The Question I'm most often asked when working in the garden is:

"Why do I need Jesus?"

Then before I can even answer, the person will say one of the following:

The seeds for "After the Cross, the Spirit" germinated while laying out the garden. It was a moving one for many of the garden's visitors with whom it was shared.

When planting I was thinking of the theme strictly from the point-of-view of how it was Jesus' suffering and then death on the Cross which gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit today. Jesus even calls Him "the Helper" in John 14:26.

After the garden was planted, I learned a friend who's an outstanding woman was very sick. When tending the garden, I began to ask God pointless "why" questions, such as: why her, God? She's much better than most of us. Then: why all the chaos in the world? After alternating between prayers and fussing for too many days, two verses came to mind, Luke 9:23, 24. "Then He said to them all; "'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.'" I was corrected.

Have you ever noticed how we often feel closest to God when we're suffering? That's the presence of the Holy Spirit. That's Jesus' lesson after the Cross too. After His death and then 40 days teaching His Apostles after the grave, He went home. Eventually, after our time here, so shall we. Meanwhile, just like Him and His believers back then, we will suffer. But never alone. John 16:7 "'Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I'll send Him to you.'"

Remember- you are not alone. Gardener Lori

For Previous Calendars:

"I'm a good person- better than most."

"I'm a good person- more good actions than bad"

"All roads lead to heaven."

"I believe in a loving God, not a punishing one."

"I'm too bad to get into heaven!"

The reasons sound... reasonable, don't they?

So why do you need Jesus to get to heaven?

The idea for the Garden began in the Fall of 2005 after a family member died in H. Katrina. The idea grew. The rocks were carved and placed in 2007.

We are not preachers, theologians, scholars or counselors. We love God, read the Bible and garden.

Our website's name, scripturerocksgarden.org is a mnemonic device. One scripture on many rocks in a garden . organized.

The garden is NOT a business NOR 501(c)3.

We do NOT accept donations.

We do NOT have any Church affiliations.

We DO support our mom & pop ministry the same way the Apostles did. We work in our trade and labor in the garden.

Why do we do this? We love Jesus & He loves you. So do we.❤️

About the Garden

"THE ROCKS"

Joe's Corner The ground is still frozen and will be for awhile. For you, switching out the banner photo for one posted outside some time ago. Out of all the Joe's Corner poster, this one had the biggest crowd. A group of folks who lived together in a group home stopped by and read it on their Sunday afternoon walk. I could hear their excitement inside and went to see if something was wrong. They all smiled like angels and said they loved it! Folks who don't like the postings often stop too. They frown and often take a photo. Initially they scared me more than a bit. But years later, I think: They read it. Smile.

From Gardener Lori ✍🏻

Being older, changes in technology can be pretty daunting. For some reason, my decades long method of using this program are failing. It's been a discontinued format by provider for some time now, and perhaps it's run its course. I don't think I can learn a new one. But this has always been the Lord's website, so will leave the future up to Him.

God bless you, Lori.

Click on "The Rocks" button to learn why you need Jesus.

Winter's Garden.

Winter's Message will be the Purpleheart Wood Cross.

February 2026 For the month of February we will be in the Book of Job. At first I wished Job could have been scheduled in a brighter, warmer time of year. But as we go through the book and see what Job endures, avoiding Job because of inclement weather is silly. Perhaps that's one point of Job, to seek God, talk to God, do what you can, then wait. God is there. He has a plan. Endure. Here's a verse phrase to hide in your heart: "Be still, and know that I am God;" Psalm 46:10. Peace be with you.

Garden Theme 2024 "After the Cross, the Spirit"

See All Scripture Rocks here:

Scripture Rocks Garden

After sixty years of silence, I'm sharing "Ray of Light" comment based on Paul's text in 2 Corinthians 12:2.

2. "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven." KJV

Paul is writing about an experience that had happened to him 14 years previously.

How did it happen? After being stoned "to death" he was considered dead so the crowd left. He then had the above experience, about which he so briefly writes.

Why such brevity? Read the passage to find out. :)

For whom is the passage meant? Perhaps for those of us who've either had such an experience (now called NDEs) or witnessed one. We can gain a valuable lesson from Paul's descriptions - no matter how long ago "it" happened, or our age at such an event.

The lesson? The afterlife is real and it's next. It can happen anytime- even in the twinkling of an eye. Are you ready? Following Paul's example, this is all I'll write on the topic.

A Warning: Faith is a choice, not a feeling or experience. Don't let experiences, or lack thereof, corrupt genuine faith. Saving faith comes only from Jesus Christ. Choose Jesus!.