In case you did not see this...Zip Realty is in the Top 5!! Top 25 largest brokerages nationwide Transaction sides down, sales volume up among Real Trends 500 The 500 largest real estate brokerages in the country completed 6.7 percent fewer transaction sides in 2010 than in 2009, according to rankings from real estate publishing and communications company Real Trends. Real Trends ranks the country's 500 largest brokerages each year by transaction sides (in every real estate sale there are two transaction "sides": the buyer's side and the seller's side) and closed sales volume. Transaction sides among the 500 fell to 1.89 million in 2010 from 2.02 million in 2009. Total sales volume rose 1.3 percent, to $513 billion. The average home price among the 500 rose 7.4 percent last year from 20... 05/11/2011

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 Read John 6:30-35 So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world". Lord Jesus, you are the one who can satisfy my deepest longings.  Thank you for coming down from heaven to feed us with your love. 05/10/2011

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Read John 6:22-29 So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?"  Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." Jesus, I do believe.  I want to invest myself in the things that last forever. Help me to make you first in my life. 05/10/2011

Sunday, May 8, 2011 Read Luke 24:13-35 Then the two recounted what had taken place on the wayand how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.  "Praise to you, Jesus, my risen Savior! ‘You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever' (Psalm 16:11)." 05/08/2011

Saturday, May 7, 2011 Read James 4:14-15 "You have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow...You should say, ‘If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that." Father, how passionately you care about us!  I bring you my hopes and dreams, my half-baked ideas, my meager talents and resources.  Show me the next steps as I work with you to feed your hungry people. 05/06/2011

Buying Houses at County Courthouse AuctionsPeople are searching for a bargain these days and one area of focus is real estate auctions or trustee's sales. It is true that you can get a good deal at the county courthouse steps, but you have to be careful and know what to look for. Things to Consider        Don't get caught up in a bidding war. It's natural to want to outdo others that starting bidding on what you want. And once bidding begins, you can get this urge to win and you just keep bidding. Have you ever bid in an online auction for a child's toy or vintage clothing? The desire to get that item just takes over and you keep upping your bid until finally you end up paying twice what you originally wanted to pay! You might be a little chagrined when you overpay by $50. But if you do... 05/03/2011

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 Read John 14:6-14 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.  And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it. Jesus, I believe that you are the risen Lord!  I place my faith in you and trust in your power to work in my life this day and every day. I need more of you today. 05/03/2011

Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1, 2011 Read John 20:19-31 Jesus said to them "Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you." This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. 05/01/2011

Saturday, April 30, 2011 Octave of Easter Read Acts 4:13-21 Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,... they were amazed and they recognized them as companions of Jesus. Holy Spirit, empower us to be effective witnesses to the Gospel.  Give us the boldness of the first apostles. 04/30/2011

Friday, April 29, 2011 Octave of Easter Read John 21:1-14 Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast."And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?"because they realized it was the Lord.Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,and in like manner the fish.This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciplesafter being raised from the dead. Father, I reach out my hand asking you to guide me today and thank you for walking beside me. 04/29/2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011 Octave of Easter Read Acts 3:11-26 "You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses." Lord Jesus, You are the Holy and Righteous One.  Thank you for your forgiveness.  I give my life to you. 04/27/2011

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Octave of Easter Read Luke 24:13-35 He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?"  They stopped, looking downcast.  One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply. "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" Lord Jesus, what return can I make for your goodness to me?  Take and receive everything I am and have.  Let me see and serve you more and more. 04/26/2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 Read John 20:11-18 "Woman, why are you weeping?"  She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him." Jesus, I believe that you are the risen Lord!  I place my faith in you and trust in your power to work in my life this day and every day. 04/25/2011

Easter Sunday, Resurrection of the Lord, April 24, 2011 Read John 20:1-9 "Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb." All praise to you, Lord Jesus!  You have conquered sin and death.  You have lifted us up to be with you forever. 04/23/2011

Holy Saturday, April 23, 2011 Read Matthew 28:1-10 Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do Not be afraid!  I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.  He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay. Jesus, crucified and risen Christ, deepen our faith in your presence among us.  Help us to recognize you in the breaking of bread, in the cry of the poor, in the joys of human love.  Come, Lord Jesus, come 04/22/2011

Good Friday, April 22, 2011 Read John 18:1-19:42 So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is call the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.  There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Christ crucified, give us the grace to understand more deeply the mystery of our salvation.  Help us name the reality of evil within and around us; guide us into the new life of grace and freedom.  Come, Lord Jesus, come. 04/22/2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011 Read Matthew 26:14-25 "The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.  It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Lord Jesus, come to us in our weakness.  Give us the strength to be faithful to you and your way of love, compassion, and forgiveness.  Deepen our empathy for those who find life so burdensome; give us the grace to reach out to them in their discouragement and despair. 04/20/2011

God's Grace    I wonder how many people will delete this without reading it because of the title. It is a shame but this message is very true. Hope you are all as blessed as I was by this story. There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak....  "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What do you have there, son?" "Just some old birds," came the reply. "What are you going to do with them?" I as... 04/19/2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 Read John 13:21-33, 36-38 Peter said to him, "Master, why can I not follow you now?  I will lay down my life for you."  Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?  Amen, amen, I say too you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times." Lord Jesus, give us courage to follow in your way; the way of self-donation.  May we know that peace that comes from loving to the point of sacrifice; may we know the joy of participation in your paschal mystery. 04/19/2011

Monday, April 18, 2011 Read John 12:1-11 Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?" Lord Jesus, have mercy on us for we have sinned.  We have turned away from you and injured others and ourselves.  Send your Spirit of forgiveness into our hearts; give us the courage to admit our sin and to return to you with contrite and humble hearts. 04/17/2011