Our Story
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21)
It was August 2011 when I came to know Christ. I had been working in the cable communications industry for over a decade and thought for sure I was at the last job I would ever want or have. God had different plans.
By worldly standards, I was successful in every aspect of my career. But God does not see as man sees (1 Samuel 16:7), for all the achievements of the nations are like a drop from a bucket (Isaiah 40:15). I was living to the praise of man and not to the praise of God (John 12:43). So, against all human warnings and council, and desperate to grow closer to my God (Psalm 138:6), I prayed that God would create in me a clean heart (Psalm 51:10) and grant me humility. Though my sins against God and man were many, I knew the root of them all was my pride. As a young Christian, a few strokes of a pen brought about two back to back contract changes, and I watched my secure career as a cable contractor crumble.
As a young child, there is an unmatched joy, comfort, and protection in being picked up into your father’s arms. As my world was spinning out of my control, I felt just like that child, in my heavenly Father’s arms. I was at peace (Philippians 4:7) with whatever was to come, and willing to let go, even of our home, if that was God’s plan. Still, that did not dismiss my God given gift of stewardship to provide for my family (1 Timothy 5:8), so we decided as an effort make ends meet, I would, God willing, mow a few lawns in our neighborhood. The funniest part about this: I didn’t even mow our lawn; my wife, Jenny, did.
April 30th 2013 I mowed my first lawn and, oh, the stories that could be told in learning so basic a task as cutting grass professionally. By the end of June, we were mowing 60 lawns a week, still with a push mower, and realized that this could become our full-time endeavor.
It is difficult to push mow grass without at least singing something in your head. My family had been listening to Seeds Family Worship, and one of the songs was “The Word of the Lord,” 1 Peter 1:24-25. As I was mowing, I found myself singing the perfect grass cutting song:
“All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flower of the field, the grass withers and the flower falls. But the Word of the Lord stands forever.”
My wife knew that with the changes God had begun in me (Philippians 1:6), I wanted nothing more than to proclaim God’s name and His Word in every aspect of my life. (Not that I have already obtained this… (Philippians 3:12)) I asked my wife, “What if we name this small company God has entrusted to us, Isaiah 40?” (Isaiah 40 verses 6-8 are the Old Testament verses that Peter is quoting above.) I was certain she would be opposed and tell me that was the silliest name for a company she had ever heard of, but to my surprise she excitedly agreed, and thus, Isaiah 40 Lawns was born.
It is amazing looking back and seeing God’s hand working in all the details. Though we’ve grown steadily as a family owned business, we have tried to set God honoring principles in place to help guard us from the evil one and from ourselves. A first and foremost prayer of mine regarding this company has been that if this business ever draws me away from my first love (Revelation 2:4), may it please the Lord to make it fail; for there is no profit in gaining the world and forfeiting the soul (Matthew 16:26).
We have also chosen to grow our company debt free (Romans 13:8; Proverbs 22:7). We pushed mowed lawns until we had enough capital set aside to buy a larger used mower. Our stance from the start has been, if we do not have the money to buy a piece of equipment or vehicle, to trust that as an indicator that God has determined we can make do just fine without it (Philippians 4:19). That has often meant working physically harder for longer durations, which have reaped blessings of protection and thanksgiving (Proverbs 12:11; 13:11; 23:5).
We have also set our goal in the work we do, not to perfection, but to honor the Lord (Colossians 3:23). We aim for excellence in every project we undertake, and if we feel as if we aren’t able to do so, we decline the project. We have had many requests for new services, but our skill set is limited and there are many services that are best handled by a company that specializes in such. We do not consider other companies in competition with us, as they have families and employees to support as well, and God is the provider of us all (2 Corinthians 8:15, Acts 17:25).
Today, we no longer mow lawns, but we are so thankful for these small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10) and for the opportunities so many have graciously afforded us. Many of the services we offer today are services we performed that very first year at the request of our lawn customers. We do not presume to know what each season will hold for Isaiah 40 (James 4:14-15), but we trust God’s guidance for our good (Romans 8:28) and His glory (Isaiah 43:7; Ephesians 3:6).
It was August 2011 when I came to know Christ. I had been working in the cable communications industry for over a decade and thought for sure I was at the last job I would ever want or have. God had different plans.
By worldly standards, I was successful in every aspect of my career. But God does not see as man sees (1 Samuel 16:7), for all the achievements of the nations are like a drop from a bucket (Isaiah 40:15). I was living to the praise of man and not to the praise of God (John 12:43). So, against all human warnings and council, and desperate to grow closer to my God (Psalm 138:6), I prayed that God would create in me a clean heart (Psalm 51:10) and grant me humility. Though my sins against God and man were many, I knew the root of them all was my pride. As a young Christian, a few strokes of a pen brought about two back to back contract changes, and I watched my secure career as a cable contractor crumble.
As a young child, there is an unmatched joy, comfort, and protection in being picked up into your father’s arms. As my world was spinning out of my control, I felt just like that child, in my heavenly Father’s arms. I was at peace (Philippians 4:7) with whatever was to come, and willing to let go, even of our home, if that was God’s plan. Still, that did not dismiss my God given gift of stewardship to provide for my family (1 Timothy 5:8), so we decided as an effort make ends meet, I would, God willing, mow a few lawns in our neighborhood. The funniest part about this: I didn’t even mow our lawn; my wife, Jenny, did.
April 30th 2013 I mowed my first lawn and, oh, the stories that could be told in learning so basic a task as cutting grass professionally. By the end of June, we were mowing 60 lawns a week, still with a push mower, and realized that this could become our full-time endeavor.
It is difficult to push mow grass without at least singing something in your head. My family had been listening to Seeds Family Worship, and one of the songs was “The Word of the Lord,” 1 Peter 1:24-25. As I was mowing, I found myself singing the perfect grass cutting song:
“All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flower of the field, the grass withers and the flower falls. But the Word of the Lord stands forever.”
My wife knew that with the changes God had begun in me (Philippians 1:6), I wanted nothing more than to proclaim God’s name and His Word in every aspect of my life. (Not that I have already obtained this… (Philippians 3:12)) I asked my wife, “What if we name this small company God has entrusted to us, Isaiah 40?” (Isaiah 40 verses 6-8 are the Old Testament verses that Peter is quoting above.) I was certain she would be opposed and tell me that was the silliest name for a company she had ever heard of, but to my surprise she excitedly agreed, and thus, Isaiah 40 Lawns was born.
It is amazing looking back and seeing God’s hand working in all the details. Though we’ve grown steadily as a family owned business, we have tried to set God honoring principles in place to help guard us from the evil one and from ourselves. A first and foremost prayer of mine regarding this company has been that if this business ever draws me away from my first love (Revelation 2:4), may it please the Lord to make it fail; for there is no profit in gaining the world and forfeiting the soul (Matthew 16:26).
We have also chosen to grow our company debt free (Romans 13:8; Proverbs 22:7). We pushed mowed lawns until we had enough capital set aside to buy a larger used mower. Our stance from the start has been, if we do not have the money to buy a piece of equipment or vehicle, to trust that as an indicator that God has determined we can make do just fine without it (Philippians 4:19). That has often meant working physically harder for longer durations, which have reaped blessings of protection and thanksgiving (Proverbs 12:11; 13:11; 23:5).
We have also set our goal in the work we do, not to perfection, but to honor the Lord (Colossians 3:23). We aim for excellence in every project we undertake, and if we feel as if we aren’t able to do so, we decline the project. We have had many requests for new services, but our skill set is limited and there are many services that are best handled by a company that specializes in such. We do not consider other companies in competition with us, as they have families and employees to support as well, and God is the provider of us all (2 Corinthians 8:15, Acts 17:25).
Today, we no longer mow lawns, but we are so thankful for these small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10) and for the opportunities so many have graciously afforded us. Many of the services we offer today are services we performed that very first year at the request of our lawn customers. We do not presume to know what each season will hold for Isaiah 40 (James 4:14-15), but we trust God’s guidance for our good (Romans 8:28) and His glory (Isaiah 43:7; Ephesians 3:6).