Paid in full!....Heaven's Grocery Store!

I was walking down life's highway a long, long time ago.

When I saw a sign that pointed me to Heaven's Grocery Store! 

As I got a little closer, the door came open wide,

and there I stood amazed at what I found inside!

I heard a host of angels; 

"Hallelujah, Glory" they did sing,

"Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty to the King!"

"He is Worthy! He is Worthy!" With shouts of praise, they did rejoice!

When softly and tenderly I heard His wonderful Voice!

"My child, everything you need in life is in this grocery store,

and my storehouse is ever overflowing, you can always come

back for more"!

First, I got some patience;

love was in the same row.

Further down was understanding; you need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of wisdom,

I filled my cart with faith.

I just couldn't miss the Holy Spirit for He was all over the place!

I stopped to get some strength and courage to help me run the race.

By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I must have His grace.

I mustn't  forget Salvation, the sign said it was free.

And then He whispered within my heart, I want you to live with me for all eternity!

As I went up the aisle, I saw prayer and 

just had to put that in,

for I knew when I stepped outside, I would run right into sin.

Mercy, oh how I need His mercy so,

so I piled my basket high to almost overflow.

Peace and joy were plentiful; they were on the last shelf.

Praise and Worship was everywhere so I just helped myself.

Then, I asked, "Now how much do I owe?"

He just smiled and said, "Just take them everywhere you go."

And lovingly whispered.....

"My child,  I paid your bill a long time ago".

                                                                                     Author unknown

I love the message of this simple little poem! It paint's a word picture of His Mercy and Grace and so Great a Salvation available to mankind.  For many years I was taught that "salvation" simply meant that when I died, I would be saved from hell. That we must plod through life with all of it's disappointments, struggles, ups and downs, just hanging on by the "skin of my teeth" and then one day in the sweet by and by, I would fly away to glory and live with Jesus!  Now the flying away part and living with Jesus part was great!!!  But what about the here and now stuff of life!  Deep within my heart I just knew there had to be more to being "saved".    So I began my quest.....A hunger gnawed deep within my soul to press in and draw closer and deeper into Him.  I purposed to pour over His Word, prayed for revelation knowledge, wisdom and understanding and sought sound, anointed  teaching and then ONE DAY  Isaiah 53:1-12 truly became a rehma word to me!!  It became "alive" and absolutely real within my heart!!  He REALLY DID take the curse of sin and ALL that it included upon himself and made the divine exchange with me!  He took upon himself, all of my sin, grief, pain, sickness, bondage, sorrow, rejection and fear and delivered me unto complete wholeness. He took all my "stuff" and exchanged it for a new life overflowing with the free glorious benefits that He paid for with every drop of precious blood He shed at Calvary!!  He came and paid the price for us to have life!  A day to day journey in and through Him!  In right standing with God!!

In John 10:10 Jesus spoke these powerful words.........

 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy.

I AM come that they (YOU AND ME) might have life and that they (YOU AND ME)

might have it more abundantly (to fullest measure)!

(emphasis added)

Jesus came to give you and I abundant, to the fullest measure life!!!  Glory to God!!

In Psalm 68:19 David shares this scripture which paints a beautiful picture of God's provision for you and I........

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, 
even the God of our Salvation.
 Selah! (pause and calmly think about it.)

I love this scripture!   One of the definitions for "daily" in this passage is "in a day's journey" and one of the definitions of "benefits" is "advantage"!!!   

Are you gettin' it!!!!  Jesus died and took our sin and the curse that held us in captivity/disadvantage and made the divine exchange and gave us abundant life of freedom in and through Him and gave us benefits/advantage in our everyday journey!    Too often, way to often, we live below the standard of the amazing, supernatural benefits that He provided!!  It's time to step it up and live everyday in the blessings and benefits He paid for!  I wanna be like the gal above and have my basket (everyday life) overflowing with benefits from His never-ending storehouse!!

With one broad stroke, the Holy Spirit revealed and lead me into the truth of what Jesus provided you and I in this life, in the here and now!  That was years ago and now as I'm typing this post I sense a Holy Spirit inspired reminder and renewed hunger to once again really lay hold of the vast provision that His sacrifice upon the Cross affords me!   How 'bout you?

"Lord, I ask that you would stir within each of our hearts the insatiable hunger to live our daily journey fully immersed in Your Love and ALL that your sacrifice purchased for us.  I thank you for daily loading us with the amazing benefits of such a Great Salvation!!  Complete freedom, abundant to the full measure life......wholeness everyday, in everyway.....All to the Glory of God!!  In the Mighty Name of Jesus!!"

Hugs and Sweet Blessings!