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  document.writeln("<span class=\"body\"><b><span class=\"headings2\"><span class=\"actsititle\">Change Under Pressure</span></span></b><br>");
  document.writeln("<span class=\"actsilinks\"><a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Print this page</a></span>");document.writeln("<br><div id='actsartcl1'>");document.writeln("<font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><font size=\"3\"><i><span style=\"color: rgb(61, 61, 61); line-height: 107%;\"><font face=\"Calibri\">She");
document.writeln("said to them, \'€œDo not call me Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt");
document.writeln("very bitterly with me.\'€�<sup>1</sup></font></span></i></font></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"color: rgb(61, 61, 61); line-height: 107%;\"><font face=\"Calibri\">Naomi, whose name means \"beautiful, lovely, and pleasant\", lived a comfortably secure life with her");
document.writeln("husband in their hometown of Judah. A famine in the land had caused them to");
document.writeln("leave their comfortable home and move to a foreign country.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; </span>The young couple happily raised their sons");
document.writeln("there, until the sad day that Naomi was left widowed. In her pleasantness, she");
document.writeln("continued bringing up her boys to be fine young men and found them wives among");
document.writeln("the foreigners. A few years later, a tragic turn of events took both of her");
document.writeln("sons lives and Naomi was left helpless and alone. She had lost everything. With");
document.writeln("no hope in sight, she sadly gathered her few belongings and prepared to return");
document.writeln("to Judah. To her surprise, her daughters in law clung to her and refused to");
document.writeln("leave her. Naomi tried to convince them to stay among their own people and");
document.writeln("succeeded with one of the young women, but the other still refused. Naomi and");
document.writeln("Ruth traveled to Judah together with only a slight hope for their future. Upon");
document.writeln("their arrival, Naomi was instantly recognized by her kinfolk. They greeted her");
document.writeln("warmly, for they remembered her sweet spirit. But they encountered a very much");
document.writeln("changed Naomi who returned their greeting by saying, \"Do not call me Naomi. My");
document.writeln("name is now Mara, it means bitter. I am no longer the pleasant girl you");
document.writeln("remember for I have lost everything.\"</font></span></font></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"color: rgb(61, 61, 61); line-height: 107%;\"><font face=\"Calibri\">This story might be");
document.writeln("relatable to some. When tragic events steal our joy, we face the world");
document.writeln("differently. Our outlook on life is different and we may become bitter. But God");
document.writeln("did not leave Naomi to her sorrow. God blessed Naomi and used her daughter in");
document.writeln("law, Ruth, to bring joy back into her life. The stereotypical Mother and Daughter");
document.writeln("in law relationship was turned because the Lord looked down on them with");
document.writeln("kindness and they allowed themselves to be used by God, even in their sorrow.</font></span></font></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"color: rgb(61, 61, 61); line-height: 107%;\"><font face=\"Calibri\">Life may deal us");
document.writeln("unpleasant changes, but God remains faithful and true when we seek His will");
document.writeln("first. Take comfort in the blessings that he has in store for you today. Do not change your name to Mara yet \'€&#8220; God still has great plans for you!</font></span></font></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"color: rgb(61, 61, 61); line-height: 107%;\"><font face=\"Calibri\">Suggested Prayer: Dear God, thank you for");
document.writeln("your faithfulness in my times of weakness. Allow me the strength to carry on knowing");
document.writeln("that your plan for me is not finished yet. Renew my joy in you and be glorified");
document.writeln("by my praise. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.</font></span></font></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><ol style=\"list-style-type: decimal; direction: ltr;\"><li style=\"color: rgb(61, 61, 61); font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;\"><p style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"color: rgb(61, 61, 61); line-height: 107%;\">Ruth 1:20.</span></font></p></li></ol><div><font size=\"3\">Today\'s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.&nbsp;</font></div><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
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  document.writeln("<p style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 10pt;\">This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes <a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/archives.php\" target=\"_blank\">can be read online</a>.<br><br>Copyright &copy; 1990 - 2026<br /><a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/\" target=\"_blank\">ACTS International</a></p>");
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