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Sister Marie:
Recreation Refreshes and Invigorates    Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is
fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for
evermore. Ps. 16:11   It is the privilege and duty of Christians to seek to
refresh their spirits and invigorate their bodies by innocent
recreation, with the purpose of using their physical and mental
powers to the glory of God. Our recreation should not be scenes
of senseless mirth, taking the form of the nonsensical. We can
conduct them in such a manner as will benefit and elevate those
with whom we associate and better qualify us and them to more
successfully attend to the duties devolving upon us as
Christians. . . . The religion of Christ is cheering and
elevating in its influence. It is above everything like foolish
jesting and joking, vain and frivolous chitchat. In all our
seasons of recreation we may gather from the Divine Source of
strength fresh courage and power, that we may the more
successfully elevate our lives to purity, true goodness, and
holiness.   There are persons with a diseased imagination to whom
religion is a tyrant, ruling them as with a rod of iron. Such
are constantly mourning over their depravity and groaning over
supposed evil. Love does not exist in their hearts; a frown is
ever upon their countenances. They are chilled by the innocent
laugh from the youth or from anyone. They consider all
recreation or amusement a sin and think that the mind must be
constantly wrought up to just such a stern, severe pitch. This
is one extreme. Others think that the mind must be ever on the
stretch to invent new amusements and diversions in order to gain
health. They learn to depend on excitement, and are uneasy
without it. Such are not true Christians. They go to another
extreme. The true principles of Christianity open before all a
source of happiness, the height and depth, the length and
breadth of which are immeasurable.    From My Life Today - Page 211

Sister Marie:
 No One Lives to Himself    For none of us liveth to himself. Rom. 14:7   The young generally conduct themselves as though the
precious hours of probation, while mercy lingers, were one grand
holiday, and they were placed in this world merely for their own
amusement, to be gratified with a continual round of excitement.
Satan has been making special efforts to lead them to find
happiness in worldly amusements and to justify themselves by
endeavoring to show that these amusements are harmless,
innocent, and even important to health.   The desire for excitement and pleasing entertainment is a
temptation and a snare to God's people, and especially to the
young. Satan is constantly preparing inducements to attract
minds from the solemn work of preparation for scenes just in the
future. Through the agency of worldlings he keeps up a continual
excitement to induce the unwary to join in worldly pleasures.
There are shows, lectures, and an endless variety of
entertainments that are calculated to lead to a love of the
world; and through this union with the world faith is weakened.
  Worldly pleasures are infatuating; and for their momentary
enjoyment many sacrifice the friendship of Heaven, with the
peace, love, and joy that it affords.   Christians have many sources of happiness at their
command, and they may tell with unerring accuracy what pleasures
are lawful and right. They may enjoy such recreations as will
not dissipate the mind or debase the soul, such as will not
disappoint, and leave a sad after-influence to destroy
self-respect or bar the way to usefulness. If they can take
Jesus with them, and maintain a prayerful spirit, they are
perfectly safe.   In view of their high calling the youth among us should .
. ponder well the paths of their feet, remembering that where
they lead the way others will follow.   From My Life Today - Page 212

Sister Marie:
God Gives Us the Good    For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom,
and knowledge, and joy. Eccl. 2:26   Youth cannot be made as sedate and grave as old age, the
child as sober as the sire. While sinful amusements are
condemned, . . . provide in their stead innocent pleasures,
which will not taint or corrupt the morals.   There is a distinction between recreation and amusement.
Recreation, when true to its name, re-creation, tends to
strengthen and build up. Calling us aside from our ordinary
cares and occupations, it affords refreshment for mind and body,
and thus enables us to return with new vigor to the earnest work
of life. Amusement, on the other hand, is sought for the sake of
pleasure, and is often carried to excess; it absorbs the
energies that are required for useful work, and thus proves a
hindrance to life's true success.   While we shun the false and artificial . . . we must
supply sources of pleasure that are pure and noble and
elevating.   Our holidays should not be spent in patterning after the
world, yet they should not be passed by unnoticed. . . . On
these days . . . get something to take the place of more
dangerous amusements.   No recreation helpful only to themselves will prove so
great a blessing to the children and youth as that which makes
them helpful to others.   Would it not be well for us to observe holidays unto God,
when we could revive in our minds the memory of His dealing with
us? ...   The world has many holidays, and men become engrossed with
games, with horse races, with gambling, smoking, and
drunkenness. They show plainly under what banner they are
standing.... Shall not the people of God more frequently have
holy convocations in which to thank God for His rich blessings?  
From My Life Today - Page 213

Sister Marie:
Walk in the Way of Good Men    Walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the
righteous. Prov. 2:20   There are modes of recreation which are highly beneficial
to both mind and body. An enlightened, discriminating mind will
find abundant means for entertainment and diversion, from
sources not only innocent, but instructive. Recreation in the
open air, the contemplation of the works of God in nature, will
be of the highest benefit.   While we are seeking to refresh our spirits and invigorate
our bodies, we are required of God to use all our powers at all
times to the best purpose. We may associate together as we do
here today, [FROM AN ADDRESS GIVEN AT AN OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL
GATHERING AT GOGUAC LAKE, MICHIGAN.] and do all to the glory of
God. We can and should conduct our recreations in such a manner
that we shall be fitted for the more successful discharge of the
duties devolving upon us, and that our influence shall be more
beneficial upon those with whom we associate. Especially should
it be the case upon an occasion like this, which should be of
good cheer to us all. We can return to our homes improved in
mind and refreshed in body, and prepared to engage in the work
anew, with better hope and better courage.   We believe that it is our privilege every day of our lives
to glorify God upon the earth; that we are not to live in this
world merely for our own amusement, merely to please ourselves.
We are here to benefit humanity, to be a blessing to society....
  We here behold the beauties of nature.... As we behold
these works of nature we should let the mind be carried up
higher, to nature's God; let it be elevated to the Creator of
the universe, and then adore the Creator who has made all these
beautiful things for our benefit and happiness.   We must take periods of rest, periods of recreation,
periods for contemplation.   From My Life Today - Page 214

Sister Marie:
 Walk Not in the Way With Sinners    My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.... My
son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from
their path. Prov. 1:10-15   Amusements are doing more to counteract the working of the
Holy Spirit than anything else, and the Lord is grieved.   Those who are artificial in character and religious
experience too readily gather for pleasure and amusement, and
their influence attracts others. Sometimes young men and women
who are trying to be Bible Christians are persuaded to join the
party. Unwilling to be thought singular, and naturally inclined
to follow the example of others, they place themselves under the
influence of those who, perhaps, have never felt the divine
touch on mind and heart. Had they prayerfully consulted the
divine standard, to learn what Christ has said in regard to the
fruit to be borne on the Christian tree, they would have
discerned that these entertainments were really banquets
prepared to keep souls from accepting the invitation to the
marriage supper of the Lamb.   It sometimes happens that by frequenting places of
amusement, youth who have been carefully instructed in the way
of the Lord are carried away by the glamor of human influence,
and form attachments for those whose education and training have
been of a worldly character. They sell themselves into lifelong
bondage by uniting with persons who have not the ornament of a
Christlike spirit.   You will be invited to attend places of amusement. . . .
If you are true to Christ then, you will not try to form excuses
for your nonattendance, but will plainly and modestly declare
that you are a child of God, and your principles would not allow
you to be in a place, even for one occasion, where you could not
invite the presence of your Lord.   God desires His people to show by their lives the
advantage of Christianity over worldliness; to show that they
are working on a high, holy plane.   From My Life Today - Page 215

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