Stephen G Pate

Directions Website

pastor + speaker + writer. Exploring faith, formation, and what it means to live as God's beloved. Pastor, teacher, writer, and speaker.

Exploring faith, formation, and what it means to live as God’s beloved.

09/03/2026

When was the last time you let God love you?

The practice of contemplative prayer reminds us we are loved fully and seen clearly by Jesus.

🙏

08/20/2026

“God loves you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because nobody is as they should be.” Brennan Manning

08/18/2026

This summer, I've been reflecting on the invitation of silence.

It seems we live in a world that fears silence, worshipping constant activity and noise. The scriptures, however, show a different path. One where we choose stillness, enter discomfort, and find intimacy before words. I taught on this a few months ago but keep returning to this idea. The first word of prayer is silence.

06/26/2025

“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8)

A spiritual life is a journey of contemplation; an increasing awareness of God’s presence in all things.

I have a tendency to drift in my mind, to float away from the present moment. I wonder if part of the work of prayer is to be steadfast in the now? And we ask God to do this. The psalmist says God’s love directs. It speaks and guides. It gives hope even in confusing times.

Lately, I’ve been rediscovering God’s healing and guidance through prayer and meditation. When we rest, when we quiet our souls, we make space for the spirit to move. To live out of that overflow is to be free and at home in our true identity: as God’s beloved.

03/25/2025

Learning to be present is a deeply spiritual practice. And this applies to all facets of our lives.

Regardless of your life situation and work, you always bring yourself along. Whatever you’re doing, you’re already there, so you might as well show up fully.

One writer framed it as the first task we have every day is simply waking up. The ensuing challenge for the rest of the day is to stay awake.

I’m continually reminded of the importance of presence in all facets of our lives. We show up for people and show up for ourselves. Being present brings awareness to our lives so that we can encounter God in the here and now. And it is the only way to love others.

Whether I’m giving a sermon, speaking in front of a crowd, or sitting with someone in a hospital room, the gift I can give in that moment is my presence. To be fully there. Open. Calm. And receptive.

We call it an “art” rather than a science because it will look different for all of us. We find our own ways of showing up for ourselves and others. This may take time and trial. But if we keep at it, we learn to live more of our lives in the here and now.

This is my own conviction, but what we need now, more than ever, are people committed to being fully present.

Attention equals love.
Focus equals care.
Being present is how we love God and others.

03/11/2025

Our world is a noisy place. The constant barrage of sounds and stimuli often wreak havoc on us. It can feel nearly impossible to enter any amount of silence.

But this noise isn’t found only in our external world. It includes what is going on inside us.

Many of us feel overwhelmed and overburdened.

We are restless and distracted, frustrated and even apathetic.

Admitting our inner worlds are noisy and chaotic is a good place to start.

Silence is a posture of slowing down and opening up. We listen first and foremost. And cut through much of the noise that permeates our internal and external worlds.

It is a tool for connecting with God and each other. It reminds us that words aren’t always necessary, but presence is.

Silence and stillness are the starting points of the spiritual life.

In silence, we hear the deeper message being said. We lean in to listen to the voice of love.

Some have said it’s not that God is no longer speaking to us. It’s that we’ve forgotten how to listen.

Silence tunes our souls to hear 🙏

02/19/2025

“Spirituality and spiritual life give us the strength to love.” Bell Hooks

Bell Hooks writing all those years ago identifies an issue within our culture and world: we are increasingly becoming people of lovelessness.

The remedy?

Learning to love and learning to live.

God invites us into a lived experience of hope and renewal. “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

01/29/2025

Three things to remember in a season of waiting:

1) Life is not a race

We often compare our lives with others. We think we should be farther along or more successful and accomplished. Or we should be more put-together. The reality is your life is yours. Your story is yours. The writer in Hebrews says we “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). Perseverance calls to mind the journey of faith (and life). Patience is needed. Live in the season you’re in.

2) Real growth takes time

It’s interesting how many of the parables Jesus teaches are about agriculture. Plants often grow slowly and undetected until they break through the surface. Is the same true for change and transformation in our lives? We want to fast-track a process that is typically the opposite of our timetable. It’s okay to slow down and take it one day at a time.

3) God does not waste the wait

God is not in a hurry as we often are. When we embrace the season we’re in, we let go of striving, pining, and attempting to control our circumstances. The psalmist says, “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8). God’s got this. So we can live freely in the present. The wait will not be wasted.

I love Paul’s opening words to the Philippians—that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” (Phil 1:6) Remember, that good work is still working, regardless of the season you find yourself in 🙏

12/30/2024

21 Ceremonies in 2024 🙏❤️

It was a blessing to work with some incredible couples and families this past year, whether we were celebrating a new beginning in marriage or honoring the life of a loved one. I believe ceremonies and rituals are some of the most important things we do.

They remind us of our connectedness.

They uphold the values of love, compassion, and joy.

And they usher in an appreciation and awareness of God, faith, and the mystery of being human.

I’m looking forward to 2025 and everything this new year has in store. Happy New Year! 🎊

09/19/2024

As a funeral officiant, I experience many emotions when helping people plan a ceremony and remember and celebrate their loved ones. I’ve cried with families, laughed at stories, and reminisced about memories shared and lessons learned. I’ve led prayers. I’ve read scriptures and eulogies. And I’ve stood in solidarity with people in the confusion, pain, and doubt. Every ceremony is different and unique to the person who’s passed. Still, my clearest message is this: God’s love does not end at death.

I love the words that Jesus shares in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

Someone’s life and impact continue after they leave this earth. We remember them and share their legacy. And we hold one another, finding strength in the hope that sustains us 🙏❤️

Address

Orange County, CA

Website

http://www.revpate.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Stephen G Pate posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your business to be the top-listed event planning service in Orange County ?