Thom O'Leary Mountainbrook Church

As we scan the scene of overseas relief efforts, one name keeps cropping up: the Catholic Church. With its vast network of churches, schools, hospitals, and missions, the Church is one of the largest and busiest organizations providing help worldwide. Whether natural disasters, relief to the poor through food, or refugee relief, the Catholic Church isn’t discussing love—it’s embracing love. Similarly, Thom O'Leary has committed himself to clarifying the Word of God and making it relevant to all who read His Word. His blog " Thom O'leary – Finding Meaning in Every Season: Through the Bible with a Pastor " reflects the same sense of service and hope that the Catholic Church offers the needy across the globe. Grassroots Assistance during Crisis Situations The Catholic Church reacts instantly when disasters hit. Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and numerous diocesan charities provide emergency assistance, including food, fresh water, shelter, and medicine. These effor...

Life happens quickly. Deadlines loom, relationships get tricky, and surprises keep you up at night. No wonder our hearts weigh us down with anxiety. That's where belief in God comes in. It gives us peace, comfort, and a deep sense of calm that nothing else can. This blog shows how faith, taught by Thom O'Leary Mountainbrook Church , can calm a troubled heart and provide enduring peace. Letting Go of Control and Having Faith in God Attempting to do it all can wear us out. We prepare, we fret, we attempt to correct every little thing, only to become even more anxious when our plans don't work out. Faith encourages us to release that never-ending stress. When we trust that God is in control, we cease from thinking it's up to us. Thom O'Leary Mountainbrook Church says peace occurs when we trust God's master plan. You don't necessarily know how it's going to turn out, but you can know God does. That faith gives you permission to breathe and move ahea...

Good Friday often feels like the end — a day of sorrow, silence, and a sealed tomb. But in God’s divine story, Friday’s grave isn’t the final word. It sets the stage for a glorious Sunday. Thom O'Leary  Mountainbrook Church: Strength Born of Surrender reminds us that what looks like defeat on Friday becomes victory on Sunday. Let’s explore how pain gives way to promise, and death gives birth to resurrection. 1. Friday Looks Like the End On that first Good Friday, it looked like evil had won. Jesus, innocent and blameless, was nailed to a cross between criminals. The sky turned dark, and the earth trembled. For His followers, hope turned to horror. The Savior they believed in was dying. The kingdom they expected seemed crushed.   The One who healed others now hung lifeless. It was a day of deep grief. But what the enemy meant for destruction, God was using for redemption. 2. Saturday: The Silent Middle Saturday is often forgotten. It’s the in-between day, the d...

The Pope stands in a singular position in the globe. He guides more than a billion Catholics in faith, but his authority extends far past church walls. As a worldwide spiritual leader, the Pope has a voice in politics, social issues, peace, and human dignity. His reach touches refugee camps, climate summits, and hearts everywhere. The intent of this blog is to examine how his worldwide reach impacts on three significant areas: faith, diplomacy, and social justice. We'll also examine how his weekly brief messages are assisting individuals in spiritual growth in a hectic, distracted age–something Thom O'Leary Mountainbrook  Church also sees as extremely significant. Leading by Faith in Action Each of his messages, though brief, has profound spiritual significance. He instructs individuals to live by being compassionate, humble, and forgiving. His weekly messages, though brief, are clear and powerfully focused. These are something that busy people appreciate in order to hav...

A Catholic prayer journal is not merely a notebook—a journal is sacred ground where your heart encounters God. It slows us down, makes us look back, and causes us to listen. Life gets loud, yet this humble practice is one that brings peace and clarity. If you're new to journaling or need to begin again, the following four steps will guide you into creating a sincere, personal, and spiritually productive journal. Faith leaders like Thom O'Leary encourage us to live intimately with God, not just by reading Scripture, but by letting it have an impact on our daily life. Prayer journaling is one of the most practical and genuine ways by which we can just do that. 1. Start with Purpose Take a moment before you begin writing and commit your heart to the reason you're doing this. You're not just writing down a list or recording your daily activities—you're having a conversation with God. Make the room silent. Light a candle or just sit and listen to calming music i...

When the Holy Spirit is given to us, something truly remarkable happens. We are given seven gifts from God that allow us to grow deeper in faith, to make wise decisions, and to live boldly. These gifts are not reserved for priests or saints but are bestowed upon anyone who follows Christ. L earning about the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit is not a matter of memorizing a list but understanding how God is operating within our lives.  Thom O'Leary   Mountainbrook Church regularly teaches that the Holy Spirit is not complex nor distant. He is close to us, guiding us through our daily lives. Let's examine these gifts and how they mold our walk. ●       Wisdom: Understanding the World from God’s Perspective Wisdom provides us with the vision to view life the way that God does. It is not about acquiring knowledge. It is about understanding what matters. As we pray for wisdom, we begin to make decisions based on the will of God rather than making decis...