The Humble Beginnings of the Scott Ink Scripture Calendar

I love it when God plants a humble seed.

The seed He planted that turned into the Scott Ink Scripture Calendar started at Aldi of all places.

Yes, you read that right. 

Aldi, the supermarket chain.

I told you it was humble. 

Aisle of Shame Christmas Shopping Sparks Inspiration

In December 2020, while shopping in Aldi’s popular “Aisle of Shame,” I stumbled upon a small calendar that caught my eye. For those unfamiliar, Aldi’s “Aisle of Shame” is famous for unique, limited-time items – everything from home goods to seasonal decor. The price was right, so I picked up several to gift to family and friends and kept one for myself. It was perfect for my work-from-home setup, being compact and portable.

The Disappearing Calendar Dilemma

When December 2021 rolled around, I went back to Aldi, excited to restock these little calendars – but they were nowhere to be found. The same thing happened in 2022. After some searching (including asking on Aldi Facebook groups), I decided to make my own. Using Canva and some design skills I’d picked up over the years, I created my custom calendar for 2022.

Adding Purpose to Each Page – Scripture Memorization

For 2023, I once again scoured the AOS for the calendars but once again, they were nowhere to be found. So I decided to design another calendar but for this year, I wanted to add a verse to each month. For the past couple of years, my spiritual goal has been to memorize scripture more and be intentional with what I surround myself with. 

You’ve heard of the phrase out of sight, out of mind? 

This calendar – with the verse – would be in full view and top of mind. Since the calendar is right by my laptop, it’s in front of me for at least 8-10 hours a day or more. 

Being intentional about what I see regularly, and surrounding myself with God’s word, would help me in my spiritual goal of memorizing scripture. During the day, our mind gets cluttered with many worldly images, voices, words and influences, not to mention negativity. If we’re not careful and intentional, it’s easy to get discouraged by worldly thinking.

Having this simple, 6×4-inch calendar right in front of me allows me to focus on key verses from God’s manual for life – the Bible. 

Why Memorizing Scripture is Transformative

Studying and meditating on God’s word has profoundly shaped my life, allowing me to shift from negative thoughts to a mindset filled with peace and clarity. The Bible reminds us in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This transformation can uplift anyone seeking encouragement and purpose in their daily lives.

What we think matters. Filling our minds with God’s word and meditating and reflecting on it change our thinking. You replace the old, destructive thinking patterns with new patterns that offer hope, promise and guidance for daily living. 

How the Calendar Became a Reality

I felt others might benefit from a calendar focused on scripture, so I decided to produce a batch to share. I reached out to Christie Hayes, a friend in the printing business, and Brian and Don Wilson, talented wood craftsmen from my church. Together, we brought the vision of the Scott Ink Scripture Calendar to life, using beautiful walnut wood for the stands.

With the clock ticking (this is a calendar after all!), I knew a late January arrival wouldn’t work as I didn’t want the calendar to become outdated. So I sprang into action and did what isn’t always a first and natural response – I prayed.

After praying, the Lord brought two men to mind from my church who were wood craftsmen. I reached out to them – one of whom was in my Connection class – and they got on board with my idea and agreed to help. A huge thanks to Brian Wilson and his dad, Don Wilson, a veteran! They are so kind and easy to work with and understood the project’s urgency.

The Lord continued to guide our path as we searched for affordably priced wood for the stands. We found some beautiful walnut wood blocks that had been marked down at the local Woodcraft store. After purchasing the wood, the Wilsons got to work and made a prototype of a walnut stand to hold the calendar. Christie gave me the paper sample to ensure the calendar fit into the stand. Everything fit perfectly (whew!) and off we went to get started on production.

We got the calendars printed within 10 days and the wood stands made.

That’s how this very humble seed sprouted into the Scott Ink Scripture Calendar. I’m reminded of this passage:

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
— 1 Corinthians 3:5-8

The Power of God’s Word in Your Life

Thank you to my family and friends who have supported and believed in me as I turned this idea into a tangible product. A special thanks to Susy Eversull, my aunt-in-law/love who helped me to proof the calendar and has been my biggest sales gal! 😘

Whether you purchase the calendar or not, I hope you will intentionally decide to memorize God’s scripture more in 2025. 

Don’t know where to start? Select a few of your favorite short verses from the Bible. The Psalms are my go-to book of the Bible for finding encouraging, uplifting verses. You can also find some of my favorite verses in this blog post, Are You Spiritually Fat, But Not Faithful? God’s word never returns void meaning it produces good things as Isaiah tells us:

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
— Isaiah 55:11

Whether you read God’s word, memorize it, reflect on it or even apply it, why not let it prosper in your life? I look forward to hearing about the fruit it produces! 

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