Searching for Truth

What does the phrase "the fear of the LORD" refer to?

The dictionary definition of fear is 'An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.'
This would probably describe my initial feelings when introduced to our Creator. To me he was a judge who would send me to hell because I could never meet up to His standards. Out of this fear, I tried daily to be "good." What amazes me though is that as I spoke to God daily in a childlike manner, HE began to comfort me rather than scare me when life itself got scary. Deep in my heart I just knew there  had to be a way that this God I spoke to daily would somehow save me!
  Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." The word fear here in my way of thinking now would mean  to acknowledge our Creator; to recognize that He is the Father , we are the children. He is the master, we are the servants.
 The way I was being taught  made me believe I needed to be scared of God. I don't know if those around me actually realized just how much thought I was giving these things.  God's power is able to go beyond our circumstances and earthly teachings. He put the desire in my heart to search for the truth in these matters. He brought my heart some hope but I still didn't know just how I would make it to heaven!
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matthew 7:7-8
 These are verses I did not yet know of at that time, but I was searching, seeking and knocking. Children in our community did not go to church or have Sunday school.  We weren't taught about Jesus as a Saviour in a way we could understand. In fact I do believe most the adults (though I can't speak for all of them )around us didn't understand salvation either. This brought a lot of hopelessness to the communities. These were also not the original teachings of the Mennonites. Somewhere along the line man's rules and traditions in our area there became the main focus, which took them away from knowing GOD.   People were spiritually giving up. Many (not all) fell into different traps , like alcohol and depression pills. Marriages were in trouble, children grew to be teens and also began to smoke and drink. Many were also abused.I was however still very protected even though our family was not free of these traps. I was never physically abused. I enjoyed school and had friends I loved! I did however fall into some traps as well, which I will tell you about on another day!

*This is not the way one would describe all Mennonites. This is only what  I have seen where I come from.  I am only explaining my own memories and experiences. There are many Mennonites out there who love and serve God in spirit and truth!