Most Embarrassing Moment of She Speaks & WLWW Link-Up Party!

It all began like this.  I arrived to my room to a beautiful bag of She Speaks goodies.  I sat down on my bed, and opened the conference program.  I flipped from page to page in anticipation of all that I was about to experience.

I came to the end of the book and there it was – the pictures of all the speakers.  I flipped to mine and burst out laughing!

Notice anything strange there? lol!

Anonymous is not usually synonymous with being a speaker…but in this case it was.  God nudged my heart and reminded me – I was simply there to serve. I felt sure that was a direct way of God reminding me to keep my eyes fixed on him.

If you read yesterday’s post – you saw how enamoured I was with the opportunity to meet so many women who have spoken into my life and as I looked around – quickly my eyes went from being fixed on God to the fear of man.  My nervousness took over.  But God in his graciousness allowed peace to fall down over me each time I stood to speak.  But there was one time I stood where it

all.

went.

wrong.

I had just finished a session of speaking and a line of women followed me out into the hallway where we continued to talk for nearly 30 minutes.  When we finished talking I went to the HUGE room where Lysa Terkeurst was in the middle of her session.  The room was packed full – wall to wall with no chairs left – I’d guess maybe 2-300 women were in the room.  I had a glass of water in my hand, my bible, my notes, my camera and purse – I was a mess – and I plopped my messy self down on the floor.

Only moments later, Lysa would say –

“Let me introduce you to someone who is amazing at marketing – my good friend Courtney.”

She looked my direction.

“Courtney please stand up.”

Now remember I’m on the floor in a skirt and heels with all my junk piled around me on the floor – so getting up in a lady-like manner was not easy – but my heart started beating fast – she’s looking at me – and in my mind I’m thinking – wow she just called me a “good friend“.  We just met.

So I stand like a peakcock all smiles!

Heads crank around and look at me.  I’m still standing there like a peacock!  Then it happens…

I realize another girl is standing too!   Lysa goes on to explain “Courtney” gave her a great idea for the marketing of her new book Unglued.

I’ve given her NO ideas for the marketing of Unglued.  I drop down to the ground like a bullet tipping my water.  Now everyone who cranked their necks around can see I’m a bit of a mess!  I slip out and go to the bathroom to get paper towels and in the bathroom I look myself in the mirror and say – “girlfriend – why in the world did you stand?  You know you are aren’t “good friends” with Lysa! And who is this other “Courtney” girl?” lol!

Hoping not too many people noticed – I went on in the conference trying to recover lol!  Then I got this tweet from the other Courtney :

Bless her heart – she and I talked and laughed about it all and I discovered – she has a great blog!

Later I saw Lysa and I wondered – did she see me stand like a peacock? Oh yes – yes she did!!! She said “Courtney I am so sorry!  I just didn’t know how to recover for you!” lol!

ARGH!

Later I got to spend some time with Lysa getting to know her a little better and when we parted ways on the last day – she looked at me and said “Now I can truly say, my good friend Courtney” lol!

Humbling.

Anonymous.

He Speaks.

He speaks.  When we take our eyes off of him…in his gracious and loving way – He still speaks.  He spoke in the hotel room when I was alone looking at the picture in the program.  He spoke and gave peace when I was nervous before speaking and He met me in the bathroom when I was all alone kicking myself for standing!  He speaks.

And once my eyes were back fixed on him – humbled – at his feet – He spoke reminding me of Psalm 141:8a.

Psalm 141:8a “But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge.”

When we want to run and hide – take refuge in him. He Speaks.

Walk with the King,

61 Comments

  1. Oh my goodness, I am SO glad that you shared that story. I find myself feeling like a fool (for many reasons) on so many days (and not in front of a ton of people) and it is good to know that it doesn’t matter, HE loves me, HE love you and HE loves us all in our weakness.

  2. LOL Lovely story! When we feel foolish, all we can do is laugh. If you’re lucky, everyone laughs *with* you, because we have ALL been there! Thanks for sharing such a real moment. I’m laughing WITH you, believe me. I have my share of ‘oops’ stories as well. Oh, well, He has a sense of humor, right? And can turn any red face into a new friendship.

  3. I also very much appreicate your sharing this. Most people would not. I just read this in a moment that I was feeling embarassed and humbled myself.

    While I certainly am not delighting in that you had a moment that made you feel that way, your story reminded me that God knows all and His purposes are more important. Bless you for sharing the things you do.

  4. Oh my gosh. I must have walked in right after this happened. I remembered hearing you say something about spilling water but I was caught up in what I had going on at the moment. I am so sorry. I should have stopped, helped, hugged you or something! But oh sweet girl Lysa and the rest of the team do value your marketing opinions. She wouldn’t have “picked your brain” over breakfast if she didn’t. 🙂

    1. Lol! I remember someone coming in the door right after – and the water just poured out on the floor and I was sitting there trying to decide if I should attempt to clean it up or not – I didn’t want it to look like I was so embarrassed I darted out of the room…so I sat there for a second contemplating – do I clean this up or not – then someone came through that walkway (must have been you) and I thought – better go get some paper towels! lol!!! It was good though – cause I got to have a pow wow – just me and God there in the bathroom 🙂

      Oh there was no way you could have known! But you are such an encourager – thank you!!!
      Courtney

  5. Courtney,
    We’ve all had those embarrassing moments! You’re a trooper and your recounting of this event from the weekend is really rather cute! Glad you survived and grew to become one of Lysa’s dear friends. : )

  6. We all have moments like that, but I know in the “heat” (on my face!) of those moments, I feel like I’m the only one who has ever done something embarrassing. It can be very lonely feeling until we focus ourselves on the truth–that God loves us always and so do the people in our lives who love Him. 🙂 God used your experience and your transparency in sharing it to remind us what’s important. Thanks! 🙂

  7. Wow…I’ll admit this is terribly selfish, but thank you for sharing that! It’s so easy for us (me?) to read your blog and see how AWESOME you are and think that you just always have it together and that nothing like this would ever happen to you. It’s somehow comforting to know that even you have these moments.

    Although, I’m sorry you had to have such a moment! I could literally feel the embarrassment as if it had happened to me. I have to say, though, that the ladies at that conference were very blessed to be able to hear you speak!

  8. Oh, Courtney, that was quite hilarious (but I’m NOT laughing AT you,; I’m cheering you on, girl!) But seriously, if that happened to me, I would find it harder to recover and just like you, I’d be running to the arms of Jesus to take cover! Well, thanks to our gracious Lord, you recovered GRACIOUSLY! Indeed, whatever nervousness, blunders and embarrassments we may have before the world, as long as we focus ALL our yes on Him – for we are not our own; we’ve been bought with a price – He will SHIELD us and He will be the one in front, beside and behind us.

  9. LOL! Oh sister, I loooove that you keep it real. If I told you about the number of times I’ve done something like that (fumbled the moment inadvertently, that is ; not the serving as a speaker at a great conference, lol.) I love that you have the ability to laugh at the unexpected moments, even though I’m sure it didn’t feel the least bit “funny” at the time.
    Blessings,
    Toni

  10. Courtney, I’m pretty sure that has happened to me before…or at least I would probably do the same thing!! Maybe you can look back and …laugh? 🙂 Thanks for sharing such true to life events in your own life that we can relate to!!!
    I love your parties here because so many precious ladies link up.
    Blessings,
    Leslie

  11. Ya know… I was sitting in that session and saw you stand and had no idea you weren’t the “REAL” Courtney! If I hadn’t read this post I would have never known! You handled it with grace and class! Blogging about it just gave you uber-kudos for opening up and keeping it so real! **HUGS**

    1. NO way!!! That is SOOOO funny!! I felt like everyone saw me stand and everyone saw me sit and the other girl still standing lol! Oh thank you for the morning laugh! 🙂

  12. Oh, Courtney, that totally sounds like something I would do! And the wrong picture on the program…stuff like that always happens to me. 🙂 Just reading this made me want to give you a big hug!

  13. As I was reading this story, I felt like I was enduring the painful embarrassment right along with you! Oh, the moments God gives us to keep us humble! I hope you’re laughing about it now! It’s those really embarrassing moments that make for great laughs later! 🙂

  14. Thank you for sharing this story. I actually sat on the front row with you during the talk Esther and Karen did on speaking acing an agent. Knowing that you were a speaker and then hearing Esther call out your name and say that you have a book coming out, I cowered at your accomplishments and did not stay and talk to you like I wanted to. This story and your grace in handling it show that you are on the same journey with the rest of us. I hope I get the opportunity to meet you again and this time actually talk to you:)

    1. Oh I wish you would have stayed and talked – I just love talking to like-minded women who share my passions! I mean really – aren’t those the best conversations!!! 🙂 Girl – I am definately on the same journey and the next time we are in the same room – I’d love to meet you!

  15. Oh Courtney! My heart goes out to you. We have all been embarrasse but I am sorry that it happened to you more than once at such an event. But you are worthy of a large round of applause 🙂 I love your blog. As a busy blogger, it is one of the few I still read on a weekly basis!

  16. Courtney, I wasn’t in that room. In fact, I didn’t even “official” meet you, but I want to tell you that I was blessed by you this past weekend. Your heart is beautiful and I enjoyed hearing your FANTASTIC marketing ideas and encouragement. I’m was giddy when I saw that the Courtney that I signed up to hear speak was you!

  17. I would have run right back to my hotel room! Good for you for recovering and seeing God through it all. He Speaks—love it!
    ~Kim A.
    (And what an encouraging tweet from “the other” Courtney!)

  18. Oh, Courtney, this post just made me love you. 🙂 Thank you for sharing a part of yourself with this reader. I so connected with you today.

  19. oh courtney. i’m so glad that happened and bonded me to you. what is funny is that you ARE great at marketing and you were like the celebrity in the room to me. so, He did speak that weekend and i’m so happy to know you and get to know the real you. authentic to the bone.

    1. I believe in the sovereignty of God – he knew I’d be standing like a peacock and later enjoying a good laugh with you! So great to meet you and have you as a new friend! Let the Courtney’s unite! Oh imagine the marketing things we could come up with haha!!! 🙂 I just love you and your blog!!! Keep writing!

  20. Oh my word, Courtney. You were really challenged emotionally this past weekend and it looks like you emerge with more grace and humility than you had before. It is such a challenge to not fall into defeat when so many moments line up to push us down in our confidence, even confidence in the Lord. But praise God you allowed Him to teach you, and speak to you, instead of listening to the Enemy who was out to steal your joy and destroy the plans God had for you. You arose victorious, proven by your ability to share this story publicly. Praise God!

  21. Hey Courtney! Sorry to hear of your embarrassing experience. Not fun to go through but very entertaining to read because it is all to familiar! I worked for a company whose management was very into appearances and image. Mistakes were viewed as weaknesses and I don’t think they liked me much because I just rolled along accepting mine and others humanity. It was so emotionally exhausting though to be managed by people who believe image is more important than integrity. Being in an environment and a profession/ministry where humanness is allowed and every mishap is an opportunity to give all glory to God, is nothing short of amazing! I have to say it is ridiculously refreshing to learn how others responded to your mishap and how it really isn’t that big of a deal! I mean it can happen to any of us. Chosing or being called to the spotlight definitely has its risks but it just makes you approachable and will open more doors to sharing your message to other human women! Love you friend and thanks for keeping it REAL!

  22. This sounds like something that would or has happened to me! Thanks for making us feel better about our own mishaps.

  23. Courtney,

    I am so sorry for all you had to experience this weekend, and at the same time, I am so thankful! It is beautiful to see Him make His humility shine through your life! Sometimes our Sovereign Lord has a “rough” journey set out for us, but it is always for our Good and I am in Awe of the way He uses our weaknesses to Magnify HIS very own GLORY!

    Praising the Lord with you my sister!

    Love & Grace,
    Randi Marie

  24. Courtney,

    Thanks for sharing! Just this morning I found my mind wandering to an embarrassing moment that happened months ago! Your story was a great reminder that we are all human and that we all have these moments. I’m trying to learn to just laugh at myself and go on with grace 🙂 Thanks, Courtney! And, thank you for being a constant source of encouragement to so many!

  25. Thanks for sharing this story, Courtney. I love your vulnerability and grace. I have a feeling this will come out on stage one day. It’s just like Lysa’s story about hearing her name called on the Price is Right! You are going to bless women when you write or tell this story and remind them that anytime we need to run and hide in the bathroom, He is there for us. We are never alone. God bless you, Courtney!

  26. I needed to hear your story today. I have a really bad habit of hearing God and knowing the right way to do things or see things and then letting too much of myselfish thoughts come out anyway. You are truely amazing, anyone who really knows you has a really awesome friend. Thank you for allowing God to use you to be a guide to the rest of us.

  27. I totally have done something like that before…talk about humbling.
    Truly a blessing to know that God gives grace to the humble! Wish I could have been at the conference, sounds like it was a time of encouragement and fun!

  28. Courtney, while I am so sorry that the picture was wrong and you stood when you didn’t need to, I THANK you from the bottom of my heart for sharing. So often we women think we are the each the only one that has ever had that happen to us. Embarrassment is my greatest fear-and why-because I want others to think “nice” things about me. Should their opinion matter? Probably not…but it does…it’s one of my biggest human flaws….so thank you for helping me, and I am sure many others to see that it’s okay, life moves on and God loves us 🙂

  29. Hi. I’m an email reader of your blog, so I’ve never replied, but this post made me literally laugh out loud! Thank you for your beautiful transparency. I can so very much relate. In my life, we call these “Lucy” moments. Haha.

    Just had to hop on here & thank you this morning. Blessings of Jesus upon you, Courtney~

    Jennifer

  30. Oh Courtney! I have done this so many times. It keeps me humble. 🙂 I always say that I believe that that is why God gave me blonde hair. I have an excuse. My sister taught me years ago to just laugh it off and think. AND THINK!!! …You would never have anything to blog about if these things didn’t happen.
    Thanks for all your posts I’ve been following you for a while and you and a tragic situation is what encouraged me to start my blog.

  31. Thank you so much for your honesty in this post! When my next embarrassing moment comes (as I know it will) I just hope I handle it with as much grace, humbleness and pure aplomb that you did! 🙂

  32. Thanks for being so real and letting us see that you’re still human! 🙂 I know you did an amazing job speaking at that conference – I wish I could have been there! Blessings, Lauren, lholmes79.wordpress.com

  33. This is something that would happen to me! Thankfully, I’m normally the only Celeste in the room 😉 I know the conference was a great experience. I’m working—slowly—up to the She Speaks conference. I just completed the Christian Communicators Conference with Vonda Skelton, which was great. There are speakers who write, and there are writers who speak. I’m a pharmacist who is compelled to write and speak. And the journey is long. Bless you Courtney!

  34. Oh my goodness… It’s so wonderful when God gives us a sense of humor in the midst of a little mess. God sure turns all things for good! Hugs!

  35. I haven’t posted in a while, but this may be one of my FAVORITE blog posts if yours! This made me SMILE. And more than that–your humility just ministered to me more than anything. There is such BEAUTY in being humble, transparent, exposed…thank you Courtney for the example. He shines through you!

  36. What a great story you will have to share with our girls. Oh how those little misunderstanding help us to realize who we are truly serving. I love how you were able to laugh with both the speaker and the other Courtney. Thank you for sharing your humaness with us all. blessings to you.

  37. You are just the best!!!

    Sounds like some frustrating stuff, and you’re handling it with grace!!

  38. You know what? This just makes me love you and your blog all the more. Embarrassing stuff happens to us all every day, but handling it with grace and humility and turning it back to God… that is remarkable and wonderful. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being you.

  39. Thank you so much for the laugh today. I really needed it. God has sure blessed you with a huge amount of grace and humbleness. I think you are an inspiration.

  40. What a priceless story! Thanks for sharing! I believe our all-powerful God also has quite a sense of humor 🙂 But when we’re humble and also see the humor (laugh at ourselves!) instead of being prideful and/or angry we can hear Him speaking, like you said. I just love hearing your stories!

  41. Oh Courtney, this is so funny! It really makes my heart soft because I’ve heard it said that those the Lord uses, He finds ways to keep humble. He is using you, my friend! Keep listening to Him!

  42. Oh my! Well, although this story had me laughing pretty hard (but not at you–just at the situation because it sounds like something that would happen to me!), I feel for you! It’s good to know that a woman as pulled-together as you are has things like that happen, too–as sometimes I feel like the only one! But it sounds like in the end you handled it with grace, and the other kind women involved were good about minimizing damage. 🙂
    And in the end, you were able to laugh and share your story with other women. That shows your character!
    Thanks for sharing!

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