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

THE
ROCKS

The Question I'm

most often asked

when in the garden is:

"Why do I need Jesus?"

I then often hear one of the reasons below as to why the person thinks he or she doesn't:

"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 nor have any Church affiliations. We support our mom & pop ministry the same way the Apostles did- we work in our trades.

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

About the Garden

The Garden at Dusk

After Jesus' death, He did not abandon His followers. Jesus rose from the grave and for 40 days He walked the earth teaching those who followed Him the Way.

Most of May 2025 are in the 40 day time frame between the Lord's Resurrection and Ascension. You can learn more about both the Way and those 40 precious days in the "Book of Acts."

Joe's Corner

A new "Joe's Corner"! Have you ever felt stuck out on a ledge? Read on! The tag directing walkers to the Worthy Lamb cart where the Rocks' Scripture texts are posted above will remain all Summer. Isaiah 55:11 was the inspiration for posting them and folks are reading them! Alleluia!

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

For May's Bible Study most days we'll read the entire Book of Joshua! We were saddened to read of the death of Moses at the end of Deuteronomy; yet encouraged to recall how greatly God used Moses the last 40 years of his 120 years on earth. And now the Israelites will be claiming their Promised Land- together- as agreed upon with God & Moses. Will new leadership help them be obedient to God's Commandments? Let us read on... God bless you this May.

A few new old photos! Hope to eventually have rotating photos of all the gardens over the years.

We would appreciate prayers for God's wisdom regarding the main display garden area abutting the bike trail. We'd like to keep the main display garden the same here, but times change. After 24 years priorities of folks using the trail have changed too. Prayers would be helpful that we're also able to discern God's will regarding our health and safety as well.

Fortunately, for now the Scripture Rocks Garden gate area will remain "as is". For that we are thankful!

A final prayer request is specifically for our mindset. Please pray we remember that people's souls matter more to Jesus than flowers. He longs for all to accept His free gift of Salvation. And that is the whole point of this garden- to not only honor but witness about Him. It's been a wonderful life to get to do that with flowers.

In Jesus' Name, Thank You for praying.

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!.