Are you afraid?

Paraphrased from Dictionary.com . . .

Fear - an emotion that is distressing, causing anxiety or concern

Afraid - a feeling of fear, regret or reluctance


There are many more listings for these two words that are most similar in not only their meaning but also in their application. 

It is my understanding that fear is a constant distressing emotion.  Afraid is the cause of the fear.  Example:  I fear thunderstorms because I am afraid of the lightening produced by thunderstorms.  I fear the dark because I cannot see what is making the strange noises.  I fear going into the cave because I do not know what is in there.

Normally we fear what we don't understand, or we know someone who has had a bad experience.  For some fear is the inability to control - you cannot control whether a snake will bite you or go on its merry way.  The more we learn of things the less we fear them.  Some people fear the dark, heights, water, snakes, spiders, pain, death, fire - there are hundreds of things that people fear.  It is an ongoing emotion of distress and anxiety. 

As a little girl I had a reconcurring nightmare that caused me and my parents much distress and frustration.  I never knew when the dream would come, but when it visited me I became hysterical and distraught.  As an adult, I know the incident that sparked the dream and understand how unreasonable it must have sounded to my parents, but at the time I feared going to sleep because I was afraid of the emotions caused by the dream.  Ironically, in the dream I was unable to reach my parents even though I could see and hear them clearly - I could not make them see or hear me.  At the time there had been many unsettling changes in my life - my paternal grandmother died, my maternal grandparents were moving, I had started to school - none of which should be earth shattering. But to a family oriented six year old it was cause for insecurity and unease.  As an adult I realize that my parents were going through changes also.  I was well fed, clothed and kept warm, but in due to my parent's inexperience and their emotional distress, my emotions were ignored.  I did not receive the comfort and security needed during this time.  As time passed I found that my parents were still there to protect and care for me and my maternal grandparents were moving in order to be closer to me - this gave me even more security.  The dreams eventually stopped after two years and the fear of sleep disappeared. 

We all go through stressful and distressing periods in our life.  If we feel incapable of handling these emotions we feel fear.  Some fears we conquer, others stay with us for a lifetime. 

What are you fearful of or afraid of?  Do you know why you have this fear?

Isaiah 12:2 KJV says "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; : for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strenth and my song; he also is become my salvation."

For me Psalms 23 is the most comforting chapter of the Bible.  It is probably the most read and recited chapter of the Psalms which is also known as a book of prayer.  Read Psalms 23 slowly a verse at a time.  How do these prayers apply to you and your life? 

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."  The rod and the staff were used by the shepards in herding and managing the large herd of sheep - they were used to keep them in line keeping them from danger and harm.  God's keep us from danger and harm by blocking our way, especially if our way is dangerous and harmful.  Remember God is all knowing and all seeing.  If we feel afraid, going to God in prayer will ease our fear.

Happy reading!
Belle

What Am I?

1. What gas is produced when bleach (sodium hypochlorate) and ammonia are mixed?  Chlorine Gas
2. What is the odorless, inert gas with the chemical symbol of He?  Helium
3. What non-metallic element is used in propellants, flares, abrasives and metallic alloys?  Boron
4. What compound is derived from salicylic acid and is used as a pain reliever?  Aspirin
5. The earth's atmosphere contains many element.  What are the top 3 gases by volume?  Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon
6. What chemical can be found in three states (gas, liquid and solid) and is best known for its use in refrigeration? Carbon dioxide
7. I am an acid for in the human stomach, but also used to clean and/or etch concrete.   What am I?  Muriatic Acid
8. What highly reactive non-metallic element that is used in producing matches, fertilizer for gardens and in some electronics?  Phosphorus

Happy Reading!

Belle

I have been praying about this blog for the last few weeks. It isn't quite what I want it to be, so I am about to change it's vision. Watch for new Bible Games, Trivia and Stories coming soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Belle

Chemical Elements and Their Symbols

Can you match the following Chemical Elements with their symbols?


K - potassium
He - helium
Cl - chlorine
I - iodine
F - fluorine
N - nitrogen
Li - lithium
Al - aluminum
O - oxygen
Zn - zinc
Mg - magnesium
S - sulphur
Ag - silver
Na - sodium
B - boron
W - tungsten
H - hydrogen
Pb - lead
U - uranium
Au - gold
Ra - radium
Cu - copper
Hg - mercury
Ti - titanium
Fe - iron
C - carbon
Ne - neon
Ca - calcium
Mn - manganese
Ni - nickel
Sn - tin

To learn more about chemical elements and compounds, go to the Chemical Element site. Good luck and have fun!

Belle

Thanks to all those who participated and look for more fun games soon!

Unscramble for January

Srxplib, wrxplib, wlxp
Gsv nlfhv izm fk gsv xolxp,
Gsv xolxp hgifxp lmv,
Gsv nlfhv izm wldm!
Srxplib, wrxplib, wlxp.

Hint

l = o
g = t
s = h


Good luck!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all my young readers! Have a happy and joyous Christmas season!

Are you a storyteller?

Do you have the gift of storytelling? I don't mean a fibber, but are you a teller of tales. There are many sites willing share stories, but I have found a site filled with old stories, tales, myths and legends, check out Myths and Legends. Here you will find many old stories to share with friends and family.

Trivia for Kids

Is a tomato a vegetable or a fruit?

Tomato is a fruit that is used as a vegetable

How many eggs can a chicken lay each day?

Chickens lay one egg each day

How many pounds are in a gallon of milk?

Milk weighs 8.6 pounds per gallon

How much does water weigh?

Water weighs 8.35 pounds per gallon

Which is the largest continent in size? Which is the smallest continent in size?

Asia is the largest continent. Australia/Oceania is the smallest continent.

Which is the largest continent by population? Which is the smallest continent in population?

Asia is the most populated while Antarctica is the least populated.

Australia is in which hemisphere? When does Australia experience summer (warm) temperatures?

Australia is in the Eastern Hemisphere while some of the islands of Oceania is in the Western Hemisphere. Click here for map. Warm temperatures are experienced during the months of December, January and February, but varies throughout the continent.

What are Baby Teeth?

Baby teeth are a person's first teeth and are also known as deciduous teeth. They begin erupting (or coming in) at about 6 months and continue to erupt until age 30 months. A person shedding their baby teeth beginning around their 7th year until their 12th year. The baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth.

An acorn is the fruit of what tree?

An acorn is the fruit of the Oak tree. Oak trees are deciduous trees - they shed their lives in the winter. Oak trees can live 200 or more years and some types of oak trees do not produce acorns until they are 50 years old. By the time an oak tree is 60 years old it produces thousands of acorns each year. The acorn is a major source of food for wildlife.

Have fun and post your answers! Trivia answers will appear in 2 weeks!

Blue Moon

What is a "blue moon"? Does the moon really turn blue? Where did the term "once in a blue moon" originate?

If you go by the old definition of "blue moon" December will have a "blue moon".

A blue moon is when there is more than 3 full moons in a season. The old definition says that a "blue moon" is a second full moon in a month. December 2009 will have 2 full moons during the month. February never has an extra moon.

For more information go to blue moon.

Unscramble for December

Solve this popular children's rhyme.


Viadhm Riadhm goh cb o kozz
Viadhm Riadhm vor o ufsoh tozz
Ozz hvs ywbu'g vcfgsg
Obr ozz hvs ywbu'b asb
Qcizrb'h dih viadhm riadhm hcushvsf ouowb.

Hint:

b = n
c = o
h = t
o = a

Have fun!