Welcome!

Glad you stopped by!

Who exactly am I, and what is this site all about?

Well, I’m a Jersey native living in the great state of Georgia. I studied history (undergrad) and public policy (grad), and I’ve spent most of my working life in politics, government, or policy-focused non-profits. In other words, I actually work in the field I studied. Shocking, I know. (In case the question arises, this site is not connected to my professional career.)

I’m blessed with an amazing husband and awesome stepson, and I enjoy running with my husband (who is way faster than I am).

Growing up, I claimed I’d never be a writer. Yet, somehow, I find myself writing—sometimes a lot. The reason is less that I enjoy the craft of writing and more that I love discovering the truths of God’s word and sharing those truths with others.

And that’s what brings me to this blog (which, incidentally, is another thing I said I never wanted to do).

Why “The Purposed Heart”?

This title isn’t all that original sounding, I’ll grant you. But one of my favorite phrases in Scripture is found in Daniel 1:8: “But Daniel purposed in his heart….”

The context is that Daniel was a prisoner and was offered food that according to Old Testament Law was unclean. But Daniel “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.” He made the decision in his heart to follow God–then he acted on it. If we purpose in our hearts to follow Christ, when many moments of decision come, the right actions may not always be easy, but they will be clear. Read more here on what it means to be purposed in heart.

While I hope the words on this site are well-written, I hope even more that God uses them to draw you to Him.

– Gina Pope