Roses and Reflections: A book about life, God, and love, and everything in between

By Yvonne Bullis Guerrero

This book contains messages of the most important things to us—life, God, and love. And other things affecting us—loneliness, fears, trials, doubts, and not understanding why. These messages can be used as a devotional, Bible study, or preaching.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662459481

Book preview

Alone

Multitudes of women

In our country

In our world

Live alone

Separated, single

Divorced, widowed

They’re all here

Striving to survive

What happened

Did they elect

This way of life

Or was it thrust upon them

A story to tell

Mostly sad,

Abuses, unfaithfulness

Hurting, so much pain

To be alone

A courageous state

Notwithstanding

It’s necessities, poverty

New life impending

Adjustments made

Protection gone

Forcing decisions

Broken

In heart, in spirit

Happiness fades

Depression sets in

Life becomes hard

Crying comes easily

Frustration visits

What more to bear

A long, dark night awaits

Settling

This too, she’ll know

Hopefully conquering

She’ll be standing

Learning

Mostly about herself

Will she make it?

A great task is looming

Experiencing, learning

This life is mine

What to do with it

She realizes now

The power within

It was always there

Unknown to her

Life has changed

Not expecting

To be right

A warrior, fighter she’s become

The process was difficult

Almost giving up

A still voice cautioned

Don’t give up just yet

Too much suffering

Too many tears

The reward will surely

Erase the past

Being grateful

A better person emerged

Strong, determined

Future looking bright

Aloneness concluded its mission

A new destiny born

Bringing forth

What was lost

Hope stepping in

Empowering

To trust again

To love again

To live again

I watch and aim as a sparrow alone upon house top. (Ps. 102:7)

An Old Lady’s Prayer

Lord,

I’m an ol’ lady now,

Walked, talked with you

For nearly sixty-two years.

A long way for an eleven-year-old kid!

You’ve guided me,

Blessed me.

Together,

We’ve gone through thick and

Through hell and back thin.

Good and bad.

Sweet and sorrow.

So I kinda figured,

I would stick around,

And stay with you

A little longer still.

Why would I leave:

Life for death.

Light for darkness.

Joy for sadness.

Love for hatred.

Health for sickness.

Strength for weakness.

Riches for poverty.

Hope for desperation.

Blessings for curses.

Truth for deceit.

Victory for defeat.

I have it all,

All is you.

You’re in me,

I do have it all.

Why look back?

Why go back?

There is nothing.

Keep me goin’.

Keep me faithful.

Obeying, serving.

This will always be

My gift to you.

December 31, 2014

Ps 118:1

A Reminder

I was thinking,

One day,

About my dreams

And the great things

I had hoped

To accomplish.

To be a famous name,

Money would be part

Of the game.

Life goes on

Unseemly.

Time hurls by

Unknowingly.

Where was I?

Was I asleep?

The great things

Were never wrought.

What happened to me?

Did I allow my dreams

To die, never to be?

I questioned.

I needed answers.

God answered

In a softly

Spoken word.

In my spirit,

I perceived

What he was trying

To tell me.

Have you been asleep,

And not known?

Your eyes heavy

With big dreams and things

You haven’t seen…

You haven’t noticed

You raised five

Beautiful lives.

Their talents offered to me,

Changing lives,

Beautifying my temple

And my people.

You did not know

Of the man who

Has loved you

Through thick and thin.

Forever embracing you

In every storm,

Holding your hand.

Did you not know

Of your spiritual family,

Whose love and respect

You have earned?

There is nothing

They wouldn’t do for you.

Have you forgotten

Those you have taught

Liberating through the word

From imprisonment

Of all sorts?

You placed the seeds

In their hands

To do the same.

The people

Who crossed your path,

Received a kind word or two.

A smile or hug from you.

What about the ones

You’ve fed and clothed,

The hope you brought,

When there was none?

The young people,

Children,

Whose dreams

Helped come true?

The Women,

Mothers, grandmothers,

Burdens you lifted,

With teaching and counseling?

What about the music

You gave,

Imbedded in people’s souls,

To lift them up in praise?

You have forgotten

The tears

Not shed in vain,

For the lost and needy

Of this world.

Ah, and the laughter!

You didn’t know

How many hearts

Were made merry

For a brief moment.

Bringing medicine

To their troubled souls.

Great things indeed!

You have

Given unselfishly,

Loved unconditionally.

These, my daughter,

Are great, great things!

Great things

The world does.

Yes,

But done for publicity

and pride.

What good is a famous name,

If it’s not in my book?

You were busy, perhaps

Desiring and sighing.

For the great, great things

Your heart heavy,

Your spirit crying.

You had not accomplished

Nothing…

Or so you thought.

Little things

Are what count and matter.

Things done in my name,

Words spoken in my love.

It is not the great things

Done for whatever purpose.

But all the little things

Done with my blessing.

I learned a lesson

Doing the small things,

That eventually add up

To give me great joy!

I need to take notice

And not by pass

The many opportunities

To do my little great things!

July 22, 2004

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful, also in much. (Luke 16:10)

Though thy beginning was small yet thy latter end should greatly increase. (Job 8:7)

Away From Home

These past few weeks, away

From my family, my house, my church,

And away from you, I felt:

Like a fish out of water

Like a rainbow without colors

Like a beach without sand

Like a sky without stars

Like a squirrel without a tree

Like a hug without a kiss

Like clouds without rain

Like a sun without beams

Like a tree without shade

Like a flower without dew

Like a child without a mother

Like a ship without an anchor

Like a sea without tide

Like a clown without laughter

Like a road without direction

Like a song without notes

Like a moon without shadows

Like tears without joy

Like leaves without wind

Like a waterfall without a song

Like a heart without a beat

Like a whisper without love

Like a sight without a soul

Get the picture? Never again.

Don’t leave me again!

July 23 to Aug 10, 1998

Port Arthur, Texas.

B

Being A Father and Pastor

Being a father and pastor means

You will never be bored

You will always be frustrated

You will be surrounded

By challenges

So much to do, so little time

You will carry immense

Responsibilities

You will step into people’s lives

Making a difference

Some will bless you

Others will curse you

You will see people at

Their best

And worse

You will never cease to be

Amazed at people’s

Capacity for

Love

Courage

Forgiveness

Patience

Endurance

You will cry

You will laugh

You will know what it is

To be human

And

To be humane

A Happy Father’s Day tribute to her father by his daughter, Vivian Guerrero Casillas.

June 1999

C

Christine’s Song

You are a song in the Lord’s hands

Sometimes your song

Has been joyous

Has been friendly

Has been love and kindness

Has been laughter

Sometimes your song is

Bitter

Angry

Critical

But the Lord is cleansing

The song

Making it prepared and

Powerful

Your song will heal the

Brokenhearted

Your son will heal the sick

Your song will liberate

The bound

Your song will give love

Your song will give hope

Your song will give Jesus

Let the Lord mold you and

Renew you

Wonderful things are

Waiting for you

Let the singing

Begin!

Now will I sing to my well beloved. (Isa. 5:1)

Written for my niece, Christine, who lost her only son.

Christmas

Christmas,

The best time of the year.

When hearts are merry

A spirit of giving abounds.

Seeing the multicolor lights,

Holiday music,

Programs, plays, dramas

Add up to a merry season.

We all get wrapped up

Celebrating Christmas.

We need to pause,

Recognize the one who made Christmas.

We hear it’s time for family,

To appreciate friends,

To enjoy each other’s company.

Most of all, to love

What we do at Christmas

Should be done every day.

Willing to help.

Willing to give.

Do we need a holiday?

Show kindness to the homeless,

Compassion to the desperate,

Sharing our blessings

Do we need a holiday

To remind us of family,

To appreciate them,

Loving each other?

Why do we not think of the poor?

The ones with nothing to give.

Empty tables,

No Christmas cheer.

The poor are among us.

Homeless, fatherless,

Lonely, the sick.

They’ll surely be here,

When Christmas is over.

We remember

A baby boy,

J in