I Have a Dream

Back Story: How Did I Come to Develop Refreshing Streams Ministries?

C-Light Videography, Nov 6, 2023

I Have a Dream

Twenty-five years ago … burnout; I was on a pilgrimage. Holy Spirit down-loaded a seed for refreshing others in the journey of life. I was recovering from burnout.

I was challenged by these words in Mark 6:31 [TPT]:

‘Jesus said to his disciples, “Come,
let’s take a break and find a secluded place,
where you can rest a while.”’

OASIS

Stinging, biting, sand
Imprints upon the land
Winds howling
Sun-drenching
“Will I make it through this arid land, Lord?”

“My soul thirsts for You, O God
This weary traveller
longs for streams in the desert
refreshing and REST.”

At last! I see the oasis … or is it a mirage?
Is this the wellspring of Living Water
where healing oil is poured
upon the stinging wounds?
Warm, fragrant oil
The Balm of Gilead?

I’ve found the Oasis of Love
He’s been waiting … for me!
I stagger, flop, rest
In stillness and PEACE
I receive, relish, relinquish

REVIVED, refreshed and rejuvenated
I return to the journey with Him

© 2021 by Barbara J. Harry

This poem was birthed in 1998 during a major transition in my life. I was between jobs in Wellington indefinitely, and after the initial adjustment, I settled down to reflect and read. Books captured my attention, including Formed by the Desert, by Joyce Huggett.1

The author unfolded a new concept of the soul traversing through the ‘desert’ of life. I delved into the Word to find out what the Creator had to say to me.

Finding a quiet, sunny spot, I noted from my concordance (Pre the internet search engines and ‘apps’!) every scripture pertaining to the desert. I felt I was there, sensing, and experiencing the challenges of desert dwellers of old.

I walked with the Children of Israel, stood with Moses at his furnace encounter, and identified with Yeshua/Jesus in the wilderness.

Passages such as Psalms 63 and 84, and Hosea 2 came alive. I was on a pilgrimage — an inner journey, a contemplative metamorphosis. The barrenness of my soul was raw.

I was thirsty. I longed for water; an oasis. I searched the scriptures about water, fountains, springs and oases. I stood with the Samaritan woman at the well and imagined my response as Yeshua engaged me in dialogue.

I asked Him to woo me into a more intimate relationship; for His Living Water to replace the stagnant areas of my being with His Life-giving fountains and springs.

New vision and hope infused my soul, receiving Abba’s heart to lead others to the Living Water. A few years earlier, I’d experienced burnout. I was busy ‘doing’ instead of ‘being!’ That was the turning point for me. “God, I really need you,” I cried. “You need to meet me in a fresh way.” I’d received Yeshua as my Saviour as a child, inviting the fullness of Holy Spirit into my life in my teens, but working ‘for’ Him wasn’t working!

I learned how to ‘be’ rather than ‘do;’ a human being rather than a human doing. I let Holy Spirit deal with the baggage in my life – the lies I believed, painful memories, and generational issues.

I allowed Him to breathe a fresh wind of His Presence into my being.

I experienced Holy Spirit’s presence in extended periods of silence. I could still enter into passionate worship and embrace the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but a powerful, deeper awareness of His Presence emerged.

Creativity flourished. My photographs and poems began to reflect my inner journey; the images became like parables. Oh, that’s what I’m feeling, I pondered. Holy Spirit is teaching me through everyday life! I reflected that Yeshua Messiah used many parables to paint a picture of heaven’s truth, a natural focus with many layers of understanding or spiritual insight.

In 1998, I conceived the idea of Refreshing Day workshops. A multi-media presentation entitled, Soul Journey was birthed. I began using this media in a day of refreshing for small groups of women longing for more intimate time with Yeshua. He refreshed us! We enjoyed ‘soaking’ in His presence like a sponge, or just sleeping.

My local church leaders encouraged me to ‘run with the vision.’

But the dream had to die.

Several years later, in a different fellowship, all congregants were charged to lay down their personal vision. With deep grief, I obeyed.

I realised I was pursuing the dream more than the Dream-giver!

I’ve since facilitated a number of Refreshing Days in Kapiti Coast, Hamilton and Auckland. In 2010, while living in a Christian community in Hamilton (my third in under 20 years), I embraced the opportunity to pioneer a small retreat house for a few years. This God-dream provided a resting place for weary travellers and a platform for more Refreshing Days.

Between 2015 and 2017, I visited Israel three times, including six months volunteering in a guest house in Galilee. I again saw the need for the Body of Christ, especially church leaders, to come aside and be refreshed.

The Evangelical and Pentecostal scene has thrown out a lot of older Biblical, contemplative observances. Although having worshipped with Pentecostal believers for some time, I was drawn to the stillness and silence of more traditional, reflective worship. Could they co-exist? Desperate for rest I attended a retreat centre – rare for Pentecostals!

That’s when I was introduced to When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd,2 a soul journey using the parable of the chrysalis. I journeyed with Sue for several years while a metamorphosis took place in my soul!

Waiting: Transformation of the Soul, a profiling of the monarch chrysalis, was conceived during this time and birthed in 2020. This contemplative parable was republished as Waiting: Soul Transformation in October 2023, to prepare for a parable series.

Oasis: Soul Refreshing, the second parable, was released in October 2024. This coffee-table book is about the parched soul traversing the desert of life, longing for the Living Water, Yeshua.

A collection of reflective poems and images is in the wings. In my parables, I’m allowing room for Holy Spirit to speak to people. A viewer has a way of interpreting a painting differently to the painter. I’m painting pictures with words and giving images a voice.

I want to allow Holy Spirit to awaken something inside of people so they think, ‘Ooh, there’s more.’

In 2023, the green light was given to establish Refreshing Streams Ministries Limited, registered as a Company.

Mission: To facilitate the Body of Christ to rest, explore and release what the Creator of the Universe has placed within their creative DNA; to extend His Kingdom on Earth.

This Divinely-inspired dream includes:

  1. Facilitating Refreshing Day workshops for women and Christian leadership groups, and to train other facilitators; a trainer’s manual is in process. (See ‘Refreshing Day’ page)
  2. ‘Menuchah Press’ Publications
    a. Self-Publishing through Refreshing Stream Ministries’ ‘Menuchah Press,’ including a parable series and poems, with translation into other languages
    b. Blogs, newsletters
  3. Creative Ventures:
    a. Creative displays
    b. Artisan Extravaganza workshops

    I envision a group of artisans gathering together for a day in a similar but larger reflective environment to the Refreshing Day workshop. I would love to see the artisans express what our Creator is percolating, in and through their creative talents, in this anointed atmosphere. There’s potential for this prophetic art to be displayed later in the market-place.

    In March 2023, and September 2024, I was privileged to facilitate an ‘Art-in-Mission’ and ‘A Garden Enclosed’ online workshop for staff from an international mission organisation. This platform, a new format of workshop, has increased my horizons of how the Dream-giver can publish His vision across the globe. Yahweh is awakening an Artisan renaissance to reflect His true image and the beauty of His creation – to make Him famous!

I’m partnering with the Dream-giver. Hold onto your dreams lightly; pursue The Dream-Giver!

What has the Creator of the Universe woven in your DNA that’s waiting to be unleashed with ‘flying colours’?

1 Formed by the Desert, by Joyce Huggett; Eagle Publishing, 1997
2 When the Heat Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life’s Sacred Questions, by Sue Monk Kidd; HarperOne Publishers, 1990