Welcome to Episode 4 of the Kingdom Talk Series on the Words of Encouragement Podcast — hosted by Frankie Lubin (@Mr.MadeDifferent) and Brian P. Lucas.

This week’s conversation is titled “Culture Shock: When Heaven Collides with Earth.”

We dive deep into what happens when Kingdom principles confront worldly systems — when believers try to live out Heaven’s values in a culture that doesn’t understand them.

In this episode, we unpack:

Why so many churchgoers never truly learn about the Kingdom of God

How to live “in the world but not of it” without losing your peace

The difference between religion and true Kingdom relationship

Personal stories of conviction, transition, and transformation

What real spiritual warfare looks like when your identity shifts toward Christ

If you’ve ever felt out of place, misunderstood, or like you don’t fit the world’s mold — this episode will remind you that you’re not crazy… you’re called.

🔥 Scripture References

Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world…”

John 17:14-16 – “In the world, but not of it.”

Philippians 3:20 – “Our citizenship is in Heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world.”

🙌 Connect & Follow

🎙️ Host: Frankie Lubin – @Mr.MadeDifferent

👕 Shop Made Different Apparel → https://themadedifferent.myshopify.com

📖 Co-Host: Brian P. Lucas

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & Prayer

03:00 – What “Culture Shock” Really Means Spiritually

09:30 – Religion vs Kingdom: Breaking Free from Tradition

16:00 – Brian’s Journey from Eastern Philosophy to Christ

25:00 – Frankie’s Testimony on Conviction & Renewal

35:00 – Why Peace in Christ Feels Different

45:00 – Dealing with Personal Convictions & Habits

57:00 – Final Thoughts & Prayer

📢 Hashtags

#WordsOfEncouragementPodcast #KingdomTalk #CultureShock #FaithOverCulture #MrMadeDifferent #BrianPLucas #KingdomIdentity #ChristianPodcast #FaithConversation #MadeDifferent

In this episode, Frankie (Mr. MadeDifferent) and Brian Lucas dive deep into what it really means to fight for the Kingdom of God. Not the church building… not religion… but your original identity before sin ever touched you.

We talk about:

• Why so many believers don’t even realize they’re in a spiritual fight

• What “contending for the kingdom” actually means in the Bible

• How to strengthen the Holy Spirit within you

• Why passivity is costing people their purpose

• The original intent God had for you before the fall

• The danger of lukewarm faith and double-minded living

• Why your daily fight determines your eternal outcome

• How to recognize your assignment and walk in your calling

• Breaking the world’s system and returning to the Father’s house

This episode is a wake-up call.

A reminder that you’re not just living life — you’re fighting for identity, purpose, and eternity.

If you’ve been feeling empty, lost, or disconnected spiritually, this conversation will hit home and help you reconnect with God’s original design for your life.

Watch the full episode to learn how to fight the good fight of faith… and win.

—⏱️ TIMESTAMPS – “Contend for the Kingdom: Fight For Your Faith”

0:00 – Intro: Welcome to Episode 6

0:32 – Opening Prayer

1:35 – Main Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:11–21

4:40 – What It Means to “Fight the Good Fight”

5:45 – Why Identity Comes Before Kingdom Work

7:55 – Understanding the Kingdom of God (Not Religion)

11:23 – Frankie’s Take: Fighting for Your Original Self

13:20 – Brian’s Breakdown: Returning to Pre-Fall Identity

17:55 – How Jesus Contended for the Kingdom

19:10 – The Battle with Temptation & Why We Fall

20:48 – Feeding vs Starving the Spirit

23:20 – The System of the World vs The Kingdom System

27:40 – Why So Many Believers Still Feel Empty

32:00 – Spiritual Warfare Explained Simply

34:50 – Why Religion Breeds Confusion, But Kingdom Brings Clarity

38:05 – Frankie’s Revelation About the Holy Spirit

41:00 – What Happens If You Don’t Contend for the Kingdom

43:55 – The Illusion of Being “Neutral” in the Faith

47:15 – The Danger of Lukewarm Living

49:40 – The Cost of Avoiding Your Assignment

52:20 – How to Fight for the Kingdom Every Day

55:55 – Finding Your Calling Through What Annoys You

59:10 – Frankie on Division, Love & Why He Speaks Out

1:03:30 – Why Unity Matters in the Kingdom

1:06:50 – Closing Thoughts: Knowing Who You Are & Why You’re Here

1:15:10 – Closing Prayer

🔔 Subscribe for more Kingdom Talk, Words of Encouragement, and weekly identity-building conversations.

📲 Follow Frankie on IG: @mr.madedifferent

Too many of us are chasing the destination and missing the beauty of the journey. In this week’s Words of Encouragement Wednesday, Mr. Made Different breaks down why God delights in your steps — not just the milestones.

Whether you’re in a season of waiting, stumbling, or pressing forward, this message will remind you: your steps are ordered, not wasted.

📖 Scriptures in this episode:

Psalm 37:23–24 – The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord

Proverbs 16:9 – The Lord establishes your steps

Nehemiah 8:10 – The joy of the Lord is your strength

Deuteronomy 8:2 – God leads us step by step through the wilderness

🔥 Highlights you’ll hear in this episode:

Why falling is part of the step, not the end

How gratitude is a weapon to unlock joy

Why your delays are divine details, not denials

How to find peace in the process instead of frustration

Why you must stop despising the step God delights in

🙏 Weekly Challenge:

Write down three steps you’re in right now and one way you can enjoy each of them this week.

➡️ If this blessed you, hit LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more weekly encouragement.

🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

📲 Follow me on Instagram: @Mr.MadeDifferent

#MadeDifferent #WordsOfEncouragement #EnjoyYourSteps #Faith #Motivation

In this episode of the Words of Encouragement Podcast, I sit down with Isabel Varela – holistic business coach, fashion creative, and founder of Repurpose Your Life.

Isabel grew up as the only kid “like her” in a small town in Louisiana, repurposing trash into art, dreaming about New York, and escaping into fashion and magazines. That dream eventually took her into the fashion world… and into massive debt, a shopping addiction, and a double life.

At 28, Isabel hit rock bottom: seven maxed-out credit cards, unpaid rent and car notes, and a phone call about repossession. On the outside she was winning – in magazines, dressing celebrities, in five stores across Texas and Louisiana – but on the inside she was drowning.

In this raw conversation we talk about:

How she went from shopaholic and denial to facing her debt and addiction

Closing her fashion brand and getting a job as a seamstress at Nordstrom

Moving to New York City with debt and still paying it off in 7 years

The 8-year relationship and engagement she ended the day before invitations went out

Why decluttering isn’t just about closets – it’s about identity, stories, and systems

Hyper-independence, not asking for help, and crying in Central Park while healing

How grief (losing both parents and her mentor) pushed her to go all in on purpose

Her 3-part framework: Declutter → Repurpose → Transform & Rise

We also talk about my own transition season – moving from painting houses to podcasting and feeling called to build something that actually feeds people’s souls, not just my bank account.

If you’re in a season of transition, feeling stuck, guilty for wanting more, or trying to figure out how to let go of an old version of yourself… this episode is for you.

TIMESTAMPS (CHAPTERS):

00:00 – Intro & Isabel’s childhood in Louisiana, art, and fashion

07:20 – Building a fashion brand… and secretly drowning in debt

11:30 – Rock bottom: repossession calls, shame, and finally asking for help

14:30 – Therapy, debt management, and learning her soul is “good and lovable”

21:30 – The 15-minute phone call with Barneys that changed everything

23:50 – Moving to New York City with debt and three jobs

27:40 – Ending an 8-year engagement the day before invites went out

33:10 – Decluttering clothes, business systems, and people’s inner lives

36:50 – My own transition from painting houses to podcasting

43:20 – Resentment, outgrowing your work, and reframing “the job that feeds you”

53:00 – Lightning Round: books, daily rituals, lies she unlearned, current healing

1:00:10 – What this season is teaching her: trust and surrender

1:01:30 – Words of encouragement to her 18-year-old self

1:05:43 – Closing prayer & how to connect with Isabel

CONNECT WITH ISABEL:

IG / TikTok / YouTube / LinkedIn: @iamisabelvarela

Free 45-Minute Business Systems Audit: Comment “AUDIT” or connect with her via this link. https://www.isabelvarela.com/

CONNECT WITH ME:

Instagram: @mr.madedifferent

Website: wordsofencouragementpodcast.com

👇 COMMENT BELOW:

What’s one thing you know you need to declutter – in your home, your business, or your heart?

All Hail the King — Kingdom Talk Episode 7

In this powerful season finale, Frankie (@Mr.MadeDifferent) and Brian Lucas dive deep into what it truly means to worship Jesus — not out of tradition, pressure, or culture, but because He is the King of Kings. Pulling from scripture, personal testimony, and raw truth, they break down why honoring Jesus is not optional for believers, why many Christians struggle with worship, and how the battle between the world system and the Kingdom affects your daily life.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro + Announcement (Season Finale)

0:32 – Opening Prayer

1:38 – Devotional: “The King of Heaven”

3:06 – Why We Worship Jesus

4:09 – What Is Worship? (Real Definition)

6:33 – We Are All Worshiping Something

8:41 – Can You Worship God but Not Jesus?

11:45 – The Problem with “Lazy Christianity”

15:24 – Why Don’t We Worship Consistently?

17:18 – Discipline vs Comfort in Faith

20:32 – Churches That Don’t Teach Jesus Anymore

22:54 – What Real Worship Actually Feels Like

25:20 – How Worship Changes Your Spirit

28:20 – The Struggle of Letting Go of the World

30:46 – Distractions: Sports, Comedy, Entertainment

32:42 – People Respect 'God' but Avoid Saying 'Jesus'

35:15 – Two Systems: Kingdom vs The World

37:27 – Sensitivity to the Spirit Explained

38:51 – You See Me? You Should See Jesus

40:16 – Is Worshiping Jesus Idolatry?

44:27 – Religion, Groups, and False Beliefs

47:07 – Seek God for Yourself

49:23 – Why Doesn’t Worship Remove All Problems?

51:28 – Growth Requires Struggle

55:27 – Mario Levels + Spiritual Growth

56:44 – Understanding Spiritual Attacks

57:31 – Crawling → Walking: Your Daughter Analogy

1:02:32 – Don’t Wait for Miracles to Worship Jesus

1:03:56 – Peter + The Storm: Faith in Fear

1:05:25 – Seeing Miracles Still Won’t Fix Doubt

1:07:17 – Every Day You Wake Up Is a Miracle

1:09:09 – Death Happens Daily, But We Forget

1:11:36 – Denominations Don’t Equal Kingdom

1:14:51 – Worshiping Celebrities vs Worshiping Jesus

1:17:29 – Watch What You Say About God

1:19:48 – Take God Out → Chaos Comes In

1:22:18 – Don’t Forget What God Pulled You From

1:23:16 – Jesus Rolled With the Outcasts

1:27:02 – The Chosen: Humanity and Struggle

1:28:13 – Hebrews 1:6–8 Breakdown

1:31:05 – Final Encouragement: Know Who You Are

1:33:38 – Closing Prayer

1:39:20 – Final Goodbye + Season 2 Info

This episode tackles the real questions people avoid:

• Why should we worship Jesus?

• Is worshiping Jesus idolatry?

• Why do Christians feel spiritually lazy?

• Why doesn’t worship remove all our struggles?

• What does real Kingdom identity look like?

Frankie and Brian speak candidly about modern distractions, compromised faith, denominational confusion, and how worship sharpens your discernment, renews your mind, and strengthens your spiritual authority.

Whether you're a believer trying to grow, someone wrestling with Jesus’ divinity, or just hungry for clarity — this episode will challenge you, convict you, and point you straight to the truth.

Scriptures referenced: Hebrews 1:6–8, John 14, Genesis 1–3, and more.

Series: Kingdom Talk — Words of Encouragement Podcast

Episode: Season 1 Finale

Subscribe for Season 2 coming in January.

Clips dropping all month.

All hail the King.

Why do so many successful men still feel empty?

You built the business.

You bought the house.

You climbed the ladder.

But something still feels off.

In this powerful episode of the Words of Encouragement Podcast, Mike Van Pelt and I confront a hard truth:

Your identity is not your job.

Your identity is not your money.

Your identity is not your status.

And if you build your life on the wrong foundation, success won’t fix it.

We discuss:

• Why high-performing men struggle internally

• The identity crisis happening in the church

• Spiritual warfare most men don’t recognize

• Why “fast-food faith” keeps men stuck

• How to realign your identity with Christ

• Why success without alignment leads to emptiness

If you are a Christian man navigating pressure, leadership, marriage, business, or purpose — this conversation will challenge you.

This isn’t hype.

This is identity authority.

Join the Words of Encouragement Prayer Group:

👉 https://prayergroup.lovable.app

Connect with me:

Instagram: @iamfrankielubin

Subscribe for real conversations on faith, identity, masculinity, leadership, and spiritual growth.

#ChristianMen #IdentityInChrist #FaithBasedLeadership #MensMentalHealth #SpiritualWarfare #PurposeDrivenMen #Masculinity

Most men are taught how to be strong.

Very few are taught how to be anchored.

In this episode of Words of Encouragement, I sit down with Cole Hergott, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Canada’s largest private Christian university, to talk about a reality many men won’t admit:

👉 You can be disciplined, consistent, and high-performing…

👉 and still feel lost on the inside.

We unpack what real strength actually looks like when no one’s watching—and why discipline without identity eventually leads to burnout, broken relationships, and spiritual emptiness.

This conversation goes far beyond the gym.

We talk about:

• Why God is not transactional

• The silent identity crisis in men and athletes

• Leadership that forms character, not just results

• Marriage as a calling, not a convenience

• Fatherhood and how your kids learn who God is through you

• Why clarity matters more than motivation

• Strength that shows up even when feelings don’t

If you’ve ever felt strong on the outside but unsettled on the inside—this episode is for you.

🙏 JOIN THE PRAYER GROUP

You don’t have to carry everything alone.

We pray together every Monday at 8 PM EST.

If you need prayer, community, or spiritual grounding, join us here:

👉 https://prayergroup.lovable.app

📌 Subscribe for more real conversations on faith, identity, purpose, and becoming the man God is calling you to be.

There’s a kind of waiting that comes after loss.

After addiction. After relapse. After ruining what you once had.

This episode of the Words of Encouragement Podcast is for the person who feels disqualified — not because life happened, but because of choices they made. Drugs. Alcohol. Running. Numbing. And now you’re sober, clearer… but still asking:

God, will You still use me?

This devotional speaks to rebuilding faith after self-inflicted loss, trusting God’s timing when you’re starting over, and learning how to worship even when shame tries to keep you silent.

You’re not waiting because God forgot you.

You’re waiting because He’s restoring you.

📖 This episode touches on:

Faith after addiction

Shame, regret, and starting over

Trusting God’s timing when you feel behind

Worship as an act of surrender, not perfection

🙏 Join the Prayer Group

👉 https://prayergroup.lovable.app

If this episode spoke to you:

👍 Like the video

💬 Comment what season you’re in

📤 Share this with someone rebuilding their life

🔔 Subscribe for weekly encouragement and real conversations about faith, identity, and purpose

You are not disqualified.

You are being rebuilt.