Fertile Ground – Inspiration

Finding Inspiration on the Web

 Angie Ledbetter

A wealth of information is a mouse click away for most of us. The information age has us  zooming down the information highway at high speed. While there are many dark areas of the Internet, there are some emerging sites, groups, e-zines, and educational material that are well worth a browse.

One of the best high tech tools is Google.com. This huge search engine looks up so a dizzying variety of information for you on any subject. It searches over 1,346, 966,000-web pages to hunt down the information you are seeking. Google.com is comparable to having a library at your disposal. Simply type Google.com in your browser window and click Go. You will be brought to a menu with 2 options for aiding you in your search.

Once you have typed in the reference word or words pertaining to what you want to look up, the choices for your search are: “Google Search” (seeks information and web links across the entire Internet) and “I’m Feeling Lucky” (randomly selects one popular site reflecting your search choice). For example, if the word you are looking for is “trout,” a Google/general search will net you 1,210,000 sites with pertinent information on that fish species. The links are conveniently listed 10 to a page for viewing ease.

The single search option of “I’m Feeling Lucky” brings up Trout Unlimited at http://www.tu.org/, which contains a large amount of general information on trout, conservation, fish stories, etc. It’s probably the site that has accumulated the most viewer hits and therefore considered very popular.

Doing a search for inspiration through Google gleaned a multitude of good motivational material, ideas, reading, and such that make good companion reading to the Bible and our normal spiritual reading choices.

Bemorereative.com Links - Inspirational Resources http://bemorecreative.com/links/inspirationalresources.html this site provided tons of information and resources conveniently located on one site. There are exercises to help with creativity, quizzes, greeting cards, poetry, stories and such to help live life more creatively. There are wonderful motivational and inspirational quotes, software and book recommendations and a mountain of further links. “The Proverbs Search Engine permits the search of 12,000 proverbs from 300 countries and cultures. This is possibly the largest and certainly most creative Internet resource for proverbs.” There is also a feature that searches birth dates by day, a quote-of-the-day e-zine (quotations from famous people born on this day), creative management tips, health information, and articles that help readers develop creativity.

www.imotivate.com carries motivational posters, free postcards and links to more sites. Their motto is “Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.” – Demosthenes. Featured on this site is a motivational books and speaker listings such as “ “Buscaglia, Dr. Leo – Leo F. Buscaglia, PhD, wrote numerous books, most of which deal with the experience of love. At one time, five of his books appeared on the N.Y. Times best-seller list concurrently.” Along with the bios, there are links to the author/speakers’ own home websites. There is a motivational list subscription delivery option also.

Inspirational Resources http://www.catholic-forum.com/catholicteacher/inspirational1.html includes inspirational images, photos, prayers, spiritual experiences and stories. An on site search engine is part of the main menu. A blurb from a typical story: “First of all I need to relate an event which occurred before (my sister) arrived – the death of a 4-year-old boy, her best friend’s nephew. For about two years this boy had been suffering Leukemia and you can imagine the suffering the whole family would have gone through. I remember going to his funeral Mass and I remember being very touched (and was more so when I discovered that) he had a spiritual experience before he died…” There are also several reader-contributed angel experience stories.

http://www.motivationalquotes.com/Weekender/index.shtml is a nicely organized site. It includes Weekender Archives – Motivational Quotations, Inspirational Stories, and Resources to help you change your life.

Inspiration at Unhindered.com Christian Resources Online http://www.unhindered.com/insp/ Nice source, easy to read and navigate. Words of Wisdom, Humor Lists, and Interactive Jukebox, on site search engine available, and has personalizing tools. Bible Search and Bible Quiz.

Inspire Virtual Library Homepage http://www.inspire-indiana.net/ This is a regional inspirational site like many other state-related homepages. It touts academic, public, educational, and special library sources. There is a full range of commercial databases and electronic resources to support cultural, personal, economic, and educational pursuits.

Jesus Inspiration - Christian Inspiration and Devotionals http://www.jesusinspiration.com/ This website has the familiar look of all WebSeed sites with a basic layout. After hours of web surfing, the eyes may need the refreshment. “Jesus Inspiration offers Christian inspiration and devotionals to bring us closer to God.” Nice articles, site references, family devotional material, and additional resource links and uplifting contributed stories.

http://www.greatpeace.com/greatpeace/Great_Peacex.html Great Peace offers “My Peace” – weekly devotionals to inspire. “You will be blessed by the scriptures, the encouraging thought from the Bible, and the inspirational poetry. Another part of this website is “My Refuge” and gives encouragement “for some of the most common trials that Christians face today. Let it be your refuge from depression, fear, trouble and more.” The FAQ section helps readers to “know what the Word of God has to say about your situation. This area will help you hold to the promises of God in the midst of difficult times.”

Inspirational Christian gifts, by inspiration promotions ministry. www.christianinspiration.com/ is a beautiful site for gifts. “Inspirational Promotions is a ministry that reflects God’s beautiful nature, capturing picturesque scenery accompanied with poetry inspired by the Lord, or uplifting scriptures from His Word.” Gifts include decorative wall or table pictures for home, office or church. Site also has music, links and affiliates listing.