"But he was wounded for our transgressions;

 he was crushed for our iniquities; 

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his stripes we are healed. 

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned- every one- to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him 

the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 53:5-6

We just got back from a really sweet time of worship at our church.  Before we left for the Good Friday service, we had our little family devotion time during dinner.  Mike has been leading the kids through the Passion week. Since he was gone, I was in charge tonight.  I wanted to go ahead and set my mind on the cross and talk to the kids about what we would be celebrating tonight at church.  I read the passage above and made my modest simple explanation to our kids.  Then I read to them out of The Jesus Storybook Bible (FYI this is probably my favorite children's Bible I've ever read!).  I've realized God uses these times just as much for me as hopefully he is using for our kids sake. Tonight reading the words about Christ's death, I found tears rolling down my cheeks thinking about the wrath of God he took that I deserve:

"The full force of the storm of God's fierce anger at sin was coming down. On his own Son. Instead of his people.  It was the only way God could destroy sin, and not destroy his children whose hearts were filled with sin. 

Then Jesus shouted out in a loud voice, "It is finished!" 

And it was. He had done it. Jesus had rescued the whole world."

Madeline's little sensitive heart was quick to remind me after reading and talking about Jesus' death, "Mommy, Jesus didn't stay dead.  He ROSE on Easter... He's alive now!" River's is chiming in, "He alive, He alive momma."  Yes he is sweet kids, and if you trust in him your sick heart will be made well and his death will count for yours. Praise God for such a Rescuer!