Words of Healing

A pharmacy in Bishops Castle, England offers prescriptions on site, and the medicine seems to boost its patrons health, despite its out of the ordinary medicine. It prescribes poetry. Deborah Alma runs the “pharmacy,” as she believes poetry can help with a variety of heart and mental ailments. After listening to the troubles of her visitors, she prescribes a poem just for them. 

The idea that words can work healing is not new. Words of life spoken, repeated, sung, and believed make a big difference. In fact, it was recently discovered that words can actually change our DNA. 

Words of healing

“You are wonderful, Marzette. Absolutely wonderful.”

I recently published the book “Marzette: You are Wonderful.” The story shows the impact of listening to the songs and whispers God has for us. When God speaks, there is life, hope, rebirth, renewal, redemption, and healing.

Derek Prince wrote a book called God’s Medicine Bottle. (You can read it here.) Prince talked about how God’s word is like a medicine, referring to the passage in Proverbs 4:20-22, which says, 

My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.

He shared how he had a skin condition that no medication would respond to. He went to so many doctors, and finally he decided he would seek God for healing. He started reading God’s word regularly, believing, and confessing God’s goodness for him; and he was healed. 

Words that we believe have power. Words are not a spell we cast, but when we believe them, they affect our actions, thought life, our spirit, and in turn, our physical well being. 

Maybe there is an ailment that you are struggling with— a heartache or a physical pain. Find the words of life that speak to your situation, and begin rehearsing those words, and believing God’s heart for you. As we listen to what God says, and believe that it true, He builds our faith.

Jesus said “Let it be done according to your faith.” It’s not a matter of mustering up a enough faith to please God, as if we can earn the right to be healed. Rather faith is like a doorway. Our faith is an open door for God to have his way. When we have no faith, we lack the trust to let Him in. When we believe He is “the rewarder of those who seek Him,” then we are giving Him permission to do what He does— restore, refresh, and heal.

Below are some scriptures that might be helpful for you. God’s words for you are hope-filled, life-giving, and healing to your soul.

He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. Psalms 147:3

Heal me Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Prov 3:7-8

You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from you. Ex. 23:25

You are Wonderful! Marzette- A Parable of Redemption

Marzette: You Are Wonderful is a story of unconditional love. Since I first started telling this story, I have seen many lives impacted by its message. Share the message forgiveness, identity, and redemption by helping bring this beautifully illustrated hardbound book to print.

I have always loved to dance.

I am an author, but I have always loved to dance. I was fascinated by the technique of portraying a human marionette. I spent hours in the studio with a shoe string and ballet barre, watching how my limbs responded to being pulled by a string.

Eventually I wanted to use the analogy of a marionette to perform a story with heart. 

After years of performing this story on stages across the world, I am excited to bring it to the page as a picture book that children can revisit day after day.

The Story

Marzette is a marionette fashioned by the Great Puppet Maker, and she can dance! Marzette desires the admiration of a prestigious audience. She, like you and me, wants the affirmation of others — the likes, followers, and reputation of someone important.

The Bad Guy 

The villain in the story embodies the lies we believe about ourselves. He is a slick, manipulative trickster. He tells Marzette she must perform to be adored. This story touches on a core issue in our culture— who controls me? What principles are guiding my decisions? This reflection is vital for us children today.

The Hero is Unconditional Love

Marzette is abused, misused, lied to, and rejected. Yet at her lowest point, she discovers that she was never forgotten, always loved, and still valued. She is still wonderful! This story shares the heart of God with your child: you are loved; you are wonderful.

Interested in the book? Find it here.

Phonics Fun for FREE

Do you have a visual learner, or a struggling reader? Do you want your child to thrive in reading? When teaching my son to read I discovered he needed more visual connection with the alphabet. It was only after drawing him an elephant E that says “eh,” he finally was able to comprehend that letter E makes two sounds. Thus began my journey of equipping my visual learner with the tools to decode the English language.

Want to try it?

Download FREE

coloring pages here!

Phonics is essential

Many studies (like here and here) have found that in order to thrive in reading students must have some kind of phonics instruction, and this especially true for those with dyslexia. Sight words or whole language reading methods teach children to memorize words, guess, and estimate, but they fail to instruct children to decode words. It is estimated that a human being can learn no more than 800 sight words in a year, and as one ages that pace declines. English has over one million words; at the pace of 800 words a year, it would take children 1,250 years to learn all the words in the English language!

Phonics instruction equips children to decode any word, and understand their structure. Giving children instruction in phonics provides them with the tools to enjoy lifelong learning through reading.

Paperback copies available for Preorder

Reading requires abstract thinking

Myriads of letter books can be found with letters set next to images, like A for ant, B for ball, and C for cat. Forr the visual learner, those letters are boring black blobs set next to an appealing picture.

To read phonetically, children must understand that a symbol (A, B, C) signifies a sound, and then merge those sounds to form words. Jolie Canoli Phonics books aim to make it easier for children to acquire these abstract thinking skills by creating letters that look like sounds children are already acquainted with. Children don’t need to take an extra step of connecting an image with a symbol; instead
the image is the symbol. 

This phonics series is visual, easy to use, and simple.

Jolie Canoli Phonics has an A that looks like an ant, and a C that looks like a cat. More than that, these books aim to teach beginners and higher age groups in-depth language comprehension by teaching spelling rules and all phonetic sounds. For instance, children learn three A sounds- A like ant, A like acorn, and A that looks like its mouth is open, saying “ah!” Similarly, C is a happy cat that both says ‘k’ and a hissing cat that says ‘ssssss.’ 

Using easy to follow images, kids can practice handwriting skills by tracing each letter with their finger. My kids got frustrated at their inability to write letters, and it made handwriting an intimidating chore. These tracing activities are a fun tactile reinforcement that allows kids to learn proper handwriting without frustration.

Phonics for 2nd Language Learners

Students learning a second language can struggle with the myriads of pronunciations found in the English language. They frequently ask how the same letter can change sounds. Jolie Canoli Phonics is inspired by and compliments the Orton-Gillingham method for literacy. This methodology assists students in comprehending the many sounds found in English, and also goes on to teach students spelling rules that explain nearly all English words. Jolie Canoli Phonics introduces all the sounds of the alphabet, as well as the rules of Silent E, helping second language learners grasp the structure of the English language.

Learning Through Play

Books that read like Dr. Suess, with colorful and memorable icons, and fun coloring book activities make learning phonics feel like playing. My desire is to see visual learners like my son find a lifelong love of learning. If these products can help others find that path, then all the work has been worth it.

Order the full set of books and coloring pages on our store!

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