July journal “unboxing”
This is the “unboxing” of the May mailer with the June journal, “Traveling with Jesus”!
It is so easy to get distracted by so many different things. It happens to each one of us constantly.
There are the everyday distractions (the busy life that has us doing one thing and then suddenly needing to take care of another).
But worse are the distractions that we may not even recognize: the ones Satan uses. Because he knows that if our goal as Christians is to live for God, all he has to do is distract us from our goal in any way possible. He may even use things that inherently good – like Martha distracted with much serving (Luke 10:40) or even following the created rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).
Jesus knows that it’s hard, that it’s a daily decision. And so he urges us: set your mind on things that are above!
It’s a mindset: our mind is set, determined, and protected as it remains fixed on things that are above. We don’t want to lose our way in the chaos of things on earth. We want to let our minds be at peace, safe in the presence of God. So let’s read more about it...
This is what our everseeking subscribers are studying in July 2025! So let’s take a closer look at everything in the study and the mailer…
The journal
When we get caught up with the to-dos of life or the monotony that seems dreary and meaningless, we can start to slip into believing this is all there is.
And that’s when Satan can start to sow seeds of selfishness and despair.
But that is not our story! We are made in the image of God, the one who has made sure this life isn’t the end for us.
It may be a daily choice, but we have the option to look to the things that are above.
And that changes everything.
It changes the way we think. It changes what we do. It changes why we do what we do.
And we get to live a life that is full, brimming with possibility and hope and promise.
That is what it means to be in Christ. And our goal is to share the eternal blessings with others - because it’s offered for us all.
So let’s see what it practically means to live with our eyes and minds on things that are above...
Colossians 3:1-17 is a beautiful passage that helps us see with heavenly eyes. This world isn’t our home. We don’t want to chase after worldly things. And in this part of Scripture, God shares with us what it means to look above, not around.
We take it a little at a time, looking at different parts of the verses:
In the middle is the main thought with a question and a note at the bottom of the page that connects thoughts.
On the left of the main study pages are the worldly view. Days 01-10 look at what life would be like without Christ and hope in him. Days 11-20 look at the parts of our old self that we could choose but want to put off.
On the right of the main study pages is the perspective of one who is looking at things above. Days 01-11 look at the fullness of life we have thanks to Jesus. Days 11-20 look at what we want to choose as the new self in Christ.
Studying through this takes us through the main 20 days of study. As in every everseeking journal, the “main study” can be done in 20 days because we all have those moments where we get behind, so this gives a little room.
But if you’re studying every day and get to day 20 and you still have 10 more days in the month, there are 10 extra pages of the journal (called “optional pages”) that take a deeper look at what we already studied.
In this journal… The Bible is full of example of those who set their minds on things that are above... and those who didn’t. Thankfully, we can learn from both. In the optional pages, enjoy reading the passage, thinking how they did/didn’t keep their minds on what is above, connecting, and seeing how we can (or shouldn’t) do the same.
So whether you complete the main study with the 20 pages or the main 20 + the optional 10, you have succeeded in spending the month studying the Word of God!
The washi tape
As always, every everseeking journal comes with it’s set of washi tape: solid and patterned!
This month’s washi tape is matches our strawberry theme and a similar solid color washi tape! We use these for highlighting certain thoughts, creating tabs throughout the journal, decorating, adding extra notes (scrapbooking style), color coding, and more! For more details, check out our “How to use washi tape for Bible journaling” blog at https://www.evergreencypress.com/blog/how-to-use-washi-tape-for-bible-journaling.
Magnet reminder: “I will keep my mind on things that are above” from Colossians 3:2
The next “extra” is a magnet to help us remember to keep our minds on things that are above!
It can be hard to remember and keep at the forefront of our minds the things that God tells us will help us in our day-to-day lives. He knows that keeping our minds on him is the best for us!
So we created this magnet (exclusive, handleterring done by Rebecca!) to encourage our subscribers studying this passage to not focus on the finite earthly things, but to keep our minds on Him.
For passport for 2025 - July sticker
And for those who joined our Everseeking Resolution for 2025 (those subscribed by December 1, 2024), we added the matching sticker that goes inside our 2025 everseeking passport (that was sent earlier)! We look forward to hearing your favorite verse, a takeaway and notes.
It’s our encouragement to stay strong in being everseeking of God in 2025 — our everseeking resolution!
Homeschool edition
We also have everseeking for homeschool!
The homeschool edition sends out the same journal of the month for the girl to study through. With the 20 days of the main study, she gets to also go through one page a day for each weekday for the 4 weeks of the month.
The difference with the homeschool edition is that instead of the extras, the girl receives three pages…
Pacing guide: this takes the 20 days and schedules them in the specific month of study (in this case, July 2025). Here, she can check off each day as she completes it.
Discussion questions: after the girl has completed her study page for the day, there is an extra discussion question that matches (for example, discussion question number 4 goes with day 04 of the study). This is intended to help the girl explain what she has studied and for the teacher and girl to further discuss what the study of God’s Word means in her life.
Knowing Scripture/ end-of-month / encouragement: every month, the knowing Scripture section remains the same, but reminds the girl to keep a part of the study deep on her heart. She selects her theme verse for the study and writes it on the pacing guide to look at daily and then talk about it with the teacher throughout the month. The end of month section has an activity or assignment that helps the girl think through the study as a whole from a specific perspective as a review. And finally, the encouragement is for the teacher, to bolster her as she guides the girl in her care in God’s Word — making an eternal difference in her life!
And that’s a wrap!
And that’s a wrap for the July journal that came in the June mailer! We loved putting this one together for our subscribers.
If you are an everseeker, we would love to hear your feedback on this journal and mailer, whether on our social media posts or through email.
And if you aren’t a subscriber, we have a spot saved for you for the next available mailer, with the next journal and extras! This is only available for those who subscribe by the first of the month — so don’t miss out!
Every month is new and exclusive as a whole, so join us in being everseeking of God with consistent Bible study at evergreencypress.com/everseeking!
