How Great Is Our Godنموونە

TYPHOONS, HURRICANES, AND CYCLONES ... OH MY!

Typhoons, hurricanes, cyclones . . . what’s the difference? Location, location, location! These are actually three different names for one kind of storm— a tropical cyclone. In the Atlantic Ocean, this kind of storm is called a hurricane. In the South Pacific, it’s a cyclone. And in the western Pacific, it’s a typhoon.

No matter what you call it, tropical cyclones are powerful. Their winds start at about 74 miles per hour but can speed up to well over 150 miles per hour. They send waves crashing against the shore, and the really strong ones can rip out trees and flatten buildings. Tropical cyclones can stretch from 60 to more than 1,200 miles across, and they can contain the power of hundreds of thunderstorms!

It’s hard to even imagine that kind of power. But the power of a tropical cyclone is nothing compared to the power of our God. All He had to do was say the word, and light shot out across the universe, stars appeared in the sky, waters gathered into oceans, mountains moved into place, lions roared to life, and people walked on the Earth. Then He said, “It is finished,” and sins were washed away, death was defeated, and Satan lost forever (John 19:30 ICB). That is power. And that is the God who loves you and calls you by name.

How Great!

In the Southern Hemisphere (the half of the planet south of the equator), cyclones spin clockwise, just like the hands of a clock. But in the Northern Hemisphere (north of the equator), cyclones spin counterclockwise, the opposite of the way the hands on a clock spin. This is called the Coriolis effect, and it’s caused by the earth’s rotation. Some people say it even affects the way water spins in a toilet bowl— but that’s just a myth!

Prayer

Lord, You are so huge and so powerful. You can do absolutely anything— and You still know my name. I just love that about You.