3 Ways to Create Family Wherever You Go
JESHUA GLANZMANN • September 3, 2018
Nearly two years ago, I felt the Father inviting me into a new adventure. An adventure on the other side of the world. While I was excited about the opportunity, I was not looking forward to leaving my family. It felt like too big a sacrifice to say goodbye to the people I had been so close to my whole life. I didn’t feel I had the strength to make such a huge sacrifice, but then I read Mattthew 19:29:
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
Sometimes, God invites us to do crazy things. Sometimes, He invites us to do difficult things. But know that His invitations always come with promises. As I got on the plane to fly across two oceans and establish myself in a new location, I held on to His promise that as I said goodbye to my earthly family (even if just for a season) He would return to me a hundredfold the very thing I was giving up: family.
Family has always been. From the beginning of time, it has been God’s intention for us to live in family with eachother and with Him. Father, Son and Spirit model it for us, and every day they are inviting us into it. One of the things I find beautiful about being a Christian is that wherever I go, there is opportunity for family. I can seek out those people who share the same Father and speak the same language of love. Or I can invite people into the family. Everyone I meet has the potential to become a sister/brother or mother/father.
A few weeks ago, our Frequentsee team gathered with some people from around the world
who have a similar heartbeat to our own. One of creativity, mercy, justice, cultural transformation, joy and laughter. Most of these people I had never met before. But in all my years in “church,” I have never experienced family in a way that made me feel more loved or more like myself in such a short amount of time. The more I encounter it, the more I realise that God’s desire was for us to live in and create family from the very beginning.
There are three things I noticed that helped us establish family together:
Eating & Drinking
Feasting is a central theme in Scripture and oftentimes we forget it. Sharing food (and some good wine) with the people you love is important, and biblical. It’s one of the things Jesus loves to do most (Mark 2:16, Luke 5:33-35, Luke 7:34, Revelation 19:9). Some of my favourite moments with the people I love have happened at the dinner table.
The Highs & Lows
My family gets to see my very worst just as much as my best. I take off my mask and stay true to who I am and what I’m feeling. When I’m with them, I have nothing to prove because I know I am loved no matter what. “Doing life” together means you get to see my highs and my lows. I won’t settle for connecting with people only on a Sunday morning. I instead choose to intentionally invite others into all my moments, from the most ordinary to the most exciting.
The Prophetic
Prophetic encouragement is one of the most beautiful things we get to enjoy as people of the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to see each other through His eyes–past, present and future. Prophecy has the power to cut right to the heart of everyone in the room, strengthening their love for each other. During our week together, I felt my heart grow big as God revealed the great destiny He has prepared for each of my new friends.
For those who have been looking for family, hold on to His promise to set the lonely into family (Psalm 68:6), and begin to take the steps to create family right where you are. It’s His desire for you!
If you want to grow in the prophetic, it doesn’t begin with what you say. It begins with what you see. The prophetic is rooted in perception. Not just natural insight, but spiritual awareness—what Scripture calls “the eyes of your heart.” Paul prayed that the church in Ephesus would have their hearts enlightened so they could truly see what God was doing. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you…” (Ephesians 1:18) God isn’t distant or withholding. But if we’re going to hear Him clearly, we have to see differently. We need Heaven’s perspective. And that means learning to quiet the noise, tune into His voice, and let Him train our inner vision. You don’t need to wait for a dramatic vision or audible voice. Often, God speaks through a nudge. A mental picture. A scripture that lingers. A sense of burden or joy that feels holy. These are the first signs that your spiritual eyesight is awakening. But it takes time. It takes attention. It takes trust. Just like physical muscles grow with use, your spiritual senses grow as you spend time with Him—not just talking, but listening. Not just asking for answers, but asking for His perspective. You were never meant to live according to what the world says is true. You were meant to live by every word that flows from the mouth of God. A Prayer for This Week: “Lord, open the eyes of my heart. Teach me to see what You see—not just in others, but in myself, in my circumstances, in the world around me. Give me clarity and confidence to trust Your perspective more than my own. Amen.” This week, pay attention to what you notice. The way you see is often the way He speaks.
In this live session, Sean Smith and Julian Adams share their prophetic perspectives on 2025, offering honest reflections on what they sense God is doing across the earth. With hope and expectancy, they discuss the spiritual landscape ahead and how we can prepare for what’s to come.
We are living in a world of dramatic change. The relentless pace of development often leaves us breathless and exhausted. The demand for innovative ways of communicating, inventing, and staying ahead of cultural trends can feel daunting and demoralizing. It can push us into a space where we find ourselves trying to copy rather than be authentic, to imitate rather than create. This pressure can lead us to believe that we need to be more creative, and that our individual stories do not matter. But nothing could be further from the truth. Your story, no matter how small, matters and is powerful. One of the remarkable aspects of ancient manuscripts, like the Bible, is that they tell the stories of individuals whose lives may seem small and insignificant. Yet, God chose to make their lives a memorial of what He could do with a life that the world deems insignificant. The incredible power of the gospel is that it changes lives one at a time. God is as interested in the individual story as He is in redeeming the cosmos. The aim of the gospel is not just dealing with personal sin; it is about restoring individuals to a relationship with a kind Father. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis beautifully said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." Justification addresses our standing before God, but our adoption invites us into a relationship with the Father. It allows us to partake of who He is and to live in a place of deep joy from who He is. Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Many of us forget that the work of salvation has turned this verse around. Through Jesus, we have been restored to the glory of God. One description of the word "glory" refers to the divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, and splendor. It is the revelation of God's intrinsic worth and beauty. Do you see that? We have been restored to His divine quality, splendor, and beauty. In a world where it can be easy to feel like just another face in the crowd, remember that your story is significant. Your experiences, your journey, and your voice matter. Embrace the unique narrative God has given you and let it shine. You are not just a spectator; you are a vital participant in God's grand story. Your authenticity, creativity, and individuality are valuable. As you navigate the rapid changes of our world, hold on to the truth that your story has power and purpose. God sees you, knows you, and has a plan for your life that is uniquely yours. Let us celebrate the beauty and significance of each individual story, knowing that together, we contribute to a tapestry of divine splendor and glory.