iTunes, and iHeart radio.

Watch Straight Talk w/Riccardo Montgomery on Saturday evenings @ 7 pm EST/6 pm CST. Subscribe to YouTube channel - Riccardo Montgomery, and on Facebook: follow @RiccardoStraightTalk.

Matthew 6:33 is my guiding light and I will look to it always.

Thank you XChange Magazine for this opportunity.

What are the ABC’S of recording a song? We’re glad you asked. BlueMile would love to share a few tips with you.

Create a budget for your song. The quality of a good studio session requires money. Whether great or small, you will still need money. Putting a budget together is essential in this process. Separate your budget into categories. For example, you may designate $200 dollars to the studio singers, $400 dollars to musicians, and $400 dollars to your engineer or producer (some producers can also be your engineer). This means that your total budget will be $1000 dollars. Your budget should be based on what you can afford, not what you want to pay. There’s an old wise saying that says, “You get what you pay for”. Some budgets maybe bigger than others but not better. No budget is set in stone, however, it’s a starting place and act as a guide. The worst thing is to start your project and run out of money.

Gather all the playing pieces. Do your due diligence when doing your planning and research. Generally, it’s good to reach out to at least 3 recording studios for their costs. Once you have selected the best recording studio for your dollars, then find a producer to your liking. You may decide to produce the song yourself, which a lot of artists do, if they are gifted to do so…

Gifted! Some studios may only provide an engineer and you will need to bring your producer with you. Now here’s the exciting part, selecting your singers and musicians. As a creative, selecting your singers and musicians allows you to orchestrate the sound that God has given you. They matter! Some producers may want to use their own singers and musicians and include the cost in your total package. However, you have the option to use your own singers and musicians, it just needs to be negotiated. In some instances, gathering your own singers and musician may decrease the cost of your production. If you choose to do this, make sure they are skilled in what you require to carry out the vision.

Prepare to record. Now that you have a budget, gathered all the playing pieces; now it’s time. Let’s record. Have a studio session game plan in place. You, your singers and your musicians should be familiar with your song. You may want to bring a tablet of your written words and format of your song. Schedule your singers and musician as to who will come in first, second and so forth to record. Every producer works differently. Be flexible and understanding with in reason. Remember, God gave you this vision. Before the day of you recording session, maybe a week before your session, be intentional about taking care of your voice. Your voice is also an instrument. Rest and drink plenty of water. No excessive screaming, no dairy products, and always warmup with vocal drills.

Blue Nuggets: Your Money Matters: Recording is not free. It is important to have a realistic budget for your recording process. You get what you pay for – quality costs.

Your People Matters: Positive attitudes are important. Make sure as the leader you set the tone for your session. Energy is everything.

Your Time Matters: It is important to be on time. Having a plan before going in the studio helps you be more productive.

To book consulting services: check out our website, WWW.BLUEMILEMUSIC.COM. Catch the talk show every other Tuesday night @8pm on Facebook LIVE or YouTube @bluemilemusic. Follow us on all social media outlets.

Yo’s Cajun Stuffed Peppers Yolanda Wright Ingredients: 8 - Large poblano peppers 3 - Tablespoons of olive oil 1 - Onion diced 2 - Cloves of garlic, minced ½ - Tablespoon Louisiana Cajun Seasoning (adjust it to your taste) 16 oz - Small shrimp (peeled & deveined 1 - Link of andouille sausage diced or smoked andouille chicken sausage by Alfresco 1 - Cup uncooked long-grain white rice 2 ½ - Cups chicken broth (add more if necessary) 3 - 8 oz cans of tomato sauce 1 - Teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 - Chopped parsley, oregano or scallions for garnish Directions:  Roast the poblano peppers in an oven on BROIL at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until the skins puff up and char. Flip them halfway through to get both sides charred. Remove from heat, cool slightly then

          

peel off the skins.

Slice the peppers in half lengthwise (leaving the stem on) and scoop out the insides. Set onto a large baking dish sprayed with PAM Drop oven temperature to 350 degrees Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until it’s translucent. Stir in garlic & Cajun seasoning.

Stir in shrimp & sausage, cook until shrimp turns pink Stir in rice and cook for about 1 minute Pour in chicken broth, worcestershire and tomato sauce. Cover and cook (stirring frequently) until it thickens(20 to 25 mins) Fill peppers with stuffing mixture and place on baking dish Bake for 20 to 25 minutes (depending on your oven) Top with parsley, scallions, or oregano (whatever your taste buds desire) Serve lemon wedges BON APPETIT!

Vegan Fried Chicken (vegetarian) Paul H. Cameron Prep time 25 mins - Cook time 2 hours No reason to head out for fried chicken, when you can make this amazing vegan recipe at home.

Ingredients “Chicken” 2 cups vital wheat gluten 5 tbsp nutritional yeast 2 tsp onion powder 1 tsp salt 1 tsp poultry seasoning 1½ cup Franks hot sauce (for a less spicy version sub ¾ with vegetable broth instead) 5 tbsp tahini 6 cups of vegetable broth Dredging 2 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp white pepper ½ tsp onion powder ½ teaspoon paprika 1 tsp garlic powder ¼ tsp sugar ¼ chipotle powder Sauce ⅓ Frank’s Original Red Hot Pepper Sauce 1 tbsp mustard

3 eggs worth of prepared egg replacer (I like The Vegg) Oil for frying Instructions : "Chicken" In a mixing bowl, mix together gluten, yeast, onion powder and poultry seasoning. In a larger bowl, combine Franks and tahini and whisk until smooth. Mix the dry ingredients with the wet and stir until well combined. Knead the dough until it is elastic but not dry. Sprinkle some additional gluten flour if your dough is too sticky. Divide the dough into chicken size pieces, they will grow to about twice the size. Place the nuggets in a pot filled with boiling broth, ensure they are totally covered. Cook nuggets in broth for 1 hour at a low boil, stirring every 15 mins. Remove from broth and place on a wire baking rack to dry.

Coating: Combine the hot sauce, egg r eplacer and mustar d in a small bowl. Combine the flour and all spices in another shallow bowl, and whisk until well combined. Working with one piece of seitan at a time, coat each piece with the flour, then dredge it in the hot sauce mixture, and coat again in the flour mixture. Set aside until the rest of the seitan is breaded.

Heat up plenty of oil in a skillet, or heat up your deep fryer.

When hot (350 degrees) fry the filets for 8-12 minutes or until they are light brown and crispy. Remove the seitan and place on paper towels to drain

HEALTHY

WELL

WISE

In Search of Life - Chiropractic Dr. Aaron Lewis Like it was yesterday, I can clearly recall being in Dallas, Texas, as I was mentally preparing to speak at a major church. It was 1996, and strangely my mother left a message on the host pastor’s home phone number. Until now, I still never found out how she got the number. We had just finished having dinner and I remember hearing her crying hysterically, asking that I call home right away. When I called, my mother dolefully told me that my brother Ricky had died suddenly. Hearing that unanticipated news made me feel sick inside. Just one month before in August, my brother had just celebrated his 37th birthday, and now just like that, he was gone.

It seemed like the most silent flight I had ever taken before, traveling from DFW to BOS airport. On my flight back to the east coast, I thought all of the logical thoughts and some illogical ones as well. Ricky was thin, seemingly in good shape, a picture of health, so we thought. What we didn’t know was that Ricky had an overactive thyroid, a condition that produces a goiter which manifest in a swollen neck. My brother thought he had an allergic reaction to something, particularly since he had dealt with allergic reactions to things throughout his life; seafood, tomatoes-based products, and citrus fruits.

This time was different. Something else was wrong. Concerned, he went to the medical doctor for a thorough examination. They didn’t give him a thorough exam at all. What they did give him was a highly toxic drug with hopes of clearing up his allergy. What the doctor failed to recognize was my brother’s swollen neck, the enlarged eye sockets, and his accelerated heart rate. Had they done a thorough exam, the doctor would have discovered that this was no allergy and instead prescribed a 20-minute clinical procedure, one that would have saved his life. The drugs he had taken ended my brother’s life, but it didn’t have to be this way.

With that I began to search for drug free, surgery free models of healthcare that promoted life. Through a circuitous journey which lasted nearly a decade, I came to discover Chiropractic. Chiropractic was and still is my number one choice for healthcare and wholeness. What exactly is chiropractic and how does it help the body to heal? Chiropractic is the science of locating vertebral subluxation in the spine and correcting it through a series of adjustments. All life in the human body travels through the spine and receives messages from the central nervous system headquartered in the human brain.

When your spine is out of alignment, it creates pain in the body. More than that, it hinders the body’s innate ability to heal itself. God made your body with the capability to heal itself naturally without drugs or surgery. When there is a blockage in the spine, that blockage prevents the messages from flowing freely throughout the body, messages that bring proper healing to the body. The gift of Chiropractic has been around for more than 100 years, yet far too many people are still unaware of the incredible benefits of this natural, non-invasive treatment. For nearly two decades my quest has been to educate, inform and instruct people on how-to maintain optimal health, the way God originally intended.

Optimal health begins with regular chiropractic adjustments by a licensed chiropractor. I’ve always carried the belief that had my brother known about the benefits and blessing of chiropractic care he would still be alive today. Unfortunately, he’s gone. Fortunately, you’re still alive for a reason far bigger than you. If you’ve never been adjusted by a chiropractor, schedule a visit today. You will never be the same again. You’ll also begin to realize that there in nothing bigger than life itself. If you need help finding a great chiropractor in your area, please email me at whyilovechiropratic@gmail.com. I’m here for you, your health, and your life.

Dr. Aaron Lewis Ph.D. is an educator, spiritual leader, human rights activist, ghostwriter and publisher and has written more than 220 books. Dr. Lewis has traveled to 61 countries, consulted foreign governments on healthcare and education reform. He is the author of Why I Love Chiropractic and It’s Not Too Late: Reclaiming Optimum Health, No Matter How Young or Old You Are with Dr. Timothy Schaub.

Small things make a HUGE difference when it involves YOUR MONEY! JoAnna Laiscell, M.S., MSAT Having been a Professional Tax Accountant for more than 20 years, I know firsthand that taxes are not only the largest bill that most people will ever have in life, but also the greatest way to get ahead financially, if you are armed with the proper knowledge. Every year nearly 128 million people file income taxes. Unfortunately, most people, particularly those who prepare their own taxes and those who rely on large franchised tax preparation services, file incorrectly. These small mistakes often cost people more than they ever imagined. I’ve listed just a few ways to make sure that you have more money in your pocket by paying a little more attention to the small things.

Here is a list of small things that are often overlooked DON’T MISS OUT ON WRITE-OFFS THAT YOU’RE ENTITLED TO Most people fear the IRS worse than the plague. They see the IRS as an enforcement agency, looking to take away hard earned assets from U.S. citizens. Remember the IRS takes away from people who commit fraud. You are probably not in that category. The IRS does allow legitimate deductions, many of which, people overlook when filing their annual tax returns. A trained professional tax strategist can help you to avoid audit red flags most commonly associated with deducting the wrong things. So many people deduct things on their income tax that aren’t allowed. On the other hand, many people fail to deduct the many deductions they are allowed. You will gain write offs by consulting with the right professional and get more back in your pocket, less liability to you.

REVIEW YOUR ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS BEFORE TAKING THE STANDARD DEDUCTION While itemizing your deduction requires more effort, it can potentially benefit you in either reducing your tax liability or increasing your tax refund. Make sure to check which alternatives gives you the greater write-off. Examples of itemized deductions are—home mortgage interest, real estate taxes, property taxes and medical expenditures, (which includes mileage to and from doctor visits), health insurance premiums, prescription medication, eyeglass wear, and medical supplies such as needles for insulin shots. Other itemized deductions include charitable contributions (tithes and offerings to your local church) volunteer mileage and donated clothing or furnishings to organizations such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army.

DURING FILING, DO NOT MAKE CHANGES ALREADY REPORTED TO THE IRS WITHOUT USING THE PROPER CHANNELS Wages, bank interest, mortgage interest paid, real estate taxes paid and other documents that you receive for tax reporting purposes, BE SURE TO REVIEW CAREFULLY. Let’s face it we’re all human. So, errors and omissions on the documents reported by your employer, mortgage holder, banks do happen. It’s your job to make sure that the information is correct. If the information is incorrect please contact the businesses that reported the information, do not report different information on the tax return. This will only delay the processing time for your tax return, and in some cases, the IRS will auto correct the information based on the reported information instead of the information on your tax return. When businesses make a mistake with your information, report it to them right away and have them send you the corrected information.

CHECK YOUR RETURNS FOR TYPOS. When you read over your return, make sure you review the information carefully. Humans, smartphones, computers and of course spell checkers all make mistakes. Little mistakes can cost you big. For example, if you contributed $6,000 to your IRA but you inadvertently entered $600 as the deduction amount on your return. You are potentially reducing your deduction by $5,400, which cost you $1,350 more in taxes if you are in the 25% tax bracket.

You certainly don’t want to do that. As I have stressed for the past two decades, when it comes to your money don’t rely on the amateurs, your friend or family member who happens to do taxes. That is more often than not a recipe for a disaster. Instead, contact a trained professional, someone well versed in the language of taxes. It’s a whole lot cheaper to consult with a tax professional than to pay thousands to correct misfiled tax returns. Taxes are not a once a year thing, taxes are yearlong. Do what’s right now and it’ll pay out well in the long and short run.

JoAnna Laiscell prepares taxes for some of the largest churches and non-profits, professional musicians, writers and Pastors in the United States. She also makes time to prepare taxes for average income earners as well. Laiscell holds a Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation from the University of Hartford and a Master of Science in International Studies from Central Connecticut State University. You can visit her website at: www.nothinbutnumbers.com or email her directly at jlaiscellcv@gmail.com

Dr. Levy Barnes Bethel Bible College, VP. Question: How do I handle being single and saved, until God sends me a husband? It is hard being alone,

especially during a pandemic when you are supposed to self-isolate. I want to do what is right, but I have physical desires too. What do I do in the meantime while I am waiting? Does God just want me to be by myself? How do I know when I have met a person that God wants me to marry?

Answer: God’s desire is not for everyone to be alone. There is a remedy hidden in the scriptures. We feel that we are good handling each situation alone, but we truly are not. God himself said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) When God created everything individually, he followed it by saying it is good. He made the Earth and said it was good. He separated day from night and said it was good. He made the animals of the earth and said it was good. Yet, when he created man, he did not immediately say it is good. (Genesis 2:7) His statement was it is not good that man should be alone, therefore implying that man is not fully good or complete until he has found a wife. This is the reason why Solomon said in Proverbs 18:22, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing.” In some cases, in order to be complete, we need our spouse to make us whole. There are exceptions that we find in the Bible like the prophet Daniel who was a eunuch and Paul who was also single, without the intensions of finding a spouse. I believe each person knows when they are on a path of being single, but those who are meant for companionship, there is a promise from God. God has a plan for you, but you must be in position. His Holy Spirit is the one that commands your mate to find you. God gives us an understanding of how His Spirit connects us with our spouses in Isaiah 34:15-16. In summary God says the same way the owl, vulture, and wild beasts have a mate, He has a mate prepared for you. He said, “No one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.” God is so invested in your love life that His spirit gathers them for you.

If you are in the right place and doing the right things, His spirit will work on your behalf to send your mate. Be the best person God has created you to be, and at the right time he will come. I am not saying you cannot use dating services, blind dates, or other attempts to find love, because you never know what God may allow. I do believe that you need to allow God a chance to do what he needs to do.

I was in the right place at the right time when I found my wife. We were both devoted to God, seeking Him, and waiting for the right person. I stopped looking for a wife , prior to meeting my wife, and was enjoying being single and building myself. I had never been in a long-term relationship before meeting her, but mentally, financially, and spiritually I was in the right place. I happened to meet her while I was shopping for groceries. We exchanged contact information, after talking on several occasions, without the intention of dating. After we went out a few times, we fell in love and a few months later got married. Now, we have been happily married for ten years. God allowed us to meet at the right time. I feel that if we would have met earlier in life, we may have not been fully mature and ready for one another. God gathered us together at the right place and the right time.

Unlike popular belief, in exception for two occasions in scripture (when God told Hosea to marry the harlot and when God told Joseph to proceed in marrying marry), God allows us to choose who we want to marry. Some people have heard from God on who to marry, but according to God’s word, it is a choice. Boaz chose to marry Ruth, King Haman chose to marry Ester, and even prior to God telling Joseph to proceed in marrying Mary, Joseph chose to marry her. Paul even acknowledges that there are unions with unbelieving spouses. (1 Corinthians 7:14) When you choose your spouse be wise and understand what you desire, to be fulfilled mentally, spiritually, and physically. God places the choice in our hands. When we choose, be sure we have chosen the one that will satisfy every aspect of our life, and be certain you can return those same gestures.

In order to be in the right place for God’s spirit to gather you to your spouse, I advise you to do what God instructs in the Bible, by waiting until marriage before you engage in sex with anyone. Even if you have already been sexually active with someone, you can start over. When you have sex with someone, you physically give access to your entire body. This should not be done without a commitment. The reason why God wants us to wait until we are married is for our protection and our best interests. His directions remove unnecessary drama and pain. This is not to say that you will not experience pain in marriage, but you will at least have a verbal and written statement that they will not break your trust. So, if you choose the right person and they hold fast to who you believe they are, marriage is a bond of protection for the both of you.

Sex is not the only thing to withhold unless you have the commitment of marriage. Some people give full access to their children, home, spirituality, and finances without a commitment. You should have a commitment before giving yourself away completely or you possibly put your assets in danger. This is God’s plan for you.

When you are ready, God will expose you to your husband. Until then, enjoy being single and grow in grace. Present yourself as the best woman mentally, spiritually, and physically, and God’s spirit will gather your husband to you.