A man walks by debris following a strong earthquake, in the village of Onna, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. A powerful earthquake in mountainous central Italy knocked down whole blocks of buildings early Monday as residents slept, killing at least 50 people and trapping many more, officials said. The earthquake's epicenter was about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of Rome near the medieval city of L'Aquila. It struck at 3:32 a.m. local time (0132 GMT, EDT Sunday) in a quake-prone region that has had at least nine smaller jolts since the beginning of April.

LORD...I'M THANKFUL THIS MORNING FOR YOUR WORD...THAT WORD THAT WE CAN HIDE IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AND RESORT TO IN FAITH AND HOPE AND CONSOLATION.

THAT WORD THAT GIVES US PROMISE FOR EACH STEP WE TAKE AND WHAT DIRECTION WE SHOULD GO.

THAT WORD THAT PREPARES US FOR EVERY SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCE WE MAY HAVE TO ENCOUNTER EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY.

TODAY AS I AM MADE AWARE OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY...I JOIN WITH THOSE IN PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE, THE AUTHORITIES AND POWERS THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE MANY DECISIONS AND EMERGENCY NEEDS REQUIRED.

GIVE WISDOM LORD...BUT MOST OF ALL RISE UP AN ARMY OF YOUR PEOPLE TO GLORIFY YOUR NAME IN THIS TRAGEDY....LET YOUR WORD ME MANIFEST IN THEM...TURN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE LORD.

LET THIS BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GOSPEL TO BE PRESENTED IN ALL TRUTH...POWER AND SPIRIT.

LET LOVE BE THE OFFERING UPON THE BROKEN ALTERS OF MEN'S FAITH...LET FAITH RISE FROM THE OFFERING IN TRUE REPENTANCE AND SURRENDER TO THE ONE WHO'S FOOTSTOOL IS THE EARTH THAT QUAKES BENEATH IT...THE ONE WHO REMAINS OUR SURE FOUNDATION WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS.