Travel the country and you’ll find that every state in America has its towns with peculiar names. For example, North is about 100 miles southeast of Due West—of course you’ll want to pass through Ninety-Six to get there.

My home state of Missouri even has a town named Peculiar—always wondered what the people there were like.

When I was a boy we’d visit my great-grandmother in Tightwad (pop. 64). Needless to say, the “Tightwad Bank” was always a popular land mark.

In my home county we had a spot in the road half way between the county seats of two adjoining counties. Apparently those who traveled that road realized this fact and wisely name the town Halfway.

Well that’s about about how far we’ve traveled on our journey through the year of 2012. We’re about halfway.

It’s June, half way through and on to December, take some time on your journey to pause, stop and and ponder the events of the first half-year

. Consider the surprises along the way. Where have you been? Where are you headed? What have been some of your road blocks and break downs?

Regardless of any ups and downs this half-year, what has been the condition of your faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ? As Christians, we know he’s been near all six months, even every day, every hour, every minute, every second—“for indeed the Kingdom of God is within you,” says the Lord.

Have you acknowledged him along the way? Have you acknowledged his love and work for you?

The Bible says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV).

Make a halfway year resolution to seek the ways God is present in your journey. In fact, invite him to be present each day, especially as soon as you rise up to set out for the day. The Psalmist, many centuries ago, wrote for us these words to help start our day: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, ESV). Every day is the Lord’s day, so devote yourself to the Lord daily, and rejoice in his goodness and mercy.

By the way, rejoicing doesn’t always mean we are happy-clappy smiles. To rejoice is to know in your heart you are in a favorable circumstance. Remember, if God is for us what, or who, can be against us.

If this is true for you, don’t be a tightwad when it comes to praising the Lord for his goodness and mercy, but be a peculiar person, set apart from the world as a faithful believer.

Don’t be a tightwad when it comes to trusting in him every moment, whether your life seems to be crossing over the majestic mountain tops or passing through the valley of the shadow of death.

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say take comfort in his blessings. And may we, as a peculiar people called out by the Lord, continue on the way together as we journey with Jesus.